Directed by: Carlos Saldanha
Casts: Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hatthaway, Jemaine Clement, will.i.am, Jamie Foxx
Genre: Animation, Kids & Family, Comedy
Release Date: 10 April 2014
It's bye-bye city and hello jungle as Blu, Jewel and their 3 kids head out to the Amazon forest in search of their kin thought to be history. Right on their feathery tails is Blu's old nemesis Nigel the cockatoo, with new aides of his own bent on revenge in this colourful sequel to 2011's Rio.
Praises: The second flight with our feathered friends is a frantic fun-filled one, full of toe-tapping musical scores that soothes the ears and gears the excitement. Brazilian beats and tempo echo seamlessly with the mesmerising choreography of dances and singing, offering the perfect remedy for my agonising Monday-blue (ironic huh?).
Many of the adorable characters that I have come to know and love in Rio reunites for the sequel, much to my delight. Jesse Eisenberg's talent effortlessly made Blu charming as always. The bird is fond of everything human and suddenly he's thousands of miles away from civilisation, surrounded by similar feathers he never knew existed and having to pick Brazilian nuts over toasts. His reluctance to embrace anything wild cooks up numerous hilarious moments that are pretty memorable (okay okay, no spoilers).
Jewel (Anne Hatthaway) on the other hand, sheds off her younger, impulsive self for a more calm, matured and family-oriented mother figure to her younglings Carla, Bia and Tiago. Her relationship with Blu is beautifully heartfelt as we see the two dealing with ideas of compromise and growth as the honeymoon is long over. The addition of the little ones made the film more appealing to kids but even as an adult, I simply adore them.
He may not be willing to catch any grenades for anyone but Roberto (it's Bruno-freaking-Mars!) jazzed up the atmosphere with his much confidence and swag. Being the idol of the flock and childhood friend of Jewel, he is considered a rival by the jealous Blu which often led to comedic results.
Nigel may be the star of the stage this time after all for his vocal talent Jemaine Clement turns up to be among the most impressive of the lot. Another noteworthy newcomer to the pool is Nigel's new sidekick/admirer Gabi (Kristin Chenoweth) who's performance gives a touch of musical magic to the film (albeit sadistically).
Of course, it won't be Rio without the dynamic duo Pedro and Nico. Their respective charisma compliments each other flawlessly and though they are less crucial than before, they're still entertaining to watch.
Blu's guardian, Linda (Leslie Mann) is now married to bird enthusiast Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro) and the pair plays a pivotal role in delivering the film's ecological messages: how we should never take the beauty of nature for granted and also on the danger that forest logging brings. These made the story a lot more engaging, as we are introduced to the many beauty and wonders of Amazon throughout. They symbolize the ideal that humans hold the key to either preserve or destroy their Mother Earth.
For those who have watched the film, doesn't the climatic scene reminds you much of Avatar?
Complains: Like most sequels to animation films, Rio 2 attempts to do too much of everything but end up focusing too little on what's important. It does not leave that great of an impact as its predecessor and relies heavily on the casts to maintain much of its charm. There are literally too many conflicts and subplots to digest, causing the narrative to lose its momentum. It's as if everyone is pulling at each other's neck to tell their own story.
To have 2 different sets of villains with their own agenda is a risky move. Not only does it made the plot felt jumpy but also distracting, as the scenes are quickly cut between one another to give room for progression. As if Nigel and the illegal loggers are not enough, we have the feud between the Spix Macaws and Scarlet Macaws. Seriously?
Also, I generally prefer the scores from the first Rio better. They are a lot catchier, the kind that leaves you in holiday mood. I'm not saying the ones in Rio 2 are bad, they just do not cling to me as they should. To add to that, I'm pretty disappointed that Jewel sings way lesser this time around. Anne Hatthaway has such an amazing voice, why let it go to waste?
Rating: 6.2/10
Hit or Miss: Rio 2 is visually beautiful with strong casts to carry the film but suffers from a congested storyline. Still, watching it is a pleasurable experience. Hit.
Jewel (Anne Hatthaway) on the other hand, sheds off her younger, impulsive self for a more calm, matured and family-oriented mother figure to her younglings Carla, Bia and Tiago. Her relationship with Blu is beautifully heartfelt as we see the two dealing with ideas of compromise and growth as the honeymoon is long over. The addition of the little ones made the film more appealing to kids but even as an adult, I simply adore them.
He may not be willing to catch any grenades for anyone but Roberto (it's Bruno-freaking-Mars!) jazzed up the atmosphere with his much confidence and swag. Being the idol of the flock and childhood friend of Jewel, he is considered a rival by the jealous Blu which often led to comedic results.
Nigel may be the star of the stage this time after all for his vocal talent Jemaine Clement turns up to be among the most impressive of the lot. Another noteworthy newcomer to the pool is Nigel's new sidekick/admirer Gabi (Kristin Chenoweth) who's performance gives a touch of musical magic to the film (albeit sadistically).
Of course, it won't be Rio without the dynamic duo Pedro and Nico. Their respective charisma compliments each other flawlessly and though they are less crucial than before, they're still entertaining to watch.
Blu's guardian, Linda (Leslie Mann) is now married to bird enthusiast Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro) and the pair plays a pivotal role in delivering the film's ecological messages: how we should never take the beauty of nature for granted and also on the danger that forest logging brings. These made the story a lot more engaging, as we are introduced to the many beauty and wonders of Amazon throughout. They symbolize the ideal that humans hold the key to either preserve or destroy their Mother Earth.
For those who have watched the film, doesn't the climatic scene reminds you much of Avatar?
Complains: Like most sequels to animation films, Rio 2 attempts to do too much of everything but end up focusing too little on what's important. It does not leave that great of an impact as its predecessor and relies heavily on the casts to maintain much of its charm. There are literally too many conflicts and subplots to digest, causing the narrative to lose its momentum. It's as if everyone is pulling at each other's neck to tell their own story.
To have 2 different sets of villains with their own agenda is a risky move. Not only does it made the plot felt jumpy but also distracting, as the scenes are quickly cut between one another to give room for progression. As if Nigel and the illegal loggers are not enough, we have the feud between the Spix Macaws and Scarlet Macaws. Seriously?
Also, I generally prefer the scores from the first Rio better. They are a lot catchier, the kind that leaves you in holiday mood. I'm not saying the ones in Rio 2 are bad, they just do not cling to me as they should. To add to that, I'm pretty disappointed that Jewel sings way lesser this time around. Anne Hatthaway has such an amazing voice, why let it go to waste?
Rating: 6.2/10
Hit or Miss: Rio 2 is visually beautiful with strong casts to carry the film but suffers from a congested storyline. Still, watching it is a pleasurable experience. Hit.
