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Finding Nemo 3D, a modern classic

Oct 05 2012.

Pixar’s fifth flick isn’t quite a barrel of laughs but it is masterfully constructed. Released by Disney, this computer-animated picture was 2003’s second highest grossing film, beaten only by The Return of the King; a feat not to be sniffed at.

When overprotective clownfish Marlin (Albert Brooks) loses son Nemo (Alexander Gould), he embarks on a journey of gargantuan proportions to find his offspring. He is joined by Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), a regal tang suffering from short-term memory loss. They encounter vegetarian sharks, surf-cultured sea turtles and a rather large whale who swallows them whole.

As a twelve year old in 2003, your columnist found the obsessively obnoxious Dory rather tiresome to watch. She is still insufferably obstreperous; the result of irritating characterization and a highly unamusing Ellen DeGeneres. Still, $907m: the kids obviously enjoyed it.

And I think I did too.

Director Andrew Stanton’s script has its moments: when Marlin loses Nemo to the humans, a shark claims, “Humans think they own everything”, to which his companion replies, “Probably American…”. A smidgeon of biting satire on U.S. foreign policy….in an animated American comedy drama for kids? Definitely laudable.

Moreover, the sea world depicted is dark and foreboding, providing the perfect arena for some skillfully devised anticipation. The sound design, in particular, is flawless; from the roar of a boat to the squeal of a disposable camera, nothing in this computer-generated world is ignored by Pixar’s team.

This underwater odyssey is a modern classic. Do go watch it; hopefully you’ll get over Ellen sooner than I did!