Fans of Finding Nemo (and Ellen Degeneres) had to wait far too long for a sequel to the hit Pixar film, but now we can all bring it home to watch any time! Finding Dory is the perfect family movie and a must-own on Blu-ray. Let’s look at the reasons why you should pick up a copy this holiday season.
Finding Dory
First up, let’s talk about the movie itself. Finding Dory picks up where Finding Nemo left off. Dory, still living life with short term memory loss, actually starts to remember moments about her past and family, which leads her on a quest with Marlin and Nemo across the ocean to find her family. Along the way are amazingly adorable flashbacks to Dory’s childhood, old friends like Crush, and new ones like Destiny the whale shark, Bailey the beluga whale, and Hank the septopus. Finding Dory is just as beautiful as Finding Nemo; however, it lacks the same heart as the original, but makes up for it with some extremely humorous moments.
Bonus Features
Like many classic Pixar films, Finding Dory is packed with a ton of special features – so many they actually had to include a second disc of just bonus features, which is a nice considering you don’t see that very often any more. Let’s look at some of the highlights:
- Piper – Piper is the short that ran in front of the theatrical release of Finding Dory and it is mind-blowing. The animation is stunning and some of the most realistic work Pixar has ever created. There is such a deep story being told in Piper with absolutely no dialogue, similar to the opening act of Wall-E and that is something that only Pixar can get away with. If you haven’t seen Piper yet, get on it quick. And if you haven’t seen it since theaters, then it is time to sit down and watch it again.
- Marine Life Interviews – This vintage short is just slightly over two minutes long, but it is pretty hilarious as it features retro interviews with some of Dory’s friends she encountered at the Marine Life Institute. It could’ve easily been put on YouTube, but has a nice home on this release.
- The Octopus That Nearly Broke Pixar – This behind-the-scenes look at how Pixar created Hank the septopus is fascinating for the biggest Pixar fans and for those who really don’t understand how much of a technical achievement each Pixar film is. It is hard to not watch this feature and not want to put Finding Dory back on right away to see the intricacies behind one of the film’s best characters.
- Deleted Scenes – Usually deleted scenes are hit-or-miss, but the Finding Dory deleted scenes are actually very impressive. There are over 50 minutes of deleted scenes with commentary from director Andrew Stanton, and while some of the scenes are very repetitive, it actually gives you a pretty good idea of how many different ways the movie could’ve been taken. These are worth watching for sure.
- Trailers – Probably the best extra on this release is a look at the first US trailer, but also a Japanese, Spanish and Russian trailer. Each of the trailers are different and unique, and what makes that so entertaining is that you can really see how this one movie is pitched so differently to each culture. If these aren’t available on YouTube, then find a way to see these international trailers.
The list of reasons why to pick up Finding Dory on Blu-ray this holiday season could go on and on. It really is the perfect family movie with some of the most entertaining voice acting from huge stars like Ellen Degeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O’Neill, Ty Burrell, Eugene Levy, Diane Keaton and so many more. The bonus features can entertain you for a whole day and the commentary track from Andrew Stanton, Angus MacLane, and Lindsey Collins is worth listening to if you’ve seen the movie ten times and every bonus feature and you really just want to learn more. The video and audio quality is second to none, and kids will make sure this disc stays in the player for months to come.
Finding Dory is now available on Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD. Plus, Finding Dory will be available on sale at many retailers this Black Friday, so keep an eye out for a great deal!
