Credible Credits
Year: 2014
Director: Carlos Saldanha
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Jemaine Clement, and Kristin Chenoweth
Tagline: It's on in the Amazon!
Synopsis: When more blue macaws are discovered deep within the jungle, Blu, Jewel, their kids, and their friends embark on an adventure to the Amazon.
Synopsis: When more blue macaws are discovered deep within the jungle, Blu, Jewel, their kids, and their friends embark on an adventure to the Amazon.
Review
Remember how before reviewing Mr. Peabody and Sherman I talked about the insipid short that preceded it? Well, believe it or not, the exact same short preceded Rio 2. Seriously? That's just lazy. C'mon Blue Sky Studios. Why is your film being preceded by a Dreamworks short anyway? Also preceding the movie was the first five minutes from How to Train Your Dragon 2. While that was far more entertaining and interesting, it's also kind of a shameless marketing plug. (I am very excited for that movie, though, and still have high expectations for it.)
Speaking of expectations, I went into Rio 2 with fairly low expectations. The first movie was fun and worth at least one viewing. It had some catchy samba-inspired songs and flamboyantly feathery choreography. The plot was decent and the characters were likable enough. It had some clever moments but was ultimately rather forgettable.
And I basically just reviewed both movies right there.
All the main characters from the first movie return. Blu spends most of the movie trying to learn how to fit in and what he's good for (which is pretty much how he spent the first movie). Jewel doesn't have a whole lot to do this time around aside from urging Blu (and thus the plot) along. All the other characters are along for the ride and add their own various antics. New characters include the villainous Nigel's henchmen: a lovesick poisonous tree frog and a silent, ever-hungry anteater. Blu's GPS was also a fun "character," if you can call it that. And of course there are new blue macaws, primarily Jewel's father and her childhood friend. Both fill their roles ... well, exactly as you'd imagine from having watched the trailer.
The plot was simply nothing new. It was safe, cozy, and predictable (all things Blu would probably approve of). It had a musical revue and a bird version of a soccer game. There was the requisite "save the rainforest" plot. One of the problems was it had both a human plot -- with Linda and Tulio, Blu and Jewel's caretakers -- and a bird plot -- with, you know, the birds. When the two plots did finally come together, it was a little too quick and too tidily patched up. Like I said, it was all a little too safe. None of the characters really risked much. The stakes were never high enough to be emotionally satisfying.
That said, I really was pleasantly surprised. Rio 2 was more fun than I was expecting. While the music won't be sung by children and adults everywhere for the next half year, it was still toe-tapping. The version of "I Will Survive" was a highlight of the film even. And it was hard not to smile at Kristin Chenoweth (the original Galinda from Wicked) as she crooned about her poisonous love for the Shakespeare-inspired cockatoo, Nigel. The flying choreography during the musical numbers was also just as fun, feathery, and flamboyant as in the first film. It may not break any new ground in animation, but it's still nice eye candy.
My favorite part of the movie was the journey itself from Rio de Janeiro to the Amazon. I'm not sure how long movies have been traveling by map. I believe it was popularized by the (awesome!) Indiana Jones films. And it has been put to humorous effect in various Muppet movies. But Rio 2 is the first film (to my knowledge) to do travel by pop-up book. And the result is charming, colorful, and smile-inducing. If I watch the movie again, it will be for that segment ... and the crazed cockatoo's "I Will Survive."
Is Rio 2 a brilliant film that will go down in animation history? No. Is it worth an hour and a half of your time via Redbox or Netflix? Sure. Where else are you going to watch birds play soccer or a cockatoo recite Hamlet?
Speaking of expectations, I went into Rio 2 with fairly low expectations. The first movie was fun and worth at least one viewing. It had some catchy samba-inspired songs and flamboyantly feathery choreography. The plot was decent and the characters were likable enough. It had some clever moments but was ultimately rather forgettable.
And I basically just reviewed both movies right there.
All the main characters from the first movie return. Blu spends most of the movie trying to learn how to fit in and what he's good for (which is pretty much how he spent the first movie). Jewel doesn't have a whole lot to do this time around aside from urging Blu (and thus the plot) along. All the other characters are along for the ride and add their own various antics. New characters include the villainous Nigel's henchmen: a lovesick poisonous tree frog and a silent, ever-hungry anteater. Blu's GPS was also a fun "character," if you can call it that. And of course there are new blue macaws, primarily Jewel's father and her childhood friend. Both fill their roles ... well, exactly as you'd imagine from having watched the trailer.
The plot was simply nothing new. It was safe, cozy, and predictable (all things Blu would probably approve of). It had a musical revue and a bird version of a soccer game. There was the requisite "save the rainforest" plot. One of the problems was it had both a human plot -- with Linda and Tulio, Blu and Jewel's caretakers -- and a bird plot -- with, you know, the birds. When the two plots did finally come together, it was a little too quick and too tidily patched up. Like I said, it was all a little too safe. None of the characters really risked much. The stakes were never high enough to be emotionally satisfying.
That said, I really was pleasantly surprised. Rio 2 was more fun than I was expecting. While the music won't be sung by children and adults everywhere for the next half year, it was still toe-tapping. The version of "I Will Survive" was a highlight of the film even. And it was hard not to smile at Kristin Chenoweth (the original Galinda from Wicked) as she crooned about her poisonous love for the Shakespeare-inspired cockatoo, Nigel. The flying choreography during the musical numbers was also just as fun, feathery, and flamboyant as in the first film. It may not break any new ground in animation, but it's still nice eye candy.
My favorite part of the movie was the journey itself from Rio de Janeiro to the Amazon. I'm not sure how long movies have been traveling by map. I believe it was popularized by the (awesome!) Indiana Jones films. And it has been put to humorous effect in various Muppet movies. But Rio 2 is the first film (to my knowledge) to do travel by pop-up book. And the result is charming, colorful, and smile-inducing. If I watch the movie again, it will be for that segment ... and the crazed cockatoo's "I Will Survive."
Is Rio 2 a brilliant film that will go down in animation history? No. Is it worth an hour and a half of your time via Redbox or Netflix? Sure. Where else are you going to watch birds play soccer or a cockatoo recite Hamlet?
Quotable Quotes
- "We attack at midnight ... because it's more evil." -- Nigel
- "Put the spork down." -- Rafael
- "He called me a pet!" -- Blu
- "Are you sure you trust this woman?" -- Jewel to Blu regarding the female GPS voice
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