More than a decade after the release of Finding Nemo, Disney tasked writer and director, Andrew Stanton, with creating an acceptable sequel to the 2003 masterpiece. Many sequels fall short of expectations and oftentimes they are unable to provide audiences with the same level of entertainment as the films that came before it.
Stanton stacked the deck in his favor by surrounding himself with a strong cast and crew and with that cohort he was able to successfully create a story that, like most other Disney films, appealed to audiences both young and old. Casting directors Natalie Lyon and Kevin Reher filled the film with wonderfully talented actors such as Ed O’Neill (Hank), Ty Burrell (Bailey) and Kaitlin Olson (Destiny). Ellen DeGeneres returns as Dory, in her own film, and continues her ways as the positive, fun-loving Blue Tang fish. She, along with Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Nemo (now voiced by Hayden Rolence), travel the world, yet again, and make new friends along the way. Dory is able to touch the hearts of any and everyone who watches her, just like she did in the first film, making her, again, a fan favorite.
As wonderfully upbeat, supportive and irrationally rational as Dory is, O’Neill’s Hank steals the show. His relatable angst and short temper allow audiences to fall in love with him the same way they did with Dory in the previous film. Each and every character in the film brought new and unique humor to the story, making it every bit as enjoyable as Finding Nemo.
Stanton, again, found himself in a situation where he was able to do more than just present the world a fun children’s story. He, as he previously had done, used the characters to create a relationship with the audience and teach them about themselves in the most positive ways. Familial connections, trust and the journey of maturation are just some of the topics that Stanton was able to touch on. He taught audiences to be patient with the ones you love and to trust that they, like you, have the ability of succeeding in life. Disney always finds ways to layer their stories and make them more than what they appear to be on the surface, but Stanton ups the ante and finds ways to deliver messages beyond what one would ever expect from a children’s film.
It almost seems silly to compare Stanton to the likes of George Lucas or Christopher Nolan, but his storytelling ability does, in fact, compare to those of Inception (2010) and Star War Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). Finding Dory contains all the necessary aspects to entertain and to teach, and Stanton deserves recognition for achieving that incredibly difficult feat.
Comentários