You probably know by now that I love all things Disney. You should also know when I was invited to a screening of the new Finding Dory movie I did a happy dance. I might have even jumped up and down. (Can that be our little secret?) Because I was so happy I made the mistake of saying out loud in front of JustaBXgirl that we would be going to see the movie. Yup, so for the days between the invite and the actual showing I had to keep reminding her when we would actually be seeing it.
I was actually surprised at how familiar JustaBXgirl was with the characters as I don’t recall her ever seeing Finding Nemo. I know, I’m a horrible parent. (She also hasn’t seen Frozen but that doesn’t stop her from being obsessed.) What can I say? She’s a Disney kid. We have drank the kool-aid and love every sip of it.
Yes, yes I know. You don’t care about my love of Disney. All you are interested in right now is about the movie. Before I get into Finding Dory I have to tell you about Piper. OMGosh.
Piper has to be the cutest short film ever made. It is all about a baby bird learning to get it’s own food. The amount of emotions I felt watching this short is crazy. I laughed, I gasped, I even might have teared up a bit. Please let me know what you think when you see it.
Now what you’ve really been waiting for…Finding Dory. Yup, it was everything you think it will be. It’s Pixar so you already know visually it is stunning. This movie was so much more than visual though. The script. The acting. The music. All in perfect harmony.
I don’t want to give too much away even though with it being Finding Dory Day I’m sure most of you have already seen it. What I most love about the movie is the theme of family. While Dory is looking for her family and Marlin and Nemo are looking for Dory we get to see what family really means to these creatures. We get to see the bond that families have and how many times those bonds are much more than just sharing some DNA.
We get to see how important family is and what they are willing to sacrifice and risk in order to be reunited with family. I definitely look at life differently since becoming a mom. I loved Finding Nemo when it came out (and yes, I know I was old for cartoons in 2003 – stop judging). I think now though I look at things very differently. There’s a part in the movie where Dory is trying to explain to Marlin why she NEEDS to go look for her family. You can see him remembering what it was like to be missing Nemo. My heart ached for them in this scene. Yes, I’m aware it’s fiction. The feeling though is very real. If I was to be separated from JustaBXgirl there is nothing that could keep me from looking for her. Not even crossing the ocean (and I don’t know how to swim).
With JustaBXgirl sitting next to me I definitely was watching through mommy eyes. During a part when Marlin becomes frustrated and angry with Dory I understood that he was coming from a place of fear even though he was wrong for how he spoke to her.
Seeing Dory as a baby fish? How cute was she? It was great seeing where she came from and meeting some of her neighbors. Did you know she really can speak whale? And Hank? I love that grumpy old septopus. According to Dory an octopus that lost a tentacle is a septopus. I guess they’re right. You learn something new everyday. Hank is tons of fun. Even though he tries to be grumpy you can see how quickly he fell for Dory’s charms. And the way he camouflages himself everywhere is really cool.
Show stealers to me were the sea lions, Fluke and Rudder. I loved these two even before I realized the actors behind the pinnipeds are Idris Elba and Dominic West. That just made them even cooler.
I have to admit I was a little concerned on how the film would end. Would Dory find her parents and then say, “nice to see you. Tata for now” and head home with Nemo and Marlin? Would she bid farewell to the clownfish once she was reunited with her parents? Would Hank be happy in Cleveland? I can say I was very happy with how everything was wrapped up and I am sure you will be too.
Share your favorite part and your favorite character in the comments below.
