Already, I'm mixed on this: on the one hand, I love Dory, and she definitely stole the show in FINDING NEMO, but can she really carry a movie herself? Also, the story of someone going on a quest to find their family? Played.
I feel the same way about it, though it does feel like it's the movie it should be.
Pixar only made one prequel, and that was Monsters University. And...well... prequels don't really get good press because a good prequel is a rare thing. Say what you ill about the not liked Star Wars ones, I can't think of a single prequel that anyone liked, unless it was some expanded universe novel or something. But Monsters U did a prequel the
right way. And that was reverse engineering character development from the first film and playing it out. Mike was a funny monster in the end of the first film, he seems to be Sully's scaring coach, and they found a way to get that backstory to work, all the while delivering a hopeful yet realistic message at the end. The only prequel trap they fall into is the dreaded "characters that would never be referred to because they don't really exist" paradox. They managed to find ways to get George and Randall in the plot, but obviously the new characters don't exist beyond the original film. other than that, they made a film that doesn't take away from the original with their explanations. Something...pfft...never been done.
As for this sequel, I do like the set up, but it's one they pretty much hinted at. The only twist is that Dory is actually starting to remember things, and the realization of why she was wandering around in the first film. I do think there is a good story there, and it's not so much Dory holding the film up as the potential for her undefined backstory being the fuel for the film. If they can just keep the emotional punch of the first movie, but find a new angle for it, I have faith in this movie. And to be honest, the only off sequel Pixar made so far was of a film that has its fanbase consisting mainly of 4-8 year olds anyway (Cars). And even then, I'll admit that if there's one improvement over the first film, it was much more visually stunning.
Of course, the Finding Dory movie had me at this poster...