A sequel that does justice to the original.

Rating: 7/10 (25 July 2016)

Dory now lives with Nemo and Marlin. From time to time, she even tags along with Nemo's class on field trips. On one of these trips, Dory gets knocked out while witnessing a mass stingray migration - and reawakens her childhood memories. After recalling that she was separated from her parents at a young age, she sets out on a journey to California with Nemo and Marlin to find them.
"Finding Nemo" was lightning in a bottle - not only does it contain a wholly original concept but it also managed to shift many of our perceived attitudes on the art of animation. It was a perfectly contained story - one immune from getting the franchise treatment. Before this year, I honestly believed that making a sequel or prequel to this brilliant film would have been a bad move on Pixar's part.
Thankfully, Pixar proved me wrong. Although I still believe that no sequel/prequel to "Finding Nemo" can stand up to the original film, I wholeheartedly welcome "Finding Dory" with open arms.
The film is directed and co-written by Andrew Stanton - the mastermind behind the original "Finding Nemo". For "Finding Dory", Stanton and his team bring their A-game: the animation is wonderful (as always), the voice-acting is top-notch, the euphonic score by Thomas Newman is Oscar-worthy, and the cinematography (lighting, camera angles, etc.) is breathtaking beyond words.
Unfortunately, the story is overshadowed by those elements (as well as the original film). Dory's plight still tugged at my heartstrings and her journey made me laugh multiple times; however, I can't help but think that Stanton and his writing team may have squandered the story's full potential. The story is written rather haphazardly, but still comprehensible. Some viewers may be disoriented/annoyed by the film's constant cutting among the separated characters and time periods, as well as the sudden shifts in mood.
"Finding Dory" also introduces an entirely new cast of characters – and they're just as entertaining and enjoyable to watch as Dory herself. The additions of Hank the Octopus, Destiny the Whale Shark, and Bailey the Beluga are outstanding. Not only do all three of these sea creatures have their own unique personalities (leading to some hilarious situations), but they each have their own distinct character arcs!
On a final note, the last quarter of this film was without a doubt the single most exciting thing I've seen in theatres in a long time.
"Finding Dory" is a gorgeous film filled with suspense, laughs, heart-wrenching moments, and thought-provoking sentiments. The story is a bit of a mess, but that shouldn't keep someone from enjoying this film.