The first Pixar sequel to best the original

Rating: 9/10 (2 July 2016)

In all honesty, like many others, I went into Finding Dory without much anticipation. While I expected it to be a good film, this is Pixar!!, I did not expected to be amazed, and boy was I wrong. Finding Dory is not only an improvement on Finding Nemo, but I would say it ranks among Pixar's best films. The magic of Finding Dory is found in its surprisingly emotional story and its colorful characters. The way the story is presented with the use of flashbacks, and the emphasis on short term memory loss adds a great amount of emotional weight to the typical "searching for my family" storyline. The importance of family is stressed through both the flashbacks, and some callbacks to Finding Nemo which forces the viewer to quickly become attached to Dory's personal story. The execution of the plot is done just as well as the film moves at a perfect pace, never appearing rushed or dull at any point. The well constructed story is further helped buy an amazing cast of supporting characters. Each character plays a particular role in the story, and the awareness of knowing the capacity of the role each character has helps in the development and balance of these characters. The inclusion of a slew on new characters makes Finding Dory really feel like a Dory film, and the chemistry between Dory and each new ally feels genuine! Finding Dory is yet another victory for Pixar as they once again prove their ability to blend mature, emotional stories with wildly entertaining characters.