Rio 2 (2014)
Certified: U
Duration: 101 minutes
Directed by: Carlos Saldanha
Voices of: Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Leslie Mann, Bruno Mars, Jemaine Clement, George Lopez, Jamie Foxx, will.i.am, Rodrigo Santoro, Jake T. Austin, Tracy Morgan, Bebel Gilberto, Andy García
KRS release
Rio – released in 2011 by Blue Sky Studios, the makers of the highly successful Ice Age franchise – had been a colourful and entertaining animated hit that had spun to the tune of about $500 million. With Rio 2, it seems the studios have hit on the magic formula and could well have a second franchise.
The film moves and breathes in the same manner as the first film. Rio 2 is impeccably animated as it brings both Rio and also the Amazonian jungle vibrantly to life.
This time around, it is given an increased environmental message and there is more emphasis on the humorous aspect; all this to the tune of some very catchy pop songs that children will be singing all the way home. In fact, Rio 2 has a very Broadway musical feel to it.
Blu and Jewel (Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway) are two rare blue macaws who fell in love in the first film and now have their own chicks. Jewel, who had lived in the wild, tries to give her little ones a nature-oriented upbringing, while Blu opts for a more modern and human-influenced type of approach.
Jewel would like to return to the Amazon but she is happy here with Blu. But she gets her chance when Linda (Leslie Mann), who had been Blu’s former owner and is now married to scientist Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro), discovers that there may be other blue macaws in the forest. Jewel thus convinces Blu to take the young chicks on a 2,000-mile trip through rainforests to find the other macaws.
The comedy is abandunt but there are also quite a few action and thrilling sequences
Toucan Rafael (George Lopez), cardinal Pedro (will.i.am) and canary Nico (Jamie Foxx) join the party.
Danger will lurk at every corner and, when the birds finally get to their destination, they realise that their real adventure has yet to begin.
Blu finds that the chief of the tribe is none other than Eduardo (Andy Garcia), Jewel’s father, who is happy to see her but not so happy to see him as he sees Blu as a pet for humans.
Eisenberg returns as Blu and he is once again spot on, while Hathaway as Jewel brings a very natural element to the film.
Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords fame is once again a hoot as he returns as the maniacal Nigel, a cockatoo with more than a few loose screws. Kristin Chenoweth as Dart, the poisonous frog, is simply a laugh a minute. The latter two really combine well on a duet to the tune of Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive.
Carlos Saldanha has given Rio 2 an ecological message to deliver and, while this is very evident, it is never laid on too thick. The film also shows the diversity the rainforest can offer.
The comedy is abundant but there are also quite a few action and thrilling sequences, especially when the macaws face the perils of the jungle.
Rio 2 lives and breathes on its colourful takes which are full of energy and provide the right vibes. The 3D effect really brings out the best in this movie in eye-popping fashion.
The songs in themselves are very energetic and are made to get the children tapping, especially when the screen becomes a Broadway meld with a Busby Berkeley dance showpiece that really dazzles the eye.