History YMMV / FindingDory

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Those who feel this movie is weaker than the first will often point out the fact that it's a smaller scale adventure than the first film, taking place in an aquarium instead of the open ocean. Of course, making it large-scale [[ItsTheSameNowItSucks might not have made much difference]] to the reception, and it also opens the possibility of a large-scale third film.

** The Tank Gang were actually going to be ''main characters in the film who helped Marlin and Nemo look for Dory''. Why in the world they were demoted to a brief scene after the credits (especially considering it involved bringing back all their voice actors) is a mystery that to this day remains unanswered, but it’s highly speculated to be because their storyline is being [[RefittedForSequel saved for the next film]].
** Pretty much everyone wanted to see the sharks again, and for Crush to have a bigger part. Chances are that they are being SavedForTheSequel, however.
* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: After the first film made such a big deal about just getting to Australia, it can seem pretty weird that this film treats crossing ''the entire Pacific Ocean'' so casually. Though many fans are willing to forgive it as it both lets most of the film take place in a new location that stops it from [[ItsTheSameNowItSucks feeling like a complete retread]], and leaves open the possibility of a more epic-scale third film.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: Pixar has never shied away from exploring real life issues. ''Finding Dory'' delves into disability and its perception and treatment in society. The flashbacks show how difficult it was for Dory's parents as she was growing up, as a clear representation of parents with a special needs child. Dory constantly blames herself and her inability to remember anything. Marlin also plays an important part with how he discriminates against other disabled characters and doubting their ability.

** The Tank Gang were actually going to be ''main characters in the film who helped Marlin and Nemo look for Dory''. Why in the world they were demoted to a brief scene after the credits (especially considering it involved bringing back all their voice actors) is a mystery that to this day remains unanswered, but it’s highly speculated to be because their storyline is being [[RefittedForTheSequel saved for the next film]].

** Nemo this time around. Does having him be sarcastic either make him surprisingly funny or bizarrely out of character? That being said, however, many feel Hayden Rolence was just as good of a replacement (if not better) for Alexander Gould.

*
TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter:

** Nemo this time around. Does having him be sarcastic either make him surprisingly funny or bizarrely out of character?

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Those who feel this movie is weaker than the first will often point out the fact that it's a smaller scale adventure than the first film, taking place in an aquarium instead of the open ocean.
* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter:
** The GiantSquid, which takes the role of the anglerfish from the original movie. Unlike the anglerfish, however, the squid doesn't get outwitted in any way (our heroes simply flee from it), and it disappears entirely until a scene during the credits. Considering that [[spoiler:the climax takes place outside the institute (and features nearly everyone coming BackForTheFinale)]], it could've easily made a reappearance.
** Hank is the only sea creature of the franchise who's from the ocean but actually ''wants'' to live in human captivity. He shows signs of trauma thinking about living in the ocean and is incredibly pushy about getting his turn to go far inland. The movie never explains why Hank feels this way, why [[spoiler:he has a change of [[{{Pun}} hearts]] near the climax]], or even what happened to his eighth tentacle.
** The Tank Gang were actually going to be ''main characters in the film who helped Marlin and Nemo look for Dory''. Why in the world they were demoted to a brief scene after the credits (especially considering it involved bringing back all their voice actors) is a mystery that to this day remains unanswered.
** Pretty much everyone wanted to see the sharks again, and for Crush to have a bigger part.
* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: After the first film made such a big deal about just getting to Australia, it can seem pretty weird that this film treats crossing ''the entire Pacific Ocean'' so casually. Though many fans are willing to forgive it as it both lets most of the film take place in a new location and stops it from [[ItsTheSameNowItSucks feeling like a complete retread]], and leaves open the possibility of a more epic-scale third film.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: After the first film made such a big deal about just getting to Australia, it can seem pretty weird that this film treats crossing ''the entire Pacific Ocean'' so casually. Though many fans are willing to forgive it as it both lets most of the film take place in a new location and stops it from [[ItsTheSameNowItSucks feeling like a complete retread]].

