Rio, is a long-dreamed project of writer, director Carlos Saldanha who has put in considerable efforts to make this animated feature film create its own niche as a Hollywood blockbuster.[break]
While many Hollywood blockbuster are eyeing the Academy honors, Rio takes up its own genre in a unique way to stand out at the box office.
The synopsis is as such. Many birds of different species live in the forests near the city of Rio de Janeiro. One fine day several birds, including the macaw, are captured by smugglers.
The box containing the baby spinx macaw, is accidentally left behind, where it is found by a girl named Linda, who names him “Blu”.He lives a domesticated “happy life” with his master Linda.
Unlike many other birds, Blu does not know how to fly. But is happy sharing his breakfast with a human and living inside a cage.
Tuilo, a doctor and a scientist researching on bird species, discovers that breeding of Blu is necessary in order to ensure that macaws don’t extinct. The doctor finds a female macaw – Jewel, the lead actress in the film and convinces Linda to let them breed, so the species can be preserved.
The story takes a turn when captors, smuggling hundreds of birds, kidnap Blu and Jewel. Both are chained together. While Jewel like any other bird can fly, Blu can do nothing but walk and watch.
Shot mostly in Rio de Janeiro, the movie, proceeds smoothly with a good screenplay, sassy dialogues, neat animation and an enthralling soundtrack.
The film explodes with color on screen, depicting different species of birds accompanying each other. The dialogues they carry off in the animation looks real.
The writer and director combine wit, romance, life, friendship and struggle to make the film look and feel real. The 3D animation makes the film even more vibrant.
Some of the scenes of Brazil are full of exquisite animations that spark on your 3D glasses with extreme details, making you feel that you are right there with all those flappers around you.
The action scenes between macaws and the little monkeys acting as goons are cutely animated while the carnival looks lavish, and the birds doing the samba moves make the set up lively. The romance that follows in between is equally endearing wanting you to grow feathers and bond your beaks together.
The actors who lend their voice to the characters need a special mention since they are almost flawless. Especially, Jesse Eisenberg as Blu, Anny Hathaway as Jewel and Jemaine Clement as Nigel who breaks the gag and creates a vibrant mood.
Though the story is nothing extraordinary for you to deeply cherish, Rio is a kind of movie that assures a big smile on your face without asking you to smile at all. It is the presentation that matters in any film along with the script and the approach of the maker to make you believe in the world of animations.
Regarding animations, Hollywood has seen various movies like Ice Age, Madagascar and Toy Story.
Though Rio is nothing that exceptional, it however piles up itself along with the movies aforementioned as another adorable animated movie to cherish forever.
A bit of humor, a bit of wit, mallet moral, some action and a few kissing scenes– Rio is a perfectly packaged animated film for this season.
If a barely 90 minutes long family entertainment film is what you have been seeking for, Rio will definitely leave you happy.
Screening at QFX
The writer is Program Officer at Indian Cultural Centre.
Related story
Rio welcomes world with sultry music, plea for conservation (wi...
