Finding Dory

"I forget things almost instantly. It runs in my family...at least, I think it does...where are they?"

Recalling this line from Finding Nemo, and then learning the title of the sequel, I was able to accurately predict the plot of this film. One year later, Dory has stayed close to Marlin and his son Nemo, even helping Mr. Ray out during school. Then during one field trip, the class is being taught about the undertow, and Dory has a sudden flash of memory that she had a mom and dad. One day when she was a tiny, adorable child, she got pulled away into the current and lost. In her forgetfulness, she doesn't stay still very long, asking fish after fish if they've seen her parents. This goes well into her adulthood until she can't remember who she was looking for. Then a boat passes above her, Marlin bumps into her, and the rest was history.

With this memory returned, Dory decides to set off to California and find them. Marlin, after failing to talk her out of it, decides to go with her, and Nemo tags along as well. It doesn't take long for Marlin to lose patience with her, tho, as a run in with a giant squid nearly gets Nemo eaten. Suddenly, Dory is netted by some marine workers, tagged and taken to quarantine, and it's revealed she and her parents lived in an aquarium.

As the two clownfish try to get her back, Dory continues to retrace her memories to find her old home. A cranky 7-tentacled octopus named Hank agrees to help her in exchange for her tag (he doesn't want to go back to the ocean). She also meets a beluga whale named Bailey, and is reunited with her old friend Destiny, a friendly but nearsighted whale shark. Both provide some insight in how to get around the aquarium.

Animation is standard for Pixar, which is to say it looks astonishing. You really get swept in by the vibrant colors of the ocean, aquarium, and various marine life our characters come across. As predictable as the premise was, the story and humor are still pretty great. It was endearing to see Nemo have a more active role in this one, interacting a lot more with Dory and Marlin than in the first film. Marlin still worries about him, but he gives his son a bit more room to grow, and learns to have that same faith in Dory, who overcomes her own memory issues to great effect here.

If there's a downside, it's a bit repetitive. While going through the aquarium, the characters go back and forth to a few locations. However, the frequent change in scenery is also welcome, since in contrast, Nemo spent a good portion of his own movie stuck in a dentist's fishtank.

The flashbacks to Dory's childhood will melt your heart. We get an idea of what is was like for her growing up with a bad memory, but also how caring and patient her parents were, which gives their reunion an additional impact.

The title and idea seem so simple, and yet has so many meanings to it. While Marlin and Nemo are trying to find her, Dory's trying to find her family, and manages to find herself too. It turns into a great lesson in appreciating others, overcoming personal handicaps, and giving people a chance. If you like the first film, this is a perfect follow-up for people of all ages.