Originally released in 2003, Finding Nemo is back to delight a whole new group of Disney fans. This Academy award winning film follows the comedic and momentous journey of an overly protective clownfish named Marlin (voice by Albert Brooks) and his son Nemo (voice by Alexander Gould)––who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef when Nemo is unexpectedly taken far from his ocean home and dumped into a fish tank in a dentist’s office. Buoyed by the companionship of Dory (voice by Ellen DeGeneres), a friendly-but-forgetful Pacific regal blue tang, Marlin embarks on a dangerous trek and finds himself the unlikely hero of an epic effort to rescue his son––who hatches a few daring plans of his own to return safely home. And now, Nemo is back in 3-D!! This Disney classic is worth watching on the big screen! (And the Toy Story short at the beginning of the movie, “Partysaurus Rex” (or what I like to call, “Bath Toys Gone Wild”) is totally worth the whole ticket price!)
As my two older children and I sat in the theater, I didn’t expect to be moved….I mean, I’ve seen Finding Nemo dozens of times. However, this time, (as my kids watched in wonder wearing their little “Buddy Holly” glasses), I thought about the movie in terms of parenting. I think like Marlin, most of us would do ANYTHING to find, save, and protect our children. It’s the letting go that is the hard part. We want to hold onto our babies forever. Allowing our kids to experience new things, exercise some independence, and use their own judgment……those things can be a bit tougher for a parent. I found myself identifying with Marlin, as he struggled to trust Nemo….as he had a hard time on the first day of school….how he yearned to keep control over his baby just a little bit longer…I’ll bet most of us have felt that way. As Nemo grew in strength, confidence, and independence throughout the film, I realized that trials, new experiences, and challenges help our kids….developing their character, self-reliance, and inner spirit. I loved watching the transformation both Marlin and Nemo underwent, as they grew as individuals, and allowed life’s ups and downs to propel them forward. They just kept swimming. =)
I hope you and your family will head to the theaters and catch Finding Nemo in 3-D for this limited engagement! You can also “Like” Finding Nemo on Facebook!
