Movie Review: "Finding Dory" (No Spoilers)

We waited 13 long years for the sequel to Disney Pixar's "Finding Nemo" and Friday the long awaited release of "Finding Dory" hit theaters nationwide. The film brings back our favorite forgetful blue tang fish, Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) who suddenly remembers that she has lost her parents and now needs to go find them. She goes on the search of where she is from, the Jewel of Morro Bay, California, where she knows she lived with her parents.

The film has its highs and lows especially the chemistry between Dory and her new friend in Hank the "septopus" (played by Ed O'Neill) as he helps her find her parents. Hank is a great added character to the film. While in the beginning he comes off this mean old animal who just wants to be isolated by the end of the film Dory teaches him that living in the wild is going to be alright.

Dory also reunites with old friend in 'pipe pal' Destiny (Kaitlin Olson), a near-sighted whale shark, who along with a new friend in Bailey (Ty Burrell), a beluga whale who lost his echolocation due to a concussion, unite with each other to help Dory and each other to who they truly are and what they can do for each other. I can't forget Rudder and Fluke, the hilarious and territorial sea lions in the film or those adorable sea otters.

Back to Dory who throughout the film is just as forgetful as she was in the original film. By the end however she uses her short term memory loss to her advantage to help find her parents Jenny (Diane Keaton) and Charlie (Eugene Levy). There are points in the film where you get lost in the story and not sure where your going but overall it was a great film and sequel to "Finding Nemo." The ending  to the film will definitely make you want to get your tissues out.

The film shows the true meaning of family and that when lost you will always find your way home if you follow your heart. Or in this case, "Follow the shells, and you will find your way home." Like I said the film was amazing but doesn't live up to the original film I believe. "Finding Nemo" was simply amazing and was going to be hard to top. Still "Finding Dory" should leave you thinking after the film just how amazing Pixar is when making films.

Overall, I don't give "Finding Dory" a perfect score but it still get 4.5 out of 5 popcorn bags. It's a film you should definitely go see with your family or no matter what your age is you will enjoy this film. Oh and, "Just Keep Swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming, swimming."

First Look at Two New Characters in "Finding Dory"; What's New in 2016, New Trading Pins Coming to Disney Parks

First Look at Two New Characters in "Finding Dory":

Today, Entertainment Weekly gave us a first look at two new characters set to take the screen in "Finding Dory" voiced by Ty Burrell and Kaitlin Olson. Burrell (Modern Family) will voice Bailey, a snub-nosed beluga whale and Olson (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) will voice Destiny, a sweet whale shark. The film brings back Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) the forgetful blue tang from "Finding Nemo" who is on the search for her parents, on the way she will meet new duo when she visits a rehabilitation center at a marine life facility. 

Burrell said in the interview that his character isn't great with his own sonar capability, while Destiny his partner in crime has problem with swimming straight. The offbeat duo play an important role in reuniting Dory with her parents. Olson said in the interview that the two often get on each other's nerves in the film where she is a shark but Bailey calls her a whale while Olson makes fun of Burrell's characters' big head. 

The two co-star along with DeGeneres as well as Albert Brooks, Diane Keaton, Dominic West, Ed O'Neill, Eugene Levy, and Idris Elba. "Finding Dory" plays up the storytelling style that has made Pixar films such a hit with kids and adults alike. Burrell said, "There's always a deeper message with Pixar, and so much of it (in Finding Dory) is that these characters are trying to find faith in themselves. "They're trying to overcome their insecurities in order to help somebody in need."

"Finding Dory" hits theaters beginning June 17, 2016.

What's New in 2016? New Trading Pins Coming to Disney Parks:

Today the Disney Parks Blog showed us a sneak peek of what new trading pins are coming to Disney Parks in 2016. Several new collections will be released including the "Disney Love Letters" and "Magical Montage 2016" collections that will release a new pin each month in 2016. Here is the full blog:

New pins to collect or trade are on their way to Disney Parks in 2016. I recently stopped by the Disney pin development office at Disney Theme Park Merchandise to get a first look at several new open edition and limited edition pins. Here are a handful of my favorites coming soon to Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts.

One of my favorite new pin-of-the-month collections is called “Disney Love Letters.” Each limited edition pin features characters expressing warm sentiments of love. You might recall seeing two of these pins in a recent Disney Parks Blog Unboxed video. The collection will be shared between Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts, and each pin will have an edition size of 3,000.

The “Magical Montage 2016” collection will be released at Walt Disney World Resort. Each limited edition pin will have characters next to an icon that opens to reveal another character. A new pin will be released each month, and each pin will have an edition size of 3,000.

We’ll continue saluting the Disneyland Diamond Celebration with more Disneyland “D” character pins. Each pin will have an edition size of 3,000 and will be released at Disneyland Resort.

I love the “Disney Duets” pin-of-the-month collection as each pin is like a work of art. The monthly series will be released in a metal box with lid.

The popular Piece of Disney History will return to both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts in 2016. Each pin in this collection contains a piece of a Disney Park attraction, show or icon.

There will also be two mystery pin sets inspired by artwork from March Magic 2015. You may recall we offered t-shirts online with these designs last spring. Now, guests will be able to trade for their favorite teams with these mystery sets containing 16-pins each. Pictured above are some of the teams from the Disneyland Resort collection.

Finally, we’ll have several new open edition pins released throughout the year. I was delighted to see Humphrey the Bear and a pin inspired by Walt Disney’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” These pins and others make great gifts which can be presented in two unique pin gift boxes currently available at Disney Parks.

Happy Trading in 2016.