Rolling towards the finish line! The most recent Pixar movies.
Finding Dory, 2016 Dory remembers that she has a family, and crosses the ocean to find them in California. Marlin and Nemo come with her to help her, but they get separated. Awesome new characters are introduced, including Hank, the octopus (septopus) who wants to go to Cleveland and get away from the scary ocean. Dory follows a trail of broken memories to her family- those paths of shells all leading to her home, my heart! She then rescues Marlin and Nemo. Hank driving the truck is hilarious. Marlin realizes he has to let Dory do things herself, as he has learned to do with his son.
Cars 3, 2017 Lightning’s been racing and winning for years, but now he’s the old guy. Then he crashes. Wait, that voice sounds familiar..Sterling, the millionaire sponsor is Nathan Fillion. Cruz, his trainer, is treating him like an old man, using treadmills and simulators and science for the future of racing. He starts changing her mind by bringing her to train outside. She’s always wanted to be racer. They accidentally enter a demolition derby. Lightning thinks that if he stops racing, his life is over, but he is reminded that Hudson found happiness in training him. So he turns to his trainer and becomes her mentor.Passing the torch. Pretty nice plot twist, but sorry Nathan Fillion!
Coco, 2017 This is a well crafted movie that is full of music, but is it a musical? All the music in it is performed, not sudden outpourings of singing conversation. It introduces Mexican culture, especially the afterlife, and makes it part of the story, not a lecture. Miguel learns that family is very important, and that no one is gone if they are not forgotten. He also learns that sometimes your idols can let you down. Dante is a wonderful side-kick, and an alibrijes (I had to look that up). I noticed a detail I didn’t the first time around, the family’s big alibrijes, Pepita, joins Dante as a stray cat when they visit the living.
Incredibles 2, 2018 Superheroes are still illegal, but a millionaire has a plan to change all that. His perpetually tired sister disagrees. Helen is enticed into being the poster girl for restoring superheroes, while Bob takes over all parenting duties. The movie deals with the sexism printed at stay at home dads plus the realities that every parent deals with of learning on the job. Jack Jack’s powers, Violet’s date having his mind wiped, Dash’s struggles with math, push Mr. Incredible to the limit. “Done properly, parenting is a heroic act.” says Edna Mode. She narrows her eyes. “Done properly.” Meanwhile Helen is dealing with being away from her family while feeling guilty for enjoying being back in the game. The kids step up and help, and the win at the end is a team effort.
Toy Story 4, 2019 It starts with a flashback to life with young Andy, when Woody and Bo Peep were separated. Life is great at Bonnie’s house, but Woody is no longer favorite toy. At Kindergarten orientation, Bonnie makes a new friend, I mean, literally, out of a spork and a pipe cleaner. Sporky does not understand and constantly tries to throw himself away, while Woody is his exhausted babysitter. On his way back from rescuing Sporky again, Woody finds Bo Peep’s lamp in an antique shop, and meets creepy Gabby and her gang of ventriloquist dummies. Also introduced- Ducky and Bunny, sideshow game prizes, and Duke Kaboom, a Canadian stunt motorcyclist toy (played by Keanu Reeves? what?) Unlike the previous two movies, the antagonist is redeemed, with the help of the other toys. It’s definitely the end of the saga.
Speaking of end of sagas, I’ve finished my marathon. I decided to go up to the beginning of the pandemic. It’s been an interesting review of Pixar films- I think the only one of the full feature movies I completely disliked was the Good Dinosaur.
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