16.4.11

Movie Review: Rio (2011)



Movie: Rio (2011)

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids & Family, Comedy

Rated: G

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg Anne Hathaway Jamie Foxx Jemaine Clement Leslie Mann


Brazilian director Carlos Saldanha and Blue Sky Studios combine again after the hit series Ice Age in this latest animated adventure film, which focuses on the adventures of domesticated Macaw named Blu, who gets the taste of the wild and learns to fly like a free bird. 


Much comfortable living in wintry Minnesota in his cage with his best friend and bookstore owner Linda (Leslie Mann), Blu’s life gets quite complicated when he is moved to the exotic land of Rio to mate with his female counterpart, Jewel (Anne Hathaway). Being a bird who does not know how to fly, Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) seeks the help of a group of wise-cracking and smooth-talking city birds along with the street-smart and beautiful Jewel, to cross all odds and discover the meaning of freedom and flying. The adventure starts when Blu and Jewel are kidnapped by a group of animal smugglers and a scary and evil cockatoo, Nigel (Jemaine Clement) follows them to assist the smugglers. There begins a chase that never seems to end as the people in Rio prepare for the biggest carnival. Nerdy macaw, Blue will have to conquer his fears and learn to fly if he has to attract the free-spirited Jewel and survive in Rio.

As much as this kid flick is a visual delight, it falls short in narration and screenplay. Rio becomes a splash of colours, lacking in a genuine storyline and boring characters with some awkward jokes and an endless chase which drags the second half of the movie at a snail’s pace. It comes out as more of a spectacular travelogue in 3D than an entertaining, full of fun, action-packed, wholesome animation for adults and children alike. While the visual palette is charming and lush to the core and leaves spellbound, there is less effort thrown in the actual story.

There is a hang-gliding sequence where Blu and Jewel piggy-back on a glider as it soars past the Christ, the Redeemer statue and over the city, which is stunning in its diversity of visuals thrown in to make you realize that animation technology and 3D effects can make an uninteresting movie look spectacular. The music of the film has some good tracks but nothing too memorable.

The only part I enjoyed truly was when the monkeys come on the screen with their rap and dance and some “monkey business”. What I really disliked was the scene when Blue and Jewel glider is coming down and bumps everyone on the beach including the bum of a lady in a bikini. The bum-lady (her face is not shown) gets kicked by the ball on her bum and the whole scene looks extremely inappropriate for a kids movie as well as sloppy, because the scene was not required and turned out to be disgusting for many (I could gauge it from the way parents started making remarks in the cinema while watching it).


The first half of the movie is fast paced and keeps you engaged, but once the chase begins, it gets monotonous and stops making any sense. There is not much good quality romance or comedy like you see in Disney movies, but the heavy dose of dull adventure which will work for kids aged between 3-10 years. It cannot be enjoyed equally by adults and the concept of family flick goes down the drain. If you have nothing better to do on a weekend and want to have some popcorns and drink while sitting comfy in the cinema, go for it. Otherwise, wait for “Gnomeo and Juliet” DVD release and till then, take your kids for some bowling fun!
Rating: 6/10

16 comments:

  1. You are fast enough in reviewing. It seems as this movie is not worth watching, coz of its slow pace n monotonous scenes in second half.But I think kids in their teens n younger will enjoy it.One can say the theme is unique.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yeah that's pretty much my point as well. Go at ur own risk if u r pushed by ur kids!;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I watched the movie and I can correlate exactly to what your post says. This movie could have been way better than it turned out to be.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for your feedback! I am wondering how come it grossed so much in its first week, maybe aggressive marketing before its release worked!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for visiting my blog, and I'm now following yours :)

    This post has reminded me that I just don't watch enough movies!

    ReplyDelete
  6. @Sam: Thanks for following!:) About movies, start watching coz you are missing on a lot of fun;)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I haven't even heard of this movie. I'm out of the loop. I think I'll wait for it to come out on DVD or maybe even on TV. My four-year-old may like it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. @Thanks for your feedback. I think it's your first on my blog, so welcome n would love to have more on future posts. Yes, kids will definitely love this flick!:)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi,Komal! Thanks for the terrific review! You know, I saw "Ice Age" several years ago -- it's too bad the same team couldn't knock out an equally great movie this time around. From what you're saying, it sure sounds like there are better ways to pass one's time!

    BTW, your blog is WAY cool, and I'm following!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. @Maria: Loved your comment, perked up my day!:) Yes, "Ice Age" still rules the day with better script quality, but do watch the movie to give me your review, coz everyone has different opinion and perception.
    Thanks so much for finding my blog "cool", I want to make it more hip though!;)
    Thanks for the follow!:)

    ReplyDelete
  11. You're very welcome, girl! Looking forward to more of your great reviews! Have a FABULOUS Monday!!! : )

    ReplyDelete
  12. Bummer. It sounds so cute. Thanks for the heads up.

    ReplyDelete
  13. @Juju: For a person like me, who still loves "Tom n Jerry" cartoon, I think all animation is cute!:)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for your review. I agree with your observation that I wanted more from the story. What is interesting to me is that I thoroughly enjoyed the visuals, being in Brazil for 4 years now, and being in Rio every time I have the chance- great place to be! I was laughing at the accuracy with which most of the scenes were depicted (of local life). I just got the soundtrack and was actually disappointed with the English versions of the songs (I saw the movie here in Sao Paulo, where it has been dubbed to Portuguese- and there was only ONE english song intact.)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Nice to meet you through SheWrites! I look forward to exploring your blog further... :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. @TCSC: Loved your detailed comment! If you wish to listen to English version of the songs from RIO, just search in YouTube, I am sure you will be able to find them. You are lucky you get to be a part of such an exciting place, I wish I could travel to Brazil someday and witness its beauty with my own eyes.
    @Lisa: Same here! Hoping to see more comments on my blog posts!:)

    ReplyDelete

My Must-Have "How-to" Books On Writing/Publishing/Marketing Your Book

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...