When was the last time you saw a good father-and-son story on the big screen? How about one in a video game? If the answer is "awhile" or "never," then you obviously haven't been to Pixar's new animated title Finding Nemo or played the Xbox game produced by THQ and nicely developed by Traveller's Tales. Disney/Pixar Finding Nemo is a wonderful family title and worth every minute—both the movie and the game.
Just clownin' around…
Finding Nemo is truly a father and son story, about a pair of clownfish who live in an anemone on Australian's Great Barrier Reef. The movie provides a bit more back story than the game does, letting you know what happened to Nemo's family. While still an egg, a barracuda attack devastated the homefront, snatching away mom and all of Nemo's brothers and sisters. Damage to his egg left Nemo with a stunted fin. It also shattered dad's confidence, turning Marlin into an overprotective father, with one child left to care for. Nemo is raised in a loving, but sheltered environment, which is hard on a young clownfish, who just wants to swim free and explore. On Nemo's first day of school, heading out to visit the "drop off," this father-and-son struggle comes to a head as Nemo bravely (and perhaps foolishly) swims out into open water on a dare by his new friends.
And, that's when the diver takes him. Nemo ends up bagged in a plastic sack and eventually thrown into the diver's salt water aquarium with a bunch of (mostly) domesticated tropical fish. Worse, he is to be a present for the fish-killing Darla. With the help of his new friends, Nemo works on plans for an escape.
But, that's only half the story.
Smile if you like seafood!
Marlin, Nemo's father, is not about to let his son go without a fight. He never hesitates, charging into the open water to chase after the diver's speedboat. Of course, he isn't fast enough. But, he will not give up. After bumping into Dory, the empty-headed blue tang, they both decide to swim after the boat. Unfortunately, they get sidetracked by Bruce, the great white shark who drags them off to a fish-aholics meetings as part of his twelve-step program to bring a friend to the meeting. When Bruce goes bonkers, Marlin and Dory run… er, swim… for their lives. It's a touch-and-go moment, and they escape by the narrowest of margins.
But, they also pick up a clue: the diver's facemask, dropped off the boat, which has an address in Sydney, Australia. Now, the unlikely pair have a destination. All it takes is a life-and-death struggle against a dangler fish, swimming across several leagues of open water, escaping a forest of stinging jellyfish, and then taking a wild ride through the East Australian current on the backs of sea turtles. Marlin sees more of the world than he ever thought he would (or wanted to), and finds joy in his undersea life. His adventures also give rise to a legendary tale that is passed from fish to fish, among crabs and lobsters, and even among the pelicans who are all inspired by this heroic tale of a father's quest to rescue his son.
Tanked up and ready to go!
Word of Marlin's quest reaches Nemo, who takes heart that his dad would brave the open ocean for him. With a new burst of courage, Nemo arranges his own escape from the aquarium. He makes it out into the harbor, where Dory finds him and reunites father and son. But, before the story reaches its happy ending, both Marlin and Nemo are faced with one final challenge, as a fishing net scoops up Dory and begins to haul her in with the daily catch. In this final moment, father trusts his son's courage and resourcefulness, and Nemo proves that even a plucky little clownfish can do great things.
All in all, Finding Nemo is a wonderful tale about struggle and personal courage. It will inspire and touch the heart, and it also provides many hours of solid gameplay. What more could you ask from a fish story?
