A Whale of a Tale
Finding Nemo Is a Must Sea!

Having grown up with Disney movies (the classic animated ones and the live-action variety), I definitely have a spot in my heart for the company. Heck, I even moved to Florida to work for the Mouse after I graduated college. But that doesn't mean that every Disney movie that comes down the pike is worth seeing. I can honestly say, however, that the Disney/Pixar collaboration is still perfect.

With now classic films like Toy Story & Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, and Monsters, Inc. on their resume, it seems that the folks at Pixar can do no wrong. Even though these films are intended for family audiences, they do not dumb down to kids. The stories are genuinely interesting and unique. So it is with the new offering, Finding Nemo.

Starring the voices of Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Willem Dafoe and others, Finding Nemo is an outstanding story of adventure, determination, and love. Having lost his wife and eggs to a big fish near the drop off, Marlin (Brooks) has raised the one remaining egg himself. His son, Nemo (Alexander Gould), is now old enough to go to school, but Marlin's bad tragedy has made him overprotective. As a result, Nemo defies his father and swims past the drop off into the "big blue" where misfortune finds him captured by a diver.

Marlin races after the boat that has abducted Nemo, but he soon finds himself lost and frantic in the middle of an ocean that he had once been too afraid to explore. Still chasing after Nemo, Marlin must rely on the frightening and strange creatures he meets. Helping him is Dory (DeGeneres), a goofy fish that suffers from short-term memory loss. Her silliness perfectly offsets Marlin's serious demeanor and keeps the mood lighthearted as the pair follow clues to find Nemo.

Like other Pixar films, the unique story and lovable characters are highlighted by state of the art computer graphics that take animation to its highest level. One only has to see the breathtakingly rendered Great Barrier Reef to see that this is more than animation, this is virtual life. Likewise, the world above the sea is filled with characters that mimic (and satire) everything from pelicans to dentists. The single-minded sea gulls that squawk "Mine!" "Mine!" "Mine!" at every potential food source are a riot.

The comedy in Finding Nemo ranges from slapstick to subtle. There are jokes galore throughout the movie. The characters underwater are a reflection of the characters in our world, from sharks on a 12-step program to not eat fish to sea turtles who ride the East Australian Current like surfers riding waves. (Complete with remarks like "Dude!") Some of the jokes are a strange combination of low humor and high intellect, such as the baby octopus that "inks" himself whenever he gets scared. I found myself laughing out loud through most of the movie.

Younger filmgoers may be frightened by some of the scenes involving big fish trying to eat little fish. Also, a scene with stinging jellyfish is very suspenseful. On the whole, however, Finding Nemo is a non-violent movie where most fish get along.

Be sure to stay through the credits. As they roll by, most of the aquatic cast floats by performing various jokes. There's even a guest appearance by a character from another Pixar film near the end of the credits.

MY RATING: 10 out of 10.

RATED: G
RUN TIME: 101 min.