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This hasn’t exactly been a stellar year for kids’ movies. We’ve seen plenty of dim-witted characters and a whole lot of stories that don’t make much sense. We’ve seen hyperactive comedy—and lots and lots of fart jokes. But we haven’t seen a lot of movies that were simply fun to watch with the whole family. Fortunately, the creators of the Ice Age movies have offered up some plain and simple family-friendly entertainment with their animated avian adventure, Rio.
As a baby bird, Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg) was taken from his home in Brazil and smuggled to the States, where he was discovered by his very best friend, Linda (Leslie Mann). Since then, he’s enjoyed a pampered life in small-town Minnesota.
One day, a Brazilian ornithologist named Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro) arrives at Linda’s bookstore to ask for her help. He explains that Blu is the last male of his kind—and Tulio’s just discovered a female, who’s waiting for them in Rio de Janeiro.
Reluctantly, Linda agrees to take Blu to Rio, where feisty Jewel (Anne Hathaway) awaits. But when the two birds are stolen from their cage—with some help from a bad-tempered cockatoo named Nigel (Jemaine Clement)—they take off together on a wild journey.
With its colorful animation and even more colorful characters, Rio is a fun-filled animated adventure that the whole family can enjoy. Eisenberg’s awkwardly squeaky voice isn’t exactly a flawless fit for Blu, but the character still makes a lovable lead—a neurotic, nerdy bird who’s so scared and sheltered that he doesn’t even know how to fly. Of course, with some help from his new friends—like headstrong Jewel, easy-going toucan Rafael (George Lopez), and eager pooch Luiz (Tracy Morgan)—he might just learn to get out there and spread his wings.
Other characters, like Jamie Foxx’s Nico and Will.i.Am’s Pedro, give the film some of its musical flair—and even brainy Dr. Tulio adds to the family-friendly fun (especially when he gets into the spirit of Carnival). But the film’s most fascinating (and entertaining) character is the bad guy: Nigel, the hilariously sinister and psychopathic cockatoo.
The animation, meanwhile, is beautifully detailed. And although the story focuses on Blu and Jewel and their journey to freedom, the vibrant animation still manages to capture some of the spirit of Rio—from the rainforests to the favelas to the colorful beachfront resorts. It even offers a glimpse of the city’s Carnival, with its samba music, its costumed dancers, and its lively parades.
It may not be as smart or sophisticated as some other kids’ movies, but Rio is a fine feathered adventure. And its silly characters, colorful animation, and lively music make it a trip that kids will want to take over and over again.
Blu-ray Review:
As soon as you pop the Rio Blu-ray into your player, Jesse Eisenberg’s Blu encourages you to stick around after the movie to check out the disc’s special features. And there’s definitely plenty to see. The disc includes music videos, a deleted scene, and a whole lot more—including a code to unlock 15 special levels of Angry Birds.
To learn more about the film’s gorgeous setting, try The Real Rio or Explore the World of Rio, an interactive map that allows you to visit the city, jungle, stadium, and beach through videos, pictures, and more. Or, to get a feel for more of the culture, you can learn to dance with the Carnival Dance-O-Rama.
For more about the filmmaking process, try Saving the Species: One Voice at a Time. The 25-minute making-of feature covers everything from the voice cast to the animation. It’s a lengthy feature, but the characters (both the animated ones and the actors behind them) keep it entertaining.
There are plenty of other making-of featurettes, too—like The Making of Hot Wings, the club scene with Will.i.Am / Pedro and Jamie Foxx / Nico, or Boom-Boom Tish-Tish: The Sounds of Rio, which explores the film’s music and its Brazilian flavor even more.
You won’t find a whole lot of short features here—and they aren’t really targeted for kids, either. But if you’re captivated by the stunning setting or the lively music of Rio, the extras are worth a look.
