Rio cockatoo4/5/2023 The tense undercurrent between species stems from the relationship between Blu (Jesse Eisenberg), a rare macaw swiped from the rainforest and illegally transported to the States as a baby, and his human owner, Linda (Leslie Mann), a kind but nerdy bookstore owner who finds the freezing fowl on the side of the road. Birds and humans may dance the same samba (and they often do in Rio), but it’s never natural to groove together. Strangely, underneath the incessant musical numbers, pop-culture references, and intricate tail feathers, an unsettling theme of segregation emerges. All the luminous levels of canopy and texturally diverse color schemes can’t hide a staggering hollowness to the narrative. Every frame is devoted to building emotional attachment out of camera movement and layers of detail, yet director Carlos Saldanha’s sincere but uninspired romp into the glossy postcard atmosphere of Rio de Janeiro is one long courtship that ultimately falls flat. From the opening Busby Berkley-inspired sequence in the rain forest to the final climax amid the surrealist floats of Carnival, the entire film presents a landscape of incessant movement and momentum. Plot wise, there's nothing particularly surprising about Jewel and Blu's adventure, but the animals we meet on the way - a group of tech-savvy marmosets that text "OOH OOH AH AH" to each other on pick-pocketed smartphones, Rafael's toucan family, and even the crazy Nigel (Clement obviously had a ball playing this sadistic bird, plus he gets to sing) - and the backdrop of gorgeous Rio make this an exciting cinematic vacation for all families.Like a swaggering bird preening for affection, Rio puffs out its chest and hopes you’ll take notice. Many filmmakers would have ignored the grittier side of their beloved city, but Saldanha shows us - very believably - that a boy like Fernando just wants somewhere to belong. Austin), a street orphan who at first works for the smugglers but later redeems himself by helping Tulio and Linda. One of the best parts of the movie is the inclusion of Fernando ( Jake T. The main quartet of characters is helped tremendously by supporting songbirds Pedro and Nico, played by The Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am and Jamie Foxx, as well as the always-funny George Lopez as Rafael, a toucan with a large family. The movie's luscious color palette is so vibrant and the music (supervised by renowned Brazilian musician Sergio Mendes) so enchanting that most adults will want to book trips to Rio after the credits roll. Director Carlos Saldanha (of Ice Age fame) has said it was his professional dream to create an animated film set in his native Brazil, and he's certainly succeeded. It's no surprise that RIO feels as much like a love letter to Brazil as a delightful love story between two birds and their owners. Note: The movie is playing in 3-D in some theaters, which makes some scenes more vivid/intense. Characters also use some insulting words, such as "idiots," "stupid," "losers," and "shut up." Linda and Jewel are strong, selfless female characters who are willing to put themselves at risk for freedom (and their loved ones), and kids and parents will learn a good bit about Brazilian customs, particularly Carnival, and what makes Rio such a unique place. Both the main lovebirds and their owners fall in love, so there are a few scenes of flirting and embracing, plus one brief kiss or nuzzle. A couple of birds try to give the main character advice on how to attract his potential mate, and there are many sightings of men and women in skimpy/skin-tight Carnival costumes. There are a couple of frightening characters - most notably a scary white cockatoo who relishes harming his fellow birds - and a few bird smugglers (though most of them are dimwitted and not nearly as cold-blooded as their hench-bird). Parents need to know that this animated adventure is colorful, musical, and romantic.
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