** The two female randos, one of whom sports a tomboyish haircut, who may or may not be [[LesYay a lesbian couple]].[[note]]They're often referred to as "the two women with the baby," only because they're seen looking into a baby stroller in the trailer. In the movie itself, they're actually putting the sippy cup containing Dory back into the stroller when they think that the baby inside (Hank in disguise) dropped it. They, themselves, do not own the stroller are never actually seen with a baby.[[/note]] When they appeared in a trailer, it sparked a lot of hype from people who believe there should be more positive portrayals of homosexuality in family films, but also a lot of [[GayPanic animosity]] between them and [[MoralGuardians exactly the kind of people one would expect to have a problem with this]]. Even the filmmakers [[ShrugOfGod decidedly not taking a stand and leaving it up to the viewer]] [[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/06/11/finding-dory-s-lesbian-couple-and-how-disney-keeps-failing-its-lgbt-fans.html has been controversial]].

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: Dory's line from ''WesternAnimation/FindingNemo'', "I suffer from short-term memory loss. It runs in my family. At least I think it does. Hmmm... where are they?" Back then, it was just a funny throwaway line that you quickly forgot about. Now that we know the full story behind it? That line is now '''''[[CerebusRetcon absolutely]] [[TearJerker heartbreaking]]'''''.

** The two female randos, one of whom sports a tomboyish haircut, who may or may not be [[LesYay a lesbian couple]].[[note]]They're often referred to as "the two women with the baby," only because they're seen looking into a baby carriage in the trailer. In the movie itself, they're actually putting the sippy cup containing Dory back into the carriage when they think that the baby inside (Hank in disguise) dropped it. They, themselves, do not own the stroller are never actually seen with a baby.[[/note]] When they appeared in a trailer, it sparked a lot of hype from people who believe there should be more positive portrayals of homosexuality in family films, but also a lot of [[GayPanic animosity]] between them and [[MoralGuardians exactly the kind of people one would expect to have a problem with this]]. Even the filmmakers [[ShrugOfGod decidedly not taking a stand and leaving it up to the viewer]] [[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/06/11/finding-dory-s-lesbian-couple-and-how-disney-keeps-failing-its-lgbt-fans.html has been controversial]].

%%* FountainOfMemes: Baby Dory is very quotable.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: Dory's line from ''WesternAnimation/FindingNemo'', "I suffer from short-term memory loss. It runs in my family. At least I think it does. Hmmm... where are they?" Back then, it was just a funny throwaway line that you quickly forgot about. Now that we know the full story behind it? That line is now '''''[[CerebusRetcon absolutely heartbreaking]]'''''.

** The two female randos, one of whom sports a tomboyish haircut, who may or may not be [[LesYay a lesbian couple]].[[note]]They're often referred to as "the two women with the baby," only because they're seen looking into a baby carriage in the trailer. In the movie itself, they're actually putting the sippy cup containing Dory back into the carriage when they think that the baby inside (Hank in disguise) dropped it. They, themselves, are never actually seen with a baby.[[/note]] When they appeared in a trailer, it sparked a lot of hype from people who believe there should be more positive portrayals of homosexuality in family films, but also a lot of [[GayPanic animosity]] between them and [[MoralGuardians exactly the kind of people one would expect to have a problem with this]]. Even the filmmakers [[ShrugOfGod decidedly not taking a stand and leaving it up to the viewer]] [[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/06/11/finding-dory-s-lesbian-couple-and-how-disney-keeps-failing-its-lgbt-fans.html has been controversial]].

* ContestedSequel: ''Finding Dory'' is an odd case among Pixar movies. Its Rotten Tomatoes score is in the mid-90s, putting it nearly on par with ''Finding Nemo'' and Pixar's other acclaimed classics, but the reviews themselves frequently note that [[ToughActToFollow the movie isn't as good as its predecessor]], similar to reviews for ''WesternAnimation/MonstersUniversity'' (which had a significantly lower Tomatometer score). If one looks at Metacritic, its score is a respectable 77 (the exact same as ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife''), whereas Pixar's [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory other]] [[WesternAnimation/FindingNemo highly]] [[WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles acclaimed]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}} films]] [[WesternAnimation/WallE have]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Up}} scores]] [[WesternAnimation/InsideOut in]] the high 80s or low 90s. In any case, [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative it's the best-reviewed Pixar sequel that isn't a follow-up to]] ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory'', and it's still seen as a worthy sequel and a good movie in its own right. And there are many who feel it's an EvenBetterSequel for the deeper story, faster pace, superior humor, and Hank.

