Finding Dory

A palpably superior sequel, Finding Dory details the adventure that ensues after the title character (Ellen Degeneres) embarks on a quest to find her long lost parents – with Dory’s efforts assisted by, among others, a grumpy octopus (Ed O’Neill’s Hank), a beluga whale (Ty Burrell’s Bailey), and the original film’s Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Nemo (Hayden Rolence). Though Dory hardly seemed like a figure ripe for the followup treatment – she did, in Finding Nemo, come off as a fairly one-note supporting character – directors Andrew Stanton and Angus MacLane manage to transform the affable blue tang into a compelling and unexpectedly tragic figure. (The revelations of the first few minutes completely change how Dory might’ve been perceived in the original film.) And while the movie’s opening stretch contains a few too many needless callbacks to its predecessor, Finding Dory eventually segues into a midsection that’s rife with compelling sequences and engaging supporting figures – with the best and most obvious example of the latter a goofy-looking, put-upon sea lion named Gerald (ie though he only appears for a minute or two, Gerald immediately enters the pantheon of great Pixar side characters). It’s clear, too, that the movie benefits from a legitimately engrossing central storyline revolving around Dory and Hank’s perilous escapades, with its effectiveness, when coupled with an equally engrossing Marlin/Nemo subplot, paving the way for an exciting third act that boasts one of the best action sequences in Pixar’s filmography. The predictably heartwarming finale ensures that Finding Dory concludes on a thoroughly positive note, and it is, in the end, clear that the movie deserves a place alongside sequels like Aliens and Before Sunset as a followup that improves substantially upon its predecessor.

***1/2 out of ****