Finding Dory (2016)

Famurewa praises the film as a dazzling, emotionally rich return to form that avoids feeling like a retread. He especially singles out Dory’s intimate emotional journey and the inventive aquarium sequences.

The critic finds the sequel beautiful, rambunctious, and emotionally satisfying, saying it lives up to the original. He especially praises its dazzling underwater imagery and Dory’s newly deepened characterization.

The review is strongly positive, finding the sequel full of heart and even smarter than its predecessor. It singles out the film’s emotional warmth and intelligence.

Ehrlich finds the sequel surprisingly satisfying and a compelling defense of sequels, despite its familiar scenery and lack of Pixar-level originality. He particularly praises its emotional exploration of feeling lost and the sense of connection that makes the ocean feel like home.

Bitel finds the sequel beautifully animated, fast-paced and funny, with an affirming message about overcoming adversity together. He singles out its pixel-perfect panoramas and plentiful gags, while noting a troubling portrayal of bullying toward a character with an intellectual disability.

Macnab calls it one of Pixar’s most charming films, praising its blend of whimsy, screwball humour and pathos. He singles out the witty dialogue and sound effects, while noting the story’s sentimentality and predictable ending.

The review says the sequel goes swimmingly for the most part, though its story falls short of Pixar’s usual invention. It singles out the film’s visual pleasures for praise.

Sragow finds the follow-up poignant and playfully self-referential. He singles out its blend of emotional depth and self-aware humor for praise.

Gray finds the sequel emotionally affecting despite its familiar stakes and formulaic journey. He praises how Dory’s empathy helps other characters overcome their doubts, alongside the film’s sensitive portrayal of her memory loss.

Dowd finds the sequel pleasant but less transporting and inventive than its predecessor. He praises its photorealistic underwater visuals and recurring Alien-related jokes, while criticizing its confined setting and canned emotional arc.

The review’s verdict is positive, though the sequel’s journey feels familiar. It singles out the film’s warmth and Ellen DeGeneres’s performance.

Edelstein finds the sequel less original and emotionally deep than Finding Nemo, but ultimately delightful and funny. He especially praises the escalating slapstick and the resourceful new character Hank.

O'Sullivan finds the sequel inferior to Finding Nemo but still pleasurable, with Dory's appeal carrying it. She praises Ellen DeGeneres's sensitive, nuanced voice performance, while noting that familiar gags and scenes rarely startle.

The critic finds the sequel a safe but engaging lighthearted diversion for fans of the original. They praise its colorful, immersive world and engaging take on home and identity, despite a predictable script.

The page identifies this as a review of the 2016 film, but the review text is behind a paywall. Its verdict and any specifically praised or criticized element cannot be determined from the available text.

Hoffman finds the sequel emotionally effective but repetitive, facile, and heavy-handed in its message. He praises Hank’s mesmerising animation and DeGeneres’s performance, while faulting the overblown ending.

Smith finds the film enjoyable but clearly less successful than its predecessor, calling it a partial return to form. He praises its moments of visual beauty, especially the starry reflection in Dory’s eyes and the migrating manta rays.

Turan finds the sequel only sporadically encouraging and ultimately a mid-range Pixar effort. He praises its undersea visuals and especially the entertaining sea creatures Dory encounters.

McCarthy finds the sequel rambunctious and passably humorous but far less inventive than its predecessor, with impatience outweighing enjoyment. He praises Hank the octopus’s funny physical antics and Ed O’Neill’s vocal performance as the film’s main source of laughs.

The critic finds the sequel delightful and emotionally resonant, even if it lacks the original’s surprises. She especially praises how it turns Dory’s memory loss into a strength, alongside its animation and tender message.

The critic considers it one of Pixar’s best sequels and a brilliant film overall. They praise the emotional baby-Dory sequences, while finding the climactic freeway chase over the top.

The review calls the sequel a worthy successor, emotionally rich and ultimately hopeful. It especially praises the tender flashbacks showing Dory’s parents helping her cope with memory loss.

Hammond finds the sequel irresistible and expects it to please both children and parents. He particularly praises Ellen DeGeneres’s vocal performance and the humor provided by the scene-stealing octopus Hank.

Brew finds the sequel enjoyable, though not as strong as Finding Nemo. He praises Dory’s positive portrayal of disability, the memorable characters, and the film’s stunning visuals, while noting that its story feels familiar.

Wilkinson finds the sequel emotionally effective and warmly entertaining, with Dory’s optimism at its heart. She praises its balance of sentiment, slapstick and visual gags, which keeps the story lively without eclipsing its characters.

Sciretta finds the sequel emotionally rewarding and fun, though less successful overall than Finding Nemo. He praises the new sea lion characters and the film’s emotional humor, but faults its overlong ending.

Goldberg calls the sequel a heartwarming, funny, and worthy successor, though it falls short of Finding Nemo. He praises its endearing new characters and emotional treatment of mental health, while noting uneven pacing.

Snydel finds the sequel emotionally affecting and a worthwhile expansion of Dory’s story, despite chaotic plotting and some weak comic characters. He praises its honest treatment of loneliness and the challenges faced by Dory and her parents.

The URL presents the film as a worthy successor to Finding Nemo. The article text is blocked, so its verdict and specific praise cannot be verified.

The critic finds the sequel brilliant and engaging despite a somewhat repetitive plot and heavy-handed moral messages. The dazzling action and Ed O’Neill’s performance as Hank stand out for praise.

Charles finds the sequel sluggish and less sharp, smart, or funny than expected from Pixar. He praises its animation and emotional impact, though he finds the world less tactile and the film forgettable.