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Finding Nemo

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Judy Thorburn

Finding Nemo

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Flick Chicks Chick-O-Meter The Flick Chicks, film, video, movie reviews, critics, Judy Thorburn, Victoria Alexander, Polly Peluso, Shannon Onstot, Jacqueline Monahan, Tasha ChemplavilFlick Chicks Chick-O-Meter The Flick Chicks, film, video, movie reviews, critics, Judy Thorburn, Victoria Alexander, Polly Peluso, Shannon Onstot, Jacqueline Monahan, Tasha ChemplavilFlick Chicks Chick-O-Meter The Flick Chicks, film, video, movie reviews, critics, Judy Thorburn, Victoria Alexander, Polly Peluso, Shannon Onstot, Jacqueline Monahan, Tasha ChemplavilFlick Chicks Chick-O-Meter The Flick Chicks, film, video, movie reviews, critics, Judy Thorburn, Victoria Alexander, Polly Peluso, Shannon Onstot, Jacqueline Monahan, Tasha ChemplavilFlick Chicks Chick-O-Meter The Flick Chicks, film, video, movie reviews, critics, Judy Thorburn, Victoria Alexander, Polly Peluso, Shannon Onstot, Jacqueline Monahan, Tasha Chemplavil

“FINDING NEMO” – SUBMERGED IN  SUPERBLY ANIMATED FUN

You’ve got to hand it to Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios. Theirs is a  fabulous collaboration that has churned out  the delightful A Bug’s Life, Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. And, they seem to have stuck gold once again with another awesome computer animated feature that will bring smiles and wonder to audiences of all ages.

Director/co-writer Andrew Stanton has created a wonderful little tale that blends a visually beautiful undersea adventure with heartfelt themes that parents will enjoy sharing with their children.

At the beginning we are introduced to a loving clownfish named Marlin (voiced by writer/actor/comedian Albert Brooks, presently co-starring in The In Laws) and his wife, Coral (Elizabeth Perkins) who live on a reef.  Awaiting the birth of their brood of 400 offspring, tragedy strikes when a giant, monstrous fish shows up and kills off everyone except Marlin and a lone, nearly hatched egg that Marlin names Nemo (Alexander Gould).

As usual, the animators imbue their non human subjects with very real human emotions and characteristics that are easily relatable.  Nemo, next seen growing up, is the typical youngster quizzical about his environment and ready to venture into dangerous waters. One day, when he is warned by his father to stop and turn back after swimming too far Nemo defies his dad, and in turn, is captured by a scuba diver which lands him in a fish tank at a dentist’s office in Sydney, Australia. With their separation, we are given two plotlines.  One is with Nemo and the sympathetic aquarium mates who take him under their wing, but who also see him as a means of escape. This bunch of amusing characters include starfish lookout, Peach (West Wing’s Allison Janney),  sensitive blowfish, Bloat (Everybody Loves Raymond’s Brad Garrett) and Gill (Willem Dafoe) the scar faced tough guy leader, among other colorful and comical tank inhabitants.  While they are working on a plan, the other scenario has fretful dad Marlin, unable to follow the boat that took his son, embarking on a dangerous journey across the ocean hoping to find him.  He comes across a scatter brained, memory impaired, but fun loving blue tang named Dory (the hilarious Ellen DeGeneres) who joins him on his desperate quest. Together they encounter numerous other sea creatures such as Bruce (Barry Humphries, aka his drag persona, Dame Edna Everage) the largest and meanest of three sharks who are in the middle of a self help crusade to become more friendly, telling themselves “Fish are our friends, not food”. And, after having to endure a painful navigation through a myriad of stinging jellyfish,  Marlin and Dory also meet up with a 150 year old dreary eyed sea turtle with a surfer dude persona named Crush, who is riding the current,  a school of fish voiced by John Ratzenberger (from TV’s Cheers) and ultimately, a pelican named Nigel (Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush) who leads Marlin in the right direction.

Not only is Finding Nemo a well scripted story, it is visually stunning.  Pixar’s animation team has done a masterful job in recreating a finely detailed undersea world of innumerable sea creatures and their surroundings.  Plus, the artists have skillfully captured the individual character traits and personalities of the voice over talents with their animated characters, even down to their facial expressions. Each actor seems perfectly suited to their roles leaving a memorable impression.  Brooks is wonderful as the neurotic (he has that part mastered), but loving father, but Degeneres steals the show and will have you rolling with laughter every time she utters a goofy line.  The combination of talent on screen and off screen results in a story driven, technical masterpiece that combines realism with fantasy in bravura fashion.

And, beneath the colorful eye candy and clever humor there is a good clean theme. Remember this IS a G rated Disney movie.  The message addresses both parent and child, teaching about the never ending bond of love amid separation, letting go, taking risks and finding oneself at ANY age. So, grab you partner or friend and don’t forget the kiddies. Everyone is bound to love Finding Nemo.  With do man throwaway movies nowadays, this family friendly piece of Summer film entertainment is a great catch!