Finding Nemo (Film) Critique 4/4

 

*****SPOILERS*****

 
Emotional Moments
 
Nemo’s self-worth is constantly destroyed by his father.

Marlin’s doing this because he wants to protect Nemo, so much so that Marlin doesn’t protect Nemo from his own father. This is done not only with soul-destroying speeches but with constant reminders of his limitations, like telling Mr Ray about Nemo’s little fin. Poor guy doesn’t need reminding!

Nemo tells his friends not to go into the ocean. Then Marlin tells him off for being about to go into the ocean. The injustice of being accused of something you didn’t/weren’t going is always frustrating, especially when you were doing the exact opposite of the accusations. When your parents prevent you from doing so much, to be preventing from the truth is beyond awful.

Marlin tells Nemo, “You think you can do these things but you just can’t, Nemo.” This limits what Nemo is allowed to do. It makes Nemo feel like his dad doesn’t believe in him, thinks he’s incapable and lacks potential. There’s a massive difference between making your child be realistic and just obliterating their self-worth.

Just like Nemo, Gill has a bad fin. Marlin’s always held Nemo back because of his bad fin, so seeing Gill thriving despite his bad fin must have given Nemo reassurance that he himself could be independent.
 
There are some heart-stopping moments.

Marlin and Dory swim along one corridor. Bruce swims in the one underneath, his dorsal fin popping open the grates between their corridors. Super scary.

Bruce says, “G’day.” Considering this Aussie phrase is used in pleasant greeting, to have Bruce use it when he wants to eat Marlin and Dory is especially sinister.

The tank gang put a pebble in the fan so that it stops spinning, allowing Nemo to safely wriggle up the pipe. As he’s doing this, the fan suddenly starts up again. This pulls Nemo back towards the spinning blades which slice things apart. So that’s a massive moment of jeopardy.

Marlin spots Dory hurt on another turtle, muttering under her breath. So it makes Marlin think she’s very hurt. His fear and sadness fully transfer to the audience.

P. Sherman walks out right when the toilet flushes, meaning he didn’t wash his hands. For a medical professional of all people to be so unhygienic is gross. (Most people would think this is just ew, not heart-stopping, I know.)
 
There are some smaller details that are especially heartwarming.

Nemo’s laugh is pure gold. It’s clear with joy. The unique sound and rhythm are very memorable.

When Dory finally remembers everything, that’s a lovely moment. Struggling with memory is like struggling with reality, so to have reality stay still is a bonus.

Marlin names his surviving egg ‘Nemo’ (the name Coral wanted) instead of the name he wanted (Marlin Jr). So this name choice is in memory of, and in tribute to, Coral. Also, he wanted Marlin Jr for all the kids, so to use that name when all of the kids bar one were dead would’ve been painful.
 
 
Emotional: Marlin’s Anxiety
 
Marlin’s nervous disposition is amplified by the attack by the barracuda. We directly see his pain and see how this transforms his behaviour in the rest of the film.

Marlin regains consciousness after the attack to discover the barracuda ate Coral and all but one of their eggs. Clearly Marlin feels guilt: they were only at that anemone because he moved them there, so they wouldn’t have fallen to the barracuda if they hadn’t been there.

Marlin is an overbearing, safety-obsessed parent. He must still carry the trauma and the guilt from the barracuda attack so this is hardly a surprise. But his intense anxiety isn’t brand new. When he spoke with Coral, it’s clear he’s a nervous individual. He worries his kids won’t like him; he constantly seeks reassurances on his decisions. It’s clear that his disposition pre-attack exacerbated how bad his post-attack behaviour would be.

The boat drives off with Nemo. Marlin follows it. Considering he’s scared of the open ocean (and of everything in general), this is really moving. It shows that Marlin can overcome his anxiety because of how much he loves Nemo.
 
Marlin nervous disposition gets better throughout the film. It’s a gradual process that follows a clear line of cause and effect, meaning this character development makes complete sense for Marlin (rather than just being necessary for the plot).

