Review: Rio 2
What’s the story? The cast and characters from Rio are all back. Linda and Tulio discover what seems to be a whole blue macaw population in the Amazon and when Blu and Jewel find out, they and their three kids decide to go to Rio de Janeiro to the wilds of the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful Nigel, and meets the most fearsome adversary of all: his father-in-law.
Who’s in it? Rio features the voices of Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables) as Jewel and Jesse Eisenberg (The Social network) as Blu. Jemaine Clement (TV’s Flight of the Conchords) returns as baddie Nigel. Other famous voices include those of will.i.am, Jamie Foxx, Andy Garcia, Tracy Morgan, George Lopez and Bruno Mars.
Who’s the director? Carlos Saldanha who also directed the first Rio movie and was the force behind some of the Ice Age movies.
What will you remember? The visuals… With all the colours of Rio and the Amazon, the movie is a feast for the eyes.
What’s the best scene? When Jewel is reunited with her dad and he realises he is a grandfather.
What’s the best line? Blu: Those are breath mints, you eat them. [a blue macaw eats the whole box of mints and starts choking]
Blu: Oh, no, no, no, no, not the whole box! Here let me get... that... out of your... mouth!
[he gets the box of mints out of the blue macaw's throat]
Jewel: Unbelievable.
With what piece of information can you impress your friends? During the 'animal auditions' scene, one talent involves a monkey swinging on a rock, tied to a vine. A reference to the notable "Wrecking Ball" music video of singer Miley Cyrus.
What did others have to say?
The tunes here are one of the film's high points, from the playfully melodic score by John Powell to the cheerful pop tunes by the likes of Janelle Monae and Bruno Mars. www.dvdverdict.com
A very unfocused, sporadically funny film, lifted by its (predictable) visual splendour. www.empireonline.com
Visually Rio 2 is as spectacular as the first. You can see all the details in the feathers, leaves, grass, and animal hair. www.fatmovieguy.com
RATING: 6