* JerkassWoobie: Hank is a cranky septopus who is frequently rude towards Dory, and is seemingly only helping her to get her quarantine tag. But the fact that he's traumatized from being mishandled by people (in fact, the reason why he's so desperate to get Dory's quarantine tag is to be able to live a peaceful, secluded life without any contact with others) and was clearly terrified when he found himself in a touch tank makes him much more sympathetic. It's also highly implied that the loss of one of his tentacles due to a traumatizing experience is why he is so afraid of being released back into the wild.

* ToughActToFollow: Considering how well-loved ''WesternAnimation/FindingNemo'' is, and the fact that it had ''13 years'' to be loved as just a stand-alone film, expectations for the sequel were a little too high with some.
* UnintentionallySympathetic: While Hank is framed as being an unlikable {{Foil}} to Dory who learns to loosen up as the film goes on, some viewers found themselves more tolerant of his grouchy tendencies due to stemming from a tragic past and his desire to be transferred to a place where he can live out his life in solitude, safety, and peace. His frustrations are understandable when he berates Dory for dragging him thoughtlessly across the Institute, and while he ultimately confesses to having [[IChooseToStay changed his mind already]], Dory's entire speech to him in the end comes off as rife with UnfortunateImplications: rather than appeal to the friendship that they've developed with each other, she flat-out tells him that everything about the way he lives and what he wants out of his life is ''[[ProtagonistCenteredMorality wrong]]'' and that he can only be happy by returning to live in the ocean with her and her friends.

* HarsherInHindsight: This film has become harder to watch for some people, because of recent (As of late March 2020) social politics surrounding main actor Ellen [=DeGeneres=]: [[https://twitter.com/PopCrave/status/1251173878543548416]] [[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-8140101/Ellen-DeGeneres-blasted-former-fans-employees-calling-one-meanest-people-alive.html]]

** Also Marlin, as some feel his CharacterDevelopment from the first film didn't carry into this one well.

** Gerald rising up behind things.
** "I see trees of green...red roses, too..."

** The overly-dramatic clam in the Tide Pool.

** The (implied) lesbian couple in the Aquarium.

* TastesLikeDiabetes: The opening scene with Baby Dory.

** The overly-dramatic clam mentioned above. Even though he does burst into tears over silly things, his claim that he hasn't had someone to talk to for ages does make you feel sorry for him.

* HilariousInHindsight:
** "''Fixing Dory''" is mentioned in #30 of Website/{{Cracked}}'s list of [[http://www.cracked.com/photoplasty_1040_the-32-worst-possible-ideas-disney-pixar-sequels/ the worst possible ideas for Disney and Pixar sequels]]
** [[https://youtu.be/tasYiVI0iz0 This]] WebAnimation/YouTubePoop of the original Finding Nemo, uploaded two years before this movie got released, uses Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World" at one point. ''Finding Dory'' uses this same song [[spoiler: during the film's climax]].
** This wouldn't be the only [[WesternAnimation/SherlockGnomes animated sequel to receive a PG rating while its predecessor received a G rating]].

* EnsembleDarkhorse:
** Unsurprisingly, given she's the same character as the fan favorite of the entire franchise, Baby Dory is the undisputed beloved fan favorite of the film, who endeared ''every'' viewer who saw her.
** Out of all the new characters introduced in this movie, Gerald seems to be the most popular.
* FountainOfMemes: Baby Dory is very quotable.

* HarsherInHindsight: This film has become harder to watch for some people, because of recent (As of late March 2020) social politics surrounding main actor Ellen DeGeneres: [[https://twitter.com/PopCrave/status/1251173878543548416]] [[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-8140101/Ellen-DeGeneres-blasted-former-fans-employees-calling-one-meanest-people-alive.html]]

%%* HarsherInHindsight: "I suffer from short term memory loss. It runs in my family. At least I think it does...Where are they?...Can I help you?"

