EDITORS: Buy this review & gallery in our shop! (includes tons of activity sheets for kids!)
Reel Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: G
Released in Theaters: April 11, 2014 (2D, 3D)
Released on DVD/Blu-ray: July 15, 2014 (Buy It On Amazon)
Genre: Family, Animated, Adventure, Sequel
Runtime: 101 minutes
Directed by: Carlos Saldanha
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Animation
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, Leslie Mann, Bruno Mars, Jamie Foxx, George Lopez
Official Site: Rio 2
PHOTO GALLERY: “Rio 2”
REVIEW: I’m always so excited when a G movie comes along, especially one like “Rio 2” where it’s clear that the filmmakers put some time and effort into it. This movie is bright, colorful, musical, and brings back our beloved friends from “Rio.”
Now married, Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Anne Hathaway) are now living in a bird sanctuary established by their married human friends Linda (Leslie Mann) and Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro). But during a trip to the Amazon, Linda and Tulio discover more blue macaws living in a remote cluster of Brazil nut trees deep in the rainforest.
When this news spreads, Jewel decides it’s time for her overly domesticated family (the kids have iPods!) to take a trip to the Amazon and get back to nature. What they find is even better — Jewel’s father Eduardo (Andy Garcia), her old boyfriend Roberto (Bruno Mars), and a whole flock of birds just like them.
But Blu, whose culinary specialty is pancakes back at the sanctuary, has a tough time acclimating to his new wild environment. Not to mention that his old nemesis Nigel (Jemaine Clement) and a greedy logging CEO are both set on destroying the macaws and their habitat.
It’s clear that director Carlos Saldanha loves his home country of Brazil. The musical numbers are fantastic and the animation absolutely gorgeous, with sharp, vibrant details of birds’ wings, a well-worn riverboat, aerial views of the cities, lush waterfalls, night-time rainstorms and more. There are some tense moments as the birds fight to save their habitat, but the villains aren’t too threatening and you know that all will be well. “Rio 2” is a great installment to the franchise and great for kids 5 and older.
SPECIAL FEATURES (2-Disc Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Version):
Blu-ray Special Features:
- Deleted Scene – Practice
- Rio Refresher (brings you up to date on the story)
- Boom, Shake, Snap: The Local Sounds of Brazil (an entertaining collection of featurettes with Carlos Saldanha and Sergio Mendes introducing various ethnic sounds): The Bodybeats of the Barbatuques; How to Play the Barbatuques!; Rhythmic Rio; The Upbeat Uakti Jam
- Birds and Beats: The Singing Talents of Rio 2
- Nigel the Shakespearean Cockatoo and Friends (a fun look at the film’s villain with a nice tour of the Blue Sky facility by Carlos Saldanha)
- Music, Dance, Sing-Along Machine: “What Is Love”; “Ô Vida”; “Poisonous Love”; “Welcome Back”; “Beautiful Creatures”; “Don’t Go Away”; “It’s a Jungle Out Here”; “I Will Survive”; “Bola Viva”; “Batucada Family”
- Dance-Along: “What Is Love”; “Ô Vida”; “Beautiful Creatures”; “It’s a Jungle Out Here”
- Sing-Along: “What Is Love”; “Welcome Back”; “Beautiful Creatures”; “Don’t Go Away”; “It’s a Jungle Out Here”; “I Will Survive”
- You Be the Judge (faux auditions for various characters): Tapir Audition; Monkey Audition; Turtle Audition
- “What is Love?” by Janelle Monáe
- “I Will Survive” Multi-Language Sequence
- Still Gallery
- Theatrical Trailers
DVD Special Features:
- Rio Refresher
- Birds and Beats: The Singing Talents of Rio 2
- Nigel the Shakespearean Cockatoo and Friends
- “What is Love?” by Janelle Monáe
- “I Will Survive” Multi-Language Sequence
- Still Gallery
- Theatrical Trailers
NOTE: There’s also a ton of branded items for “Rio 2,” but my favorite so far is this adorable lunch box ——>
THE DETAILS:
Sex/Nudity: Blu and Jewel are now married, as are Linda and Tulio. They’re affectionate and kiss a couple of times. Jewel’s childhood sweetheart Roberto makes Blu jealous by preening around her and noting that if anything happens to Blu, he’ll take care of his family. Gabi the poisonous frog sings (operatically creepy) love songs about wanting to be with her love, Nigel.
Violence/Gore: Nigel is determined to poison and kill Blu, and Gabi is willing to donate her poison to the cause. The blue and red macaws fight over jungle real estate and engage in a battle that’s a cross between a soccer game and a Quidditch match. Evil loggers fight the birds with cranes and other construction vehicles, while the birds peck and descend on them. The loggers also tie up Linda and Tulio in the jungle. One scene shows animals who keep getting eaten by predators, but it’s played for laughs (and the animals miraculously survive).
Profanity: Mild insults like “stupid” and “idiot.”
Drugs/Alcohol: Adults are shown with champagne glasses.
Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 5 and older who liked the first “Rio” movie or colorful animated movies with lots of action.
Will Parents Like It? “Rio 2” is cute and fun, with an ecological message for young viewers. It also emphasizes the importance of family and friends who work together when things get tough.
JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM:
One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it.
Two Reels – Coulda been a contender
Three Reels – Something to talk about.
Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick!
Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.
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