"Finding Dory" was the answer to a 13-year wait.
It's been 13 years since "Finding Nemo" opened and captivated children young and old alike. I distinctly remember seeing it in my hometown movie theater when I was seven years old. My dad made the declaration during Father's Day weekend (back in '03) that seeing the clownfish movie was what he wanted to do. My Mom and I laughed thinking that it was a funny gift idea for a grown man. However, since my dad is a child at heart, we thought it'd be fun to go.
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We would've never guessed that the animated film would have such an impact on not only us, but on everyone, everywhere. It will forever be a classic family movie for generations to adore. My family loved it so much that we purchased "Finding Nemo" on VHS right when it hit stores. Ah, those were the days!
Now fast forward 13 years and here I am at 20 years old. We're in the same theater, with my dad on Father's Day, watching "Finding Dory," its long-awaited sequel. It was a total full-circle moment for us.
As I looked around the theater before the trailers started to roll, I saw a beautiful sight. I witnessed not only little toddlers with their parents but also college students, senior citizens, and young couples seeing this movie. All generations were waiting for the next chapter of the story to release, and now it was finally here.
This sequel not only warmed hearts in the theater, but it also made connections back to the first film. It acted like a puzzle, piecing together the parts of Dory's story that weren't revealed in "Finding Nemo." Seeing the blue tang swim across the screen, with her clownfish friends, was like a long-overdue reunion.
I don't want to be a movie spoiler, but I do want to share what I took away from it. Just like "Finding Nemo," the sequel spread a message of family strength and loyalty. With her innocent personality and frequent forgetfulness, Dory swam the ocean blue in search of her long-lost family. To me, Dory represents determination. Even with her short-term memory loss, she finds a way to overcome the challenges she faces. Sometimes, that means needing to boost her confidence and rely on whatever memory comes to her. Nemo even has to remind his father, Marlin, to trust in Dory and how she does things. She may be scatterbrained at times, but she is almost always correct in her way of thinking.
This movie had an ever-present "feel good" vibe. There were humorous parts, emotional moments and a classic lesson to be learned at its closing.
My favorite part had to be the background of Dory's famous line, "Just keep swimming." The mystery of why she chants that jingle was finally solved! And I was satisfied.
The 13-year wait was a long one, but "Finding Dory" was worth it.
