Rio
Sometimes the parts are greater than the sum. This is the case with the new family film, “Rio,” which features beautiful, photo-realistic animation, great supporting characters and a scenery-munching villain that delivers giggles with a sneer. The problem is all elements other than the periphery (i.e. the main characters, the plot. You know, the little things) are bland and humdrum making for an ultimately stale experience with flashes of charm.
“Rio” is the story of Blu (Jesse Eisenberg), an aptly named blue macaw who was stolen from his nest when he was a wee bird-ling by smugglers and hauled off to lovely Minnesota. There Blu is rescued by his adoring owner Linda (Leslie Mann) and, thanks to a years-spanning montage, we learn that the two are inseparable. Blu lives a pampered life that is disrupted when a man comes looking for him, claiming that he is the last male blue macaw in the world. Reluctantly, Blu and Linda head to gorgeous Rio De Janeiro to meet Jewel (Anne Hathaway), the final female blue macaw, and see if sparks fly.
Blu is a bit too domesticated and Jewel finds him a bit fowl (pun. Sorry). He talks too much, he’s too naïve and, worst of all, he can’t fly. The two don’t seem to have much of a future together but when thieves steal endangered birds , they must work together to escape and survive.
Nigel the Killer Cockatoo
The film has a sprinkling of songs throughout (one of which teaches us that “Gazebo” rhymes with “Rio” thanks to a chorus that repeats the words ad nauseam). Only one song stands out: “Pretty Bird” crooned by the film’s evil miscreant named Nigel voiced to New Zealander comedian Jemaine Clement from “Flight of the Concords” fame. Clement is the highlight of the film, channeling his inner Jeremy Irons and delivering a snarky villain reminiscent of Scar from “The Lion King”. Tracy Morgan, George Lopez and “Black Eyed Peas” front man Will I Am all lend their voices and deliver most of the humor to the film.
The film features some wonderful location shots of the city of Rio with the huge “Christ the Redeemer” statue overlooking the city. The 3-D effects are best used here as we fly through the city streets and nearby jungles. Any scene that takes place indoors is visually flat, however, and the “extra dimension” is lost for most the running length.
Director Carlos Saldanha has worked on two of the “Ice Age” sequels and this film has a similar feel and sensibilities. Fans of that series should have a fine time with “Rio”. There is something pedestrian about those films to me though that makes them border on plain and boring. “Rio” isn’t offensively bad it’s just uneventful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_8Pf8klXDU