Rio is about a blue macaw, named Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg), who was taken from his home in the Amazon and dropped into a small town in Minnesota. Luckily, a girl, Linda, finds and raises him. Years later, a Brazilian scientist, who specializes in rare birds, finds Linda and Blu and convinces them to go to Rio de Janeiro so they can have Blu mate with another blue macaw in order to stop the blue macaw from going extinct. Once they’re in Rio, things start to fall apart and Blu ends up lost and on the run from a crazy cockatoo.
One of my favorite things about Rio was the voice talents. Jesse Eisenberg was perfect as the domesticated and slightly neurotic Blu. He nailed those moments where Blu wasn’t trying to be funny, but you ended up laughing anyway. Anne Hathaway played Jewel, the other blue macaw, coolly. She was smart and independent, a great contrast to Eisenberg. The rest of the voice talents were great: Jamie Foxx, George Lopez, Will.I.Am, Jermaine Clement and Leslie Mann.
The animation was great. If you have seen the Ice Age movies, you’d know what to expect. Well, that and a lot more color. The colors were a feast for the eyes. Even in 2D, it was just as cool. I think in 3D, it would’ve been too much, but I’m not a fan of 3D at all, so I’m biased. Whatever the case, it was diverting to watch.
Rio is great movie for kids, and adults will find it entertaining as well. I saw it with my parents, and my mom liked it so much, we had to convince her not to go and buy a pet bird. I definitely see why this movie is doing so well nationally and internationally, and I recommend seeing it if you’re feeling a cute, fun animated film.
Rio is now playing in theaters.
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