While on vacation in Enid, OK, we took the kids to see Finding Nemo. It may just be the BEST Pixar animated feature to date!
As they have done with several recent flicks, Pixar first taunted us with a short film. Knick Knack was their very first computer animated short film. This story of a snowman in a snow globe pining for the disproportionate blond from Miami had me in stitches for several minutes. 'Nuff said. Moving along.
Finding Nemo was a hit on several levels. It was refreshing to see a G-Rated movie that was TRULY G-Rated. I didn't find one thing objectionable in this film as far as allowing my children to see it. I did find fault with one disparaging comment about "Americans" that I know was tossed in there by some liberal socialist American-hating scum at Pixar. However, I was able to overlook it and enjoy the movie in spite of the needless barb. But, I digress...
The movie begins with heartbreak, as Marlin, a clownfish (perfectly voiced by Albert Brooks), loses his wife and hundreds of his soon-to-be-hatched eggs to a shark. The one surviving egg becomes Nemo, Marlin's pride and joy. Nemo is quite willful and Marlin is very overprotective. When Nemo goes off to school and begins hanging out with other young seas creatures, he quickly succumbs to peer pressure and enters dangerous waters in order to show he is not afraid. Marlin is afraid of the ocean and warns Nemo to stay close to his coral home. In blatant rebellion to his father, Nemo ventures off and is soon captured by a deep sea diver seeking a gift for his niece.
The story then takes two different perspectives, alternating between concurrently developing storylines. The first is the story of Nemo, as he learns to exist in his new home, a fish-tank in an Australian Dentist's office. He meets a variety of colorful characters and discovers that an escape is possible. The other is the story of Marlin as he seeks to find his son, regardless of what he must go through to get his boy back. He, too, meets many unique and entertaining characters, not the least of which is Dori (hysterically voiced by Ellen DeGeneres), a fish who may remind you of the lead character in the movie Memento (minus the psychotic behavior!).
Along the way, Marlin and Nemo meet so many wonderful characters in the big blue, from sharks in recovery (fish are friends, not food!) to surfer-dude turtles, along with dozens of other varieties of other ocean life. Pixar has an amazing talent for giving human attributes to sea life by capitalizing on their own common attributes. Each one is a pleasure to discover. I found myself eager to see what character they would introduce next. The jokes are non-stop, and great for children and adults to enjoy.
Yes, the ending is a bit sappy, yet it rings true with each of us as the way we would have it end were we the writers. It is a firm affirmation of traditional family values. And for that, I am glad. Can't wait to get the DVD when it comes out later this year!
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