Heart-warming journey of Rescue

Rating: 10/10 (31 May 2003)

The undersea adventure that Pixar presents is undoubtedly more fleshed out than Disney's "Little Mermaid". The characters are 'human', not just the bland sidekicks found in Disney movies, and the society of "Fish Predators Anonymous" was hilarious. Willem Dafoe is brilliant as the morose Gill.
I appreciate the factual detail in the movie. It is set in the Great Barrier Reef - *it* is the largest structure in the world built by living creatures, not New York - the East Australian Current does lead to New South Wales, clown fish are abundant near the Reef, and there are toxic jellyfish off the Northern coast of Australia. It was nice to listen to the marine life speaking with aussie accents.
But for the fifth time running, a Pixar movie is about a journey of rescue. The formula seems to be wearing out. There are obvious comparisons to be made with Miyazaki, who manages to come up with highly original themes each time a movie is made, making each of them a success. Why do Disney and Pixar not follow the lead? [And, how is a fart joke, good humour?]