strongjahbrill This movie really captures the feeling of Rio and has a good plot (even though it's not hard a hard plot to find in other movies) but it has a loveable cast of characters and is really enjoyable to watch

Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de) But you could probably guessed that with the film's title. The writer and director Carlos Saldanha made this a nice feature about his home country. Topics like football, carnival and the rain forest are included, but there are also references to more serious aspects, such as orphan boys living in the slums of Rio or crime in general. Still as this is an animated feature and thus the target audience are mostly younger people, there is nothing too severe in here. The main character is a cookie-eating coffee-drinking blue macaw and we find out he is the one of only two specimen of his kind. The problem, however, is that he is so domesticated by his owner that he cannot even fly and so his trip to Brazil where he meets the other, a female (obviously) who is the exact opposite of him, is full of danger, adventure and a love story. Oh wait, there is actually another love story in there as his owner, a young woman, falls for a wildlife preservationist. The movie starts very nicely with "Real in Rio", the song that managed an Oscar nomination and made up for the film coming short in the Animated Feature category.I quite enjoyed this movie. There are many funny scenes in it from start to finish and Blu and Jewel (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway) just like the two humans are quite a joy to watch. However, I have to say almost all other characters did not do too much for me and I believe this film could have been more essential and better without a couple of them. This way, it would probably not have been 100, but only 85 minutes, but I would have approved of that. There are some emotional moments, like when Blu and Jewel discover their love for one another or the two humans do in their macaw costumes, but as a whole it does not reach the emotional heights of Pixar movies. That is not to say it's a disappointing movie. It's lots of fun and the 7(!) people who worked on the script did a fine job all in all. Saldanha also directed the equally fun sequel from a year ago and I am curious if they will ever make a third movie. If yes, I will probably give it a watch. Until then, I recommend this first Rio movie of the franchise.

fred-beermaster It has been a long time since I saw such a bad, bad movie. I can not say anything bad about the animation, for it has been done with great skill and finesse, but the story line is more than bad. American ignorance and chauvinism reign throughout the whole movie and I was hardly able to watch more than a quarter of the movie.Portraying Brazil as evil, poor, dumb and what not .. while glorifying the so called American dream by using one cliché after the other.This movie is not funny, not entertaining and very, very bad. I hate it. And trust me, I tried watching it, but it was all really too much.Shame on the makers.

willcundallreview Rating-7/10Rio is a fun, bright and colourful film about a whole host of animals living in the inner city Rio de Janeiro and the rainforest just on the outskirts of the city. It although a kids film can be enjoyed by all, not the funniest film ever but still manages a sweet story with some great visuals even for an animation film. I felt the film was firmly a Good movie and would tell you to show your kids this film on a Sunday afternoon, but here is why I think even middle aged adults can enjoy this film.The story is straightforward and although it is like that it manages to bring smiles to your face and put me in a food mood for the rest of the film. The plot is fast paced with big falls and typical traits you see in Kids movies but I did feel most of all that it wasn't too cheesy like you see in many kids films and churned out a fun story. The villains are fun and the heroes have fun with them too to make a story that is fun for the whole family as well, and with a sequel it has to be said it is good.The voice cast are good Jesse Eisenberg as the main bird is a scared character who comes out of his shell to be a slight hero as the movie progresses onwards. Anne Hathaway's bird if courageous and hates to be kept in captivity, in comparison to Eisenberg who wants to stay put and has been pampered in America all his life. I liked all the voices even though they were all nearly American even though they are from Brazil but I shall let that pass in sake of the plot.I love the animation style which is far from superior style motion but serves some great colours up and the vibrancy of Rio is brought to life in this animated film, especially the carnival(what film set here doesn't have the carnival). The movement is also good with fast flowing motion that serves the faster parts of the story well as you feel the film will end soon but not in a hurry and a good pace. I enjoyed the script and it serves to let the Birds and humans have an equal say on the matters all the way through.The film I believe was meant to be a comedy and now for kids it may amuse them but for more mature people the comedy is poor and near none existent, I enjoyed the films plot and style but the comedy seemed underused and when it came up it just served to annoy rather than make you laugh. Eisenberg seems to rarely get into the role well but it doesn't hinder the movie, the plot as I said is predictable but the movie does turn up some good moments and nice effects and sequences.I could easily say this is made for 3 year olds but I think lots will enjoy this if they watch it with the intention of not laughing but enjoying a sweet movie and some nice characters too. Those who like animation films generally will like it as it flows nice and I said about the motion being fast, along with the film being not too long either. Finally I must say don't watch this film in a bad mood because I can imagine people would absolutely hate this when they are angry or sad.Overall I give it a 7/10 meaning firmly good, the film serves as fun entertainment for a family but not maybe everyone's cup of tea in truth, give it a miss if you want funny animation. I felt FOX did well to make it and put it out but failed to see if it was really funny, but hey watch it and a give it a try, you may just thoroughly enjoy yourself, but on the same hand you may find it cringe and boring, your call.