For me, what was perhaps the most remarkable thing about Finding Dory┬áwas that its story flowed so effortlessly without the need of a villain. Like its previous instalment ÔÇô Finding Nemo ÔÇô the sole focus of the film were the characters and their predicament, which was interesting enough to make you forget the lack of a villain in the first place. Out of all the Pixar films I have seen (13 of the 17 feature length films released: the other 4 being The Good Dinosaur, Monsters University┬áand the two Cars┬áfilms) this is quite novel. Those who have seen the film may split hairs with regard to a fluorescent and beaked creature that Nemo and his father, Marlin, encounter. However, IÔÇÖd think it would be more appropriate to count that particular creature as (at best) a minor-character; or merely, antagonist.

Undoubtedly, Finding Dory is one of the best family film sequels. In the Pixar canon it is probably not as good as Toy Story 2 but itÔÇÖs certainly just as good as its previous instalment.┬á And at no point did I feel that Pixar made the film for any other reason than they had a story to tell. A simple story: it follows Marlin and his son as they try to find and rescue Dory who, in the process, is also trying to find her parents. The majority of the film is technically devoted to DoryÔÇÖs search for her parents but then again ÔÇÿFinding DoryÔÇÖs parentsÔÇÖ doesnÔÇÖt have quite the same ring to it.

Along the way Dory befriends many characters. All of whom manifest from PixarÔÇÖs attempt to both expand their roster of animated maritime animals and to capitalise on talent from TV: from Saturday Night Live┬áfame we have Bill Hader and Kate McKinnon play a married couple of Kelp Bass; from ItÔÇÖs always sunny in Philadelphia┬áwe have Kaitlin Olson playing a whale shark; and from Modern Family we have both Ty Burrell playing a beluga whale and Ed OÔÇÖNeill play a seven-tentacled octopus. OÔÇÖNeill is by far the best new character. He plays a seemingly self-interested and street-smart curmudgeon who only helps Dory out of a quid pro quo arrangement.

Aside from the film itself, I would just like to warn/remind those who, like myself, seldom do watch family films at the cinema that children donÔÇÖt know when to shut up. The film trailers for family films also tend to be quite irritating so in that regard I recommend you shouldnÔÇÖt worry too much if youÔÇÖre late to the cinema. Of course, then again, IÔÇÖm not the target audience so there we are. Anyway, aside from all of that, if you havenÔÇÖt already seen it IÔÇÖd highly recommend that you go and watch Finding Dory┬áwith your boyfriend or┬ágirlfriend. And! (I almost forgot) also try and watch the short film before Finding Dory: ÔÇÿPiperÔÇÖ, which was infinitely better than the preceding family film trailers.

Thomas Edwards