Finding Nemo

Pixar Animation Studios produced a visual marvel with this aquatic tale. The computer animation is stunning. Sadly, the story does not measure up in quality.

Marlin, a widower father clownfish is hesitant to release his only son, Nemo, to the outside ocean. As Nemo is falling for peer pressure, his father attempts to rescue him. Nemo tells his father, "I hate you," and then swims away to be captured by a scuba diver. As the title suggests, most of the film depicts Marlin's attempt to find Nemo. In the end, Nemo's rebellious behavior is rewarded, because his father sends him off indepedently with the other "schoolfish".

Yes, it's a silly cartoon. It has some funny moments. But the primary message is that parents are a pain in the neck, unless you're in trouble. Also, one of the human characters utters a replacement expletive for Christ, and the shark characters have a mocking AA-style meeting about their fish-eating habit.

It could have been worse, but it should have been better.