Rio Reviews

Rio is one of those animated movies that didn't instantly pop out to me as one of those I'd enjoy watching. It was released in 2011 and I ended up watching the film in 2015. I am the type that could enjoy animated movies as long as they are well done. Character development and story are important to me no matter what and when it comes to animated movies the quality of the animation plays a role in the level of my enjoyment as well.

I've got to say that Rio's animation is on point. I cannot complain about it. It's all pretty smooth and doesn't look cheap at all. The plot of the movie overall was decent and there were enough laughs in it for me to really enjoy myself while watching it. I didn't feel bored with it.

When watching an animated movie one of the games I like to play is guess who's voices are in the movie. I was delighted to find a few actors that I actually like lending their voice to the characters. I feel like Jesse Eisenberg's voice is just kind of weird for an animated movie, it didn't really make the character anymore likable. Sure he sounded neurotic and that's what the character embodies but Eisenberg wouldn't had been my choice voice, every other voice was well done though. I was excited to hear Tracy morgan's voice in this but the amount of drool his character gave off was disgusting and distracting from anything the character did I really couldn't understand why he needed to drool so much.

While it was a pretty good movie and I did enjoy, To me the rewatch factor is pretty low. I'd watch it if it was on TV and i was really bored but i would not make the conscious decision to go and put RIO on. If you've been holding off watching it and enjoy these types of animated movies then there's no doubt you'd enjoy it. In end Rio proved it wasn't anything to rush to watch however it was pleasant to sit through and was pretty enjoyable overall.

Decent music with a fine storyline but the two leads of Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway were miscast - Northern accents from Brazilian/rainforest birds? However, a New Zealander provides more memorable moments than the music, Jemaine Clement, as the villain.

WOW! This movie is amazing.It is colorful,hilarious,musical,ect.Nothing is wrong with Rio.I love it!!! I love it!!! IIIII LLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDD IIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTT SSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOO MMMUUUCCCCCHH!

I love this movie to death,I have the DVD,and watch this movie a lot.The reason why I think this movie is amazing is because of the colors,the music,Jewel is cute,and the list goes on.This is THE BEST MOVIE EVER!

I love this movie SO much I have the DVD! Great music,amazing color,nice voice acting,Jewel lives up to her name,the humor is awesome,ect.BEST MOVIE EVER! Also,to the person online who called Rio mindless,yet loved that horrible movie Rango,i'm guessing he must be out of his mind!

A colourful, vibrant and often very funny animated film which features some catchy musical numbers and beautiful animation. It's only let down by it's often irritating human characters, but the story is nevertheless engaging and the excellent voice-acting brings the funny animal characters to life. Well worth seeing!

Such a funny movie, nice soundtrack and it really made me laugh. The story line is good too, it's a great story and fun for the whole family. I saw it on dvd just to wait to see it but then I went and got the dvd after. The characters are all so good. :)

"Aw, this is great. I'm chained to the only bird in the world who can't fly!"

In the realm of computer animation, Pixar and DreamWorks have always maintained the top spots, while Fox's Blue Sky animation has perpetually dwindled behind the giants with middling efforts (Ice Age & sequels, Robots, etc). Directed by Ice Age mastermind Carlos Saldanha, 2011's Rio is, alas, not going to improve Fox's animation reputation. Rio does offer a simple pro-conservation message, but not much else is going on underneath its surface - the picture is not emotionally affecting like Toy Story 3, nor as sprightly and clever as How to Train Your Dragon or as sweet as Despicable Me. Kids might be taken with the animation and bright characters, but adults will likely shrug and merely endure the flick for its 90-minute duration. Rio is distinctly average: it has its moments, but it does not always work since quality laughs are in short supply and the material remains forgettable and disposable. In an age where a family trip to the movies could almost pay for a new television, it's not good enough.

