Finding Dory and the Value of Being "Different"

Rating: 8/10 (28 April 2017)

As a parent of two small children and big fan of pretty much all things Pixar ("The Good Dinosaur" being the notable exception), I was anticipating this film as much as almost any I have experienced. For the most part I really enjoyed this movie, though there were certainly points where it fell short, almost all of which had to do with the plot.
SPOILERS BELOW: Plot = Overly complicated - With a movie title like "Finding Dory" it is no surprise that conceptually the plot borrows heavily from the original. The impetus of Dory's initial journey is to find her family in much the same way Marlin leaves the reef in search of Nemo. While the background behind the "lost family member(s)" is different, the motif is the same... of course, if that were the end of the body of narrative the movie would have been called "Finding Jenny and Charlie," so there is a shift where Dory, who is in search of her parents, becomes herself "lost" (though she is not entirely aware of that) and must be "found" by Marlin and Nemo. In the process of all this "finding" more plot twists ensue with ultimately a truck-driving octopus (septopus) launching himself and a box-truck full of sea life into the air and diving into Morro Bay... It's a more than a bit over-the-top even by cartoon standards. For me that's where the shortcomings end...
Characters=Delightful - Where this film shines is in the characters... With the exception of Marlin and (to a lesser extent) Nemo (though I think their lack of likability helped move the story along), all the characters were likable and compelling. Ed O'Neill as Hank was a welcome foil to Ellen DeGeneres' optimistic Dory, and their back-and-forth dialogue rounded out Dory's character in a nice way.
With all its delightful characters and stunning artistry what stands out is that this is an important movie for all people because it reminds us of the value of every single person regardless of their perceived brokenness. Character after character in this film deals with some physical or mental challenge: Becky, Destiny, Hank the Septopus (!), Gerald, Bailey (though his is more a challenge of accepting his wellness), and the host of other ill sea creatures that are at the marine life institute to get well. All these characters work to greater or lesser degrees to the ultimate end of the narrative (as convoluted as it is). And of course, the central figure of the film Dory is notorious because she suffers from "short- term remembery loss". It is this challenge that caused her to lose her way, but it is also this challenge that helps her maintain an (almost) endless optimism. (As a side note, the opening sequence of Dory's parents trying to help her find her way around their home was both endlessly touching and heartbreaking). In fact, it is not until Marlin and Nemo (the least likable of the central characters) begin to thoughtfully ask the question, "What would Dory do?" That they begin to have any real impact.
As a pastor, I am constantly trying to remind people they are made in the image and likeness of God... that there is a significant divine imprint on everyone. As a pastor who advocates for families and children with special needs in the faith community, I see how important this ideal is to reiterate amid the challenges these families face. As a person who has many many friends with children with autism, Down syndrome, and the like, I am encouraged by their stories of realization and gratitude.
"Finding Dory" demonstrates that what may seem like a brokenness in a person is but an opportunity to see life from a different and fresh perspective that, while not without its difficulties, is rewarding.