"Finding Nemo" is without a doubt one of my favorite movies. I am well aware that it is a children's animated film. But I stand by it! I think it is not only hilarious and beautiful but that I learned a lot from it. Here are some funny, deep, serious, and random things I learned from "Finding Nemo."
1. What do we call that pink wavy thing that clown fish live inside?
Always necessary information. Never know when you'll need to say An-an-ne-me-ne-me-ne-me-nem-o-ne-me...
2. How to communicate with the school bus of the sea: the whale.
Who knows when I'll get lost and need the help of a nice large mammal. The ability to communicate with other cultures and species is a very important skill to possess!
3. Mornings can be fun and singing is always the best way to start them.
Also, it's nice when the sun is shining and the tank is clean. Just, maybe, think about keeping your room cleaner than the tank in this movie. That was gross.
4. As humans, we don't own everything.
The world may in fact not be just our oyster, we share the wonderful earth with all creation. I don't want to point fingers at anyone or say that global warming is coming for you all or anything. I just want to ask you to think about the other creations that God called us to share his world with! This is their earth too.
5. Emotions can be complicated, and not everyone understands what they're feeling all the time.
And that's OK. At this point in the movie, Marlin does not understand Dory at all. She has memory issues, is over trusting, and more friendly than any Minnesotan I've ever met. He is shy, angry at the world, and harsh. They need to not only work out their differences but their emotions too. And how beautiful is it to watch that happen in this movie?!
6. Fish are friends, not food.
I am a firm believer in this one. Fish are friends. Birds, maybe not. But fish certainly are. (Note: my dislike of eating fish came before this movie. I think...)
7. Trust is what friends do.
They trust each other, building a firm friendship off of mutual trust and laughter. Trust is a massive part of life and relationship. Without trust, friendships would be full of second guessing, hurt feelings, and doubt. That isn't friendship. Friendship is what trust does. Oh, wait.
8. Home isn't always a particular place.
It's a person sometimes. Dory has nothing. No family, no home, not even any clothes on her back (get it?). But Marlin spent that entire journey with her. And she trusts him. She can barely remember her own name, but she knows that Marlin cares about her. She knows that he can be home for her. That friendship creates a home.
9. Sometimes things don't go quite as planned.
Or there happens to be a plot twist in there towards the end. Gill's plan was incredibly thought out and had gone through various trials- how could anything go wrong? In the end, they were so close. He was only separated from his ultimate destination by a thin wall of plastic. Rather humorous, though strangely relatable.
10. That seriously cool handshake thing.
Fin! Noggin! Dude! Wow! Friendship!
"Finding Nemo" is potentially one of the most family friendly, hilarious, and monumental movies that I have ever seen. I learned many funny things from it as well as some serious life lessons. The movie is full no only of jokes, but of lessons of love, friendship, and kindness.
Keep swimming, everyone!
