Director Carlos Saldanha, his cohorts at Blue Sky Studios, and Fox Animation have flown under the radar of their awesome rivals, Pixar, for years. Insanely successful from their Ice Age franchise, it must have annoyed the hell out of them to see the 800 lb. gorilla win every trophy and accolade. Rio is a leap forward in quality and their finest work yet. It is a warm and clever family film, a legitimate base to a long term franchise. While animated films are cranked out, very few achieve the success and resonance of a Toy Story or Lion King. Rio, while not on that level, is a winner. They pull off, and this is a great credit, musical numbers that I found entertaining. That is certainly not a genre I am ever keen to see, so it’s safe to assume the wider audience will like as well.
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Jessie Eisenberg stars as Blu, a rare blue macaw parrot, that by chance and circumstance, grows up in Minnesota. His beloved owner, Linda (Leslie Mann), has crafted a care-free, pampered existence. Blu’s world turns upside down when Linda is convinced to take him to Rio. He is expected to mate with the lovely Jewel (Anne Hathaway), and save their species. Instead, he embarks on a wild adventure with an array of eccentric characters. A key plot point, Blu’s inability to fly, is well executed and the source of his malaise. This could have been hideously childish. The screenplay never fails to be creative when it needs to.
3D CGI animation is constantly getting better. Not all films advance the art, but Rio’s vibrancy is the direct result of the animation and visual effects. The birds soar over Rio’s famed skyline, but also get down to Earth in the favelas. They capture the unique nature of Brazil in a way that many younger audience members might not have seen yet. Adults are well versed in the party that is carnival, but I think most children will not be as familiar. Director Carlos Saldanha is a native of Rio. He is also a cultural emissary here.
The pacing of Rio is perfect. I’m sure it took a few test screenings to get it right, but the film is a breezy ninety minutes. There’s an art and science to ticking all the boxes. The filmmakers do a great job here. and make a film I can’t imagine anyone not laughing through.
