Finding Nemo — the newest offering from Disney/Pixar — will be released on video and DVD November 4. As the name implies, the movie has a happy ending. Yes, young Nemo the clown fish is found and returns home safely. But why was he missing in the first place?

The trouble starts when Nemo's father, Marlin — shattered by a tragic family loss — becomes obsessively afraid for his son's safety. Nemo objects to his father's overprotectiveness, and he rebels — which lands him in a net and then in a fish tank in a dentist's office in Sydney, Australia.

This underwater wonder of a movie is a heartwarming computer-animated tale of the adventures of Marlin and Nemo in their quest to be reunited. Against a fabulous backdrop of aquatic life, this father-and-son story swims with humor and good-natured camaraderie, appealing to adults as well as children, although some scenes might be too scary for young children.

Love is the pivot point of this 100-minute-long tale. Marlin's great love for Nemo is determined and persistent, drawing the other characters into its purpose. It's a love that many would say hints of the divine — of a Father-Mother God's care for His/Her children. Yet Marlin's love for his son does need refining. The lesson he's learning — how to love his son in a way that is responsible without being smothering — is a struggle many parents face.

Leaving the gorgeous coral reef that has been his home, Marlin ventures into unfamiliar waters in his search for Nemo. He meets up with a blue tang fish named Dory. Despite her character flaws, Marlin discovers in Dory a kind heart, innocent optimism, and a way of being instrumental in finding solutions to tricky situations. Dory's approach to life contrasts strikingly with Marlin's way of seeing every event as a potential problem. Something has brought these two together, and although conflicts arise in their relationship, they find themselves caring for and learning from each other. Gradually, Marlin is forced to see that there's more to life than his own self-centered fears.

For his part, as Nemo grows desperate to escape from the fish tank, he is no doubt regretting his bravado and disobedience. More savvy about the dangers of the ocean, he's just maybe beginning to feel more compassion for his father, whom he misses a lot.

Probably the most enlighening moment for the little clown fish comes when he finds out that his father is facing down his fear of the ocean and courageously swimming toward Sydney in search of his son.

With that new insight, Nemo sees his father's love for him as something much more real and powerful than fear and guilt-ridden protectiveness. There's not a full analogy between the story line and the prodigal son parable in the Bible, but at this particular point Nemo does indeed resemble the prodigal son, in that he has learned something of the spiritual substance of real Love — that it's bigger and more powerful than he knew.

Marlin and Nemo eventually find a new basis for their relationship. Nemo becomes more mature and open in his love of his father. Marlin appears to see something more substantial and good about life. He finds the grace to be less overwhelmed by his parenting role and becomes more trusting in his son's innate abilities.

Finding Nemo is packed with engaging characters doing their best to be unselfish — such as Crush the wise turtle and Nigel the "go-between" pelican — who permeate this epic with reminders that the tendency we all have to love and care for each other is completely natural. It's a pleasure to watch. You'll surely want to take another dip.