Finding Nemo (May 30, 2003)

This is Pixar’s 5th animated feature film; they continue to impress in its animation prowess. Finding nemo is gorgeous. The seas are captured in all their beauty, danger, and mystery; It simultaneously looks familiar and alien. Even the few humans in the film look good- a vast improvement from even Monsters, Inc. The story follows a father and son clownfish, Marlin and Nemo. Marlin’s wife and most of his children are killed by a large fish which causes him to become paranoid and overprotective of his remaining son, Nemo. Nemo is eventually separated from Marlin and so his father goes on a great adventure to bring him home (with the help of Dory). This is a fine plot that provides the film with direction and purpose, along with allowing a duel perspective of Marlin and Nemo’s separate journeys to each other. My problem with the movie, then, is the characters. I find Nemo to be a brat. He disregards his father’s advice which leads to him being captured. Marlin, in contrast, is slightly neurotic and wants to, understandably, shelter his son from all the dangers of the outside world. But this arguably leads him open to more danger. Their bond is the heart of the movie, but I feel like it is not developed enough at the beginning to earn the emotional payoff at the end. But the character I dislike the most is Dory. She is annoying and largely unhelpful and honestly comes off as a stereotype of people with disabilities. I wish her personality were toned down or she was written out completely. Overall, Finding Nemo while technically amazing with a fine plot, is weighed down by its characters and, as such, I am not a fan.

Final Rating: 6/10