(This article is spoiler-free, and just contains what's been seen from trailers of the movie)
Last week, the sequel to Pixar's classic "Finding Nemo," was released. It follows the story of everyone's favorite forgettable fish, Dory. People have been waiting well over ten years for this sequel. And I'll be totally honest, I was nervous about it. I mean, "Finding Nemo" is such a classic that is so beloved and has stayed in our hearts for over a decade. I wasn't convinced that this sequel would be a good idea. For one, Pixar movies are great but their sequels don't always live up to the original films (I'm talking to you Cars 2). And second, the only reason why this sequel is being made is because lead Ellen Degeneres wanted another way to cash in on the original movie's success. But hey, she's Ellen. She can do what she wants. So I put my reservations behind me, and went to see this long awaited sequel.
And to my pleasant surprise, it was perfect. It was everything that us early 2000s kids would want a sequel to be. It had funny bits, and heartwarming bits, everything a great Pixar movie should have. So to satisfy your nostalgia, here's a few of the reasons why Finding Dory is just as good, if not better, than Finding Nemo. (Spoiler free, of course)
Reason #1: The cuteness
One word: Otters
Two words: Baby Dory
And cuddles. Just...so many cuddles. There's just so much cuteness.
Reason #2: The heart
Like the first movie, "Finding Dory" shows us the importance of family. And friendship. And how sometimes the best of friends eventually become your family. It also has a really cute subtle story of how disabilities don't have to hold you back. Other than Dory, we meet some new friends that suffer from disabilities, and try more than anything to achieve greatness in spite of these disabilities (spoiler alert: they do find greatness).
Reason #3:
There are quite a few adorable callbacks to "Finding Nemo," reminding us why we fell in love with the first movie in the first place. Some quotes, some songs, even some characters. (No spoilers, but let's just say, stick around after the credits finish rolling for the post-credit scene).
And there's so much more, that needs to be seen for itself. So no matter what your age or who you go with, see this movie. Just...see it. You'll be happy that you did. It's funny, heartwarming, everything that a sequel should be. It's fun to watch and teaches so many great messages to its audience. Perhaps the greatest message will always be, say it with me now, Just Keep Swimming.
