Finding Dory (2016)

Finding Dory (PG)

"One Fish Two Fish Red Fish, who fish?"

A short while after finding Nemo, Dory sets out on another oceanic voyage to find her long lost parents in Pixar's follow up, Finding Dory.

Pixar, once the Art House 3D powerhouse, has apparently succumbed to it's masters and begun churning out sequel after sequel.  And while Monster's University was a small success but did have something new and interesting to say about it's Universe and characters, Finding Dory is a huge hit with almost nothing new to say.  The absent minded Dory (Ellen Degeneres) has been upgraded to main character but her winning sidekick charm has been downgraded in the process.  Saddled with grief and dementia, Dory is a panic stricken nervous case without time to crack as many jokes.  Her quest for her family is of course fraught with peril and fun new friends, and Nemo and Marlin tag along for the ride because, hey a sequel can't stray to far from it's roots right?!  The Pacific Coast setting is accurately rendered and yet so far removed from the delightful candy like reef that it is as much of a downer as remembering Dory's lost childhood is.  Things spice up once they reach an aquarium/habitat, but still strange plot questions weigh down what should easily float (like why on earth would a clutch of California sea lions have English accents?).

The great Ed O'Neil (Wayne's World) has the best and newest character as Hank, a curmodgeony octopus trying his best to escape yet slowly but surely falling under Dory's chaotic spell.  Hank's story is obviously influenced (and probably sparked the creation of the sequel) by the nationwide headlines a real life escaping octopus made in the news awhile back, and in 3D form provides the best action, fun and lines in the entire picture.  The only other stand out is Becky, the speechless empty headed loon that helps the fish, which is in of itself telling of the mediocrity of the main story.

The other characters (a near sighted whale, a Beluga with a confidence problem, etc) are mostly just there to move Dory along and fill in her backstory from the first film.  It's a case of better left unsaid, Dory is at her best being surprising and funny in difficult situations, but this Finding has to tell you WHY she had so many surprises and why she is so sad.  It's not an emotion easily stapled to our memories of Dory from the first film, and all of it comes across as not much of a reason to make a second.  Finding Dory is a safe money maker, it takes no chances with it's beloved franchise, and is the artistic equivalent of a luke warm salt water bath.

6 At Least the Humans look less Freakish out of 10 (GOOD)