Entertaining, Whimsical Underwater Adventure

Rating: Null/10 (26 November 2004)

Pixar has done it again, lending their spectacular, realistic visual work to a delightful, fruitful, and entertaining setting and story. They always manage to make their characters (whatever species they are) appear less robotic and superficial, and more human and understandable, and in "Finding Nemo", the clownfish, bluefish, blowfish, sharks, turtles, seagulls, etc. are very funny, delightful, and somewhat lovable, in this entertaining, if kiddish, underwater adventure. The story involves an overprotective, overanxious clownfish named Marlin (Albert Brooks) who is on a perilous quest to find his escaped and abducted son, Nemo, and must plight throughout the Pacific Ocean, with the help of many underwater creatures, in order to prove what kind of loving, devoted father he is. Along his way, Marlin befriends a forgetful and peculiar bluefish named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), who provides most of the signature Disney humor throughout the film, a gang of "fish deprived" sharks, a troop of turtles ("Grab shell, Dude!"), some seagulls, a few other fish, and many more, including some unpleasant acquaintances, such as stinging jellyfish, angry lightning-fish, and savage sharks, all in a delightful, thrilling, and entertaining adventure. Meanwhile, Nemo has been placed inside a Dentist's tank somewhere in Australia and makes friends of his own, learning to adapt to confined waters. What I enjoyed the most about this film was the refreshing and realistic look of the water- one really feels they are situated inside an ocean, "along for the ride", with the marvelous animation of Pixar, which is always effective. Admittedly, some of the dialog here is somewhat bland and clichÃ©, and oftentimes Dory becomes more of an annoyance than a funny diversion, and there is a prevalence of wanton sentimentality here that is expected of a Disney family film. Yet, the story is delightful and entertaining, the characters are mostly funny and memorable, the visuals are awesome and splendid, and "Finding Nemo" is genuinely a step above the usual Disney family fare. Bravo to Pixar for creating yet another wonderful adventure that almost everyone who can swim can enjoy! ***1/2 out of ****