A Pleasant Sequel to Finding Nemo

Rating: 7/10 (7 July 2016)

"Finding Dory" is the sequel that I didn't realize that "Finding Nemo" needed. The movie, as the name implies, focuses on Dory's origin, long before the now-grown-up character collided with Marlin... as we remembered in the previous film. Thus, this movie answers much about Dory that some of us had wondered about for years.
After going through her origin, the audience get to see the events a year after the first movie's plot. Switching between Dory's past and present is a pleasant, artistic direction for story-telling, a bit better than that of "Man of Steel", that you'd notice from beginning till end, as Nemo's field trip in understanding migration leads to key terms that cause Dory to have flashbacks to her childhood days. Thus, remembering her parents for the first time since growing up. The plot of the movie finally begins, as she talks Marlin into escorting her to California.
Much of the plot reveals that Dory came from an aquarium, where Dory, tangled with a plastic can holder, gets separated from Marlin and Nemo, and sent to the facility's quarantine. It is there that she meets an octopus (or a "septopus", as Dory rightfully pointed) named "Hank" who attempts to escape to Cleveland in a truck. Thus, half the movie, these two unlikely duo have a reluctant deal in finding Dory's parents in exchange for her orange tag that'd guarantee Hank being transported to Cleveland... as opposed to be sent back to the ocean that he dreads so much.
This aspect of the plot goes on till almost the climax, long after Dory meets her childhood friend in person, a female, short-sighted whale shark named "Destiny", and acquainted with a not-really- handicapped white whale named "Bailey". Hank gets busted during the transfer (while wearing Dory's tag), while a mishap leads Dory going down a drain, and back into the sea.
At this point, like when Marlin thought Nemo died in the previous movie, Dory reaches her low point, thinking that both her parents passed on, losing her memory as to why she is in where she is in the first place. A quick pep talk on "What would Dory do?" gets her to look around a bit, thus noticing lines of shells laid as roads leading back to a fish house. This style of story-telling, and the flashbacks regarding shells, having seen the movie twice, is impressive and engaging, you'd feel it when Dory and her parents have their tearful reunion on the spot.
As for Marlin and Nemo, we get to see Marlin being Marlin again, being skeptical and worried. As for Nemo, feeling bad that Marlin may have hurt Dory's feelings over her memory loss, after a rather dangerous squid incident, is judgmental to his dad on a handful of occasions. Having gotten separated from Dory, they get help from two healing sea lions. Of course, this leads to an odd-looking bird, resembling Psycrow in "Earthworm Jim", helping the guys fly around in a bucket at least a couple of times throughout the film. Eventually, having being so close to Dory, yet so far, they and Dory reunite. But, they get separated again during the Cleveland transportation, that Marlin and Nemo result to seeking help from Dory's friends and parents.
Of course, since the movie heavily focuses on the aquatic facility, it's not as deep and adventurous as "Finding Nemo", as some viewers pointed out. In fact, just like "Night at the Museum 2" is to "Night at the Museum", "Finding Dory" now only takes place in the same day, at the same place. But, as for the story, it's really good still; the misadventures, the character developments, the reunions, the rescues, everything.
The movie wouldn't be complete without funny moments, like the sea lions yelling at the third to get off their rock, even after they allowed him, for using his bucket, for about ten seconds... or that sole clam mourning over his ex leaving him. But, the movie focuses more on drama than comedy by its nature, as you'd realize.
By the end, we get to see everyone living around Nemo's anemone, with Hank, being talked into liking the ocean, working as Mr. Ray's assistant. Worried that Dory swimming off could get her to lose her memory about her friends and family, Marlin swims off to find Dory. The two hang out at the edge of the riff, with Marlin complimenting Dory's effort in finding her parents. Personally, that's a good way to end the movie, although don't expect any extra scenes like "Finding Nemo".
So, how is this movie a sequel that "Finding Nemo" needed? Basically, it reveals that Dory telling folks that she suffers from short-term memory loss was rehearsed from childhood, answers how she got separated from her family, how she learned how to speak "Whale", and the song "Just Keep Swimming". In fact, it feels like it was long planned since the first movie premiered.
As a family film, I recommend people go see it, or even plan buying the BluRay or DVD for home viewing. Just, don't expect it to top "Finding Nemo".