Squirt falls out of the East Australian Current. Marlin wants to help. Crush says Squirt can do it himself: after all, Squirt came to the sea by himself as soon as he hatched. This shows Marlin how even hatchlings are capable of doing things for themselves. This is a wake-up call for Marlin because he’s never allowed Nemo this independence, nor believed he was even capable of it.

Marlin moans that he promised Nemo he’d, “never let anything happen to him.” Dory responds, “But then nothing would ever happen to him.” On the surface, Dory’s statement seems pretty obvious. But Marlin understands the intention behind it: what kind of life can Nemo have if he does nothing?

Marlin and Dory bounce on the jellyfish tops like they’re trampolines. It turns a dangerous situation into a fun experience. (It’s especially nice to see Marlin let go a little.) Nervous avoidance replaced with confidence and action.

Dory gets caught in a fishing net. Nemo wants to go in the net to save Dory, saying, “I can do this.” Marlin responds with, “You’re right. You can.” To see this turning point, to see Marlin trust Nemo even in dangerous situations, is really moving.

Back home, Marlin bounces on Nemo, shouting, “Time for school!” At the beginning, this was the other way around. Then they race through the reef to Mr Ray’s school, the opposite of Marlin’s earlier slow and cautious travelling. To see Marlin living life, to see him let Nemo live life, is one of the most rewarding character arcs I’ve ever seen.

After they’ve saved the fish, Nemo tells his dad, “I don’t hate you.” The very last thing Nemo said to his father before getting kidnapped was, “I hate you.” It’s nice for the record to be straight. At the end of the film, Nemo stops Mr Ray so that he can swim back to hug his dad. A loving father-son bond.
 
Marlin shows a lot of vulnerability when with Dory.

The school of fish won’t help Marlin. He complains no-one will. Dory says, “I’m helping you.” It’s so vulnerable, especially as Marlin’s just been trying to push Dory away. Whilst this is hypocritical, it makes sense. Loads of people complain they have no friends, even though they’re the ones who pushed everyone away. Loads of people complain they don’t have a partner, even though they’re choosing to stay home so there’s no way for them to get a date. When in a tight spot, feelings often don’t match actions.

Dory starts speaking whale again and Marlin says, “You think you can do these things, but you just can’t, Nemo.” This is the same speech he gave Nemo earlier in the film. It seems to be his default setting for dealing with his loved ones.

Marlin doesn’t want to be near Dory. She responds with, “When I look at you, I feel home. I don’t want to forget.” Dory bears her heart and is rejected. That is painful to watch. Also, she spends her whole life forgetting, so for her to plead to not have to bear that burden anymore? Then because she says she doesn’t want to forget, Marlin says, “I do.” He’s lost everything. Who’d want to remember that?
 
All my life, when Deb introduces Flo, she tells her reflection, “Hyha waaya,” something that is utterly meaningless nonsense. I only found out that the actual words were, “Hi, how are ya?” when I put the subtitles on! The audience should rely on clear enunciation, not subtitles.

The gap between the ‘hi’ and ‘how’ are so small that it sounded like a two-syllable word, not two one-syllable words. If this gap had been an appropriate size, the ‘ha waaya’ would have been easier to decipher.

Plus, the ‘ya’ goes down in pitch, even though questions end on a higher pitch. If the pitch had been appropriate, I would’ve known it was a question which would have helped me find the meaning.
 
 
 
Conclusion
 
This has been one of my favourite films for a long time.

I remember so many of the phrases and regularly use them in normal conversation. It keeps me chuckling and its visuals never fail to enchant me, no matter how many times I watch it. The emotional impact is as fresh as ever.

There are so few problems that I half expect something to creep out the woodwork, but nothing ever does. Plus, none of these problems actually damage the plot, something worthy of praise.

This film brings me joy and I’m glad it was made.

I love all animals, but fish are the ones I’m least bothered about. So for a fish-led film to be amongst my favourites? That’s a great achievement.