Bird-napped at a young age and shipped to the United States, Blu (Eisenberg) is a Spix's Macaw who grew up with loving owner Linda (Mann) in rural Minnesota to become domesticated and unable to fly. Into Blu's blissful life soon steps a Brazilian ornithologist (Santoro), who reveals that Blu is one of only two Spix's Macaws left in existence. With this news in mind, he convinces Linda to travel to Rio and allow for Blu to mate with the last remaining female, Jewel (Hathaway), in a bid to save the species. Yet, once united, Blu and Jewel do not exactly hit it off. However, the couple are soon stolen from the scientists; chained together and sold to a black market bird dealer. On the run, Jewel yearns for escape and freedom, but Blu simply wants to be reunited with Linda and head home. During their adventures, they are helped by kind toucan Rafael (Lopez), inseparable bird buddies Nico (Foxx) and Pedro (will.i.am), and a bulldog named Luiz (Morgan). Unfortunately, though, a malicious cockatoo named Nigel (Clement) is hot on their tale.

Somewhat charming in places but ultimately unmemorable, Rio is a typical hero's journey story merged with anthropomorphised animal activity. In other words, nobody behind the movie set out to challenge the genre. Rather than aiming for inventiveness, Rio's makers simply adhered to the standard template: anthropomorphise something inhuman, concoct a dilemma for the protagonists, throw in a villain and a few quick-witted supporting characters, add a couple of musical numbers, and present it all using flashy computer animation. In 2011, though, routine efforts like this frankly look drab. Despite computer animation's prominence in this day and age, it is evident that animators still erroneously believe they can get by on novelty alone. Sorry, no dice. Pixar's original Toy Story from 1995 worked and still holds up today because the Pixar guys did not call it a day after designing the animation. Rather, they knew the novelty would eventually dissolve, and, accordingly, they anchored the narrative in emotions, humanity and messages; mixing the groundbreaking animation with genuine depth. Rio exhibits none of this innovation.

On a more positive note, the vivacious CGI animation is positively gorgeous to behold, with the natural beauty of the city of Rio shining through in every frame. The picture particularly comes alive during a sequence in which Blu and Jewel hitch rides on various hang-gliders as they soar around the city, and it's easy to get the feeling that you're actually there. (One could even call Rio a big-budget travelogue of the titular city, which is somewhat unsurprisingly since helmer Carlos Saldanha was born in Rio.) To the credit of the filmmakers, too, there are a few good laughs and one-liners to enjoy here, but there aren't enough. Too often, Rio eschews integrity and momentum in favour of momentary laughs and ostentatious set-pieces. This likely came as a result of the "talent" involved in the scriptwriting - Don Rhymer, Joshua Sternin, Sam Harper and Jeffrey Ventimilia. Among them, these four writers are responsible for Deck the Halls, Surviving Christmas, Yogi Bear, Tooth Fairy, Cheaper by the Dozen 2, and the first two Big Momma's House movies. Oh boy...

Oddly, for a movie set in Brazil and populated with Brazilian entities, there's a distinct lack of Brazilian actors in the cast. Jesse Eisenberg is acceptable as Blu since the character grew up in America, but Brazilian characters like Jewel, Nigel, Nico, Pedro and others were voiced by distinctly American-sounding actors. Zuh? At the very least, the vocal performances are decent if unspectacular. The standout is Jermaine Clement, who imbued Nigel the antagonistic cockatoo with a great, villainous personality.

To be sure, Rio has its charms; there are a few decent laughs to be had, and greatness flickers intermittently during select sequences (the opening musical number is terrific). Taken as a whole, Rio is simply okay - the story is okay and the characters are okay. It's not thoroughly detestable or particularly tedious, but it lacks the staying power of Pixar's regular output.

5.6/10

The setting of the movie is breathtaking, as it is based in the beautifully city of Rio de Janeiro. The movie starts off with a dazzling, display of colours and music, with wildlife putting up all manners of song and dance in the jungles of Brazil.

Jesse Eisenberg’s depiction of a nerdy domesticated bird, afraid to come out of his comfort zone is spot on, and keeps the viewers involved in Blu and his predicament.

Overall, the movie is more fast-paced and vibrant than the Ice Age series or Rango.

Rio theme based on the notion of believing in yourself and following one’s heart rather than the head.