Finding Nemo (DVD 2004)

The main human in this story is a dentist who keeps an aquarium in his surgery. The inhabitants of this tank have acquired a detailed knowledge of dentistry and discuss their observations with great comic effect. Hence the title of my review, a line which makes me laugh every time I think of it.

This film is full of comedy, drama, adventure and some touching moments. It is for these that you can watch Finding Nemo again and again with undiminished pleasure. Knowing how the film ends does not matter! Actually, the first time I watched this DVD, I felt somewhat in agreement with a critical reviewer who didn't like its American fast pace. But when watching for the second time I quickly became accustomed to it.

Just a couple of nits to pick. The makers go to much trouble to get the physics of how objects move in water correct, but there is a lapse when a child fish falls off a sponge. Powered collisions and bounces are possible under water but not falls. Also, towards the end of the film, after Marlin has found Nemo apparently dead, he makes to go back home to The Great Barrier Reef but Dory wants to stay behind in Sydney. Thus is set the scene for an attempted break up of their friendship and Dory's touching appeal for this not to happen. But, it is not at all clear why Dory has to stay behind. It is a shame that such a carefully made and touching scene should be based on such a shaky premise. Oh! One more thing. Whales do NOT have uvulae! The uvula is unique to humans. Not even chimps have them!

But, how tiny these nits are! They matter not, which only emphasizes what a superb film this is.