* ContestedSequel: ''Finding Dory'' is an odd case among Pixar movies. Its Rotten Tomatoes score is in the mid-90s, putting it nearly on par with ''Finding Nemo'' and Pixar's other acclaimed classics, but the reviews themselves frequently note that [[ToughActToFollow the movie isn't as good as its predecessor]], similar to reviews for ''WesternAnimation/MonstersUniversity'' (which had a significantly lower Tomatometer score). If one looks at Metacritic, its score is a respectable 77 (the exact same as ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife''), whereas Pixar's [[Franchise/ToyStory other]] [[WesternAnimation/FindingNemo highly]] [[WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles acclaimed]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}} films]] [[WesternAnimation/WallE have]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Up}} scores]] [[WesternAnimation/InsideOut in]] the high 80s or low 90s. In any case, [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative it's the best-reviewed Pixar sequel that isn't a follow-up to]] ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory'', and it's still seen as a worthy sequel and a good movie in its own right. And there are many who feel it's an EvenBetterSequel for the deeper story, faster pace, superior humor, and Hank.

* UnintentionallySympathetic: While Hank is framed as being an unlikable {{Foil}} to Dory who learns to loosen up as the film goes on, some viewers found themselves more tolerant of his grouchy tendencies due to stemming from a tragic past and his desire to be transferred to a place where he can live out his life in solitude, safety, and peace. His frustrations are understandable when he berates Dory for dragging him thoughtlessly across the Institute, and while he ultimately confesses to having [[IChooseToStay changed his mind]], his original goal of living a safe, solitary life at an inland aquarium is still presented as being [[ProtagonistCenteredMorality wrong]] by the end of the film.

** Nemo this time around. Does having him be sarcastic either make him surprisingly funny or bizarrely out of character? That being said, however, many feel Hayden Rolence was just as good a replacement (if not better) for Alexander Gould.

* TastesLikeDiabetes: The opening scene with Baby Dory. A beautiful case of TropesAreNotBad.
* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Those who feel this movie is weaker than the first will often point out the fact that it's a smaller scale adventure than the first film (taking place in an aquarium instead of an ocean). Of course, making it large-scale [[ItsTheSameNowItSucks might not have made much of a difference]] to the reception, and it also opens the possibility of a large-scale third film.

** The GiantSquid, which takes the role of the anglerfish from the original movie. Unlike the anglerfish, however, the squid doesn't get outwitted in any way (our heroes simply flee from it), and it disappears entirely until a scene during the credits. Considering that [[spoiler:the climax takes place outside the institute (and features nearly everyone coming BackForTheFinale)]], it could've easily made a reappearance. Although considering it's an antagonist to the main characters, it would more likely just get in the way of the main objective.
** Hank is the only sea creature of the franchise who's from the ocean but actually ''wants'' to live in human captivity. He shows signs of trauma thinking about living in the ocean and is incredibly pushy about getting his turn to go far inland. The movie never explains why Hank feels this way, why [[spoiler:he has a change of [[{{Pun}} hearts]] near the climax]], or even what happened to his eighth tentacle. Of course, this could all be an idea for a future film.
** The Tank Gang were actually going to be ''main characters in the film who helped Marlin and Nemo look for Dory''. Why in the world they were demoted to a brief scene after the credits (especially considering it involved bringing back all their voice actors) is a mystery that to this day remains unanswered, but it's highly speculated that it's because their storyline is being [[RefittedForSequel saved for the next film]].
** Pretty much everyone wanted to see the sharks again, and for Crush to have a bigger part. Chances are that they're all being SavedForTheSequel, however.
* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: After the first film made such a big deal about just getting to Australia, it can seem pretty weird that this film treats crossing ''the entire Pacific Ocean'' so casually. Though many fans are willing to forgive it as it both lets most of the film take place in a new location that stops it from [[ItsTheSameNowItSucks feeling like a complete retread]], and leaves open the possibility of a more epic-scale third film.
* ToughActToFollow: Considering how well-loved ''WesternAnimation/FindingNemo'' is, and the fact that it had ''13 years'' to be loved as just a stand-alone film, expectations for the sequel were a little too high with some. Not quite as bad as some examples though as having fan favorite Dory as the main character here did help a ''ton'', and the reviews for this film were very, very positive.