Genre: Animation   

Release Date: 8th April, 2011

Runtime:  96 minutes

Director: Carlos Saldanha

Writers: Don Rhymer, Joshua Sternin, Jeffrey Ventimilia

Voices: Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Jamie Foxx, will.i.am

Language: English

 

Rating:  3.5/5

 

Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) belongs to a rare species of bird known as the Spix Macaw. Neatly tucked into an urban lifestyle in snowy Minnesota with bookstore owner Linda (Leslie Mann), Blu is a far away from home — the jungles of Rio de Janeiro. Domesticated Blu, can brush his teeth and read a book but does not know how to fly.

 

Soon enough, Blu’s species is on the decline and he has to mate. Linda and Blu who have led a sheltered life, take the plunge and travel to Rio where Blu meets a female Spix Macaw, Jewel (Anne Hathaway). As cultures clash, it’s hate at first sight. The two bond however, while escaping the clutches of poachers who try to make a quick buck by selling exotic birds. 

 

Rio starts with a bang. Exotic birds swoosh in front of your eyes, thanks to the 3D graphics. The rest of the film is in the similar vein — musical and fast-paced. 

 

Director Carlos Saldanha, the man behind the hugely successful Ice Age movies treats his dream project, Rio with maturity and humour. Like the former, the dialogues are witty and characters endearing. During a fight sequence between the birds and the thieving marmosets (a species of monkey), the leader of the marmosets gets punched and he spits out two jewels effectively stating that he has lost a certain part of his anatomy. These funny visuals not only have the children in splits but the accompanying adults who get the underlying meaning render a smirk too.

 

Eisenberg and Hathaway do a great job of voicing their characters and building chemistry between them. Foxx, will.i.am and George Lopez lend their voice to the supporting flock of birds who help Blu and Jewel. Will.i.am’s rap will have you in splits while you will swoon over Jamie Foxx’s vocals.

 

Rio is a must watch summer movie. It has a little bit of everything with a little bit for everyone.