Finding Nemo
Cert. U
Director: Andrew Stanton
Starring: Ellen DeGeneres, Geoffrey Rush
Runtime: 101 minutes
Finding Nemo is the much-anticipated new film from Walt Disney and Pixar. It has the hard acts of the Toy Story films and Monsters Inc. to follow, but it rises to the challenge with the winning Pixar formula. Its release date of October 10th is timed to make money from the school half-term audience, but like its predecessors, Finding Nemo appeals to all ages.
The story centres on lovable Clown Fish, Nemo and his over-protective dad, Marlin. After the two argue, Nemo swims into the open sea off of the Great Barrier Reef where he is picked up and taken away by a diver. Then the adventure starts as Marlin sets off into the ocean to find his son. Along the way he runs into all kinds of trouble and meets a host of memorable characters.
Accompanying him on his journey is Dory, a Blue Tang fish with no short-term memory, which leads to some very funny, if a few slightly predictable moments. With her energy and optimism, she makes a perfect companion to the fretful Marlin. Dory is one of my favourite characters in the film, partly because of the brilliant choice of Ellen Degeneres to voice her. In fact, in fish form, Dory is almost Ellen’s character from the TV show.
Other famous voices include Albert Brooks, Alex Gould, and Geoffrey Rush – who plays a pelican named Nigel. Wiiliam Defoe voices Gill, the leader of the ‘Tank Gang’, a group of exotic fish who live in the diver’s fish tank after they have been caught, and the place to which Nemo is taken.
A race against time ensues in which Marlin must find Nemo before he becomes a birthday present for the diver’s niece – who has a reputation for not being particularly nice to her pets. It is not too difficult to guess at the ending of the film, but then plot is not what makes Finding Nemo such a good film. As with the Toy Stories and Monsters Inc., the strength in Finding Nemo lies in the Disney/Pixar genius of creating unforgettable characters with sparkling, witty dialogue.
Marlins journey allows him to have adventures with many of these characters, including Bruce, a shark who has set up a fish eaters anonymous group with the slogan ‘Fish are friends not food.’ Crush is part of a group of sea turtles with Californian accents and a love of the word ‘dude’, and Marlin’s encounter with them is an excellent part of the film, with some incredibly cute baby turtles. That these are recognisable character types, but in an unreal, underwater situation is what makes the film appeal to adults, with references and in-jokes that kids just won’t get.
Also, the seagulls are the funniest things since the aliens from Toy Story. Definitely not to be missed.
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