DVDFile

Buena Vista / 101 Minutes / 2003 / Rated G / Street Date: December 4, 2012

Finding Nemo is another slam-dunk for Pixar. A studio still on a winning streak unrivaled in recent Hollywood history, this family-friendly fish tale ruled the 2003 summer box office with one fin tied behind its back, out-grossing every live-action sequel in its path, and then re-trumped the industry with a 3D release earlier this year.

A mix of fish-out-of-water and you-can't-go-home-again conventions, our tale begins when Nemo, a cute little clownfish, gets unexpectedly picked up but a pet store scuba diver. Dropped in a dentist's fish tank - and soon to be a neglected birthday present for the dentist's young and very scary-looking daughter Darla - it is Nemo's overprotective father Marlin and a friendly but scatterbrained regal blue tang named Dory to the rescue. An epic journey ensues, filled with vegetarian sharks, surfer turtles, hypnotic jellyfish and a flock of very hungry seagulls.

Truth be told, Finding Nemo is a fairly typical father-son story. But they say there are only about seven or eight basic stories to tell anyway, and the magic is in how you say it. Too bad Pixar can't patent their secret ingredients. Is it the gorgeous animation? The sharp and witty dialogue? The enchanting and memorable characters? The impeccable voice talent they can assemble with the flick of a cell phone? Or just great marketing? I bet it is a little bit of everything.

Rare do all of the elements that make a great movie seem to line up so effortlessly. That Pixar only chooses to tell their stories with computer animation is besides the point; while most other studio continue to flounder with half-baked stories and misguided attempts at reimagining the classics, Pixar realizes that it is not the tools that ultimately matter most. Even beneath the skin of a synthetic fish can beat the flesh and blood heart of a human being.