Rio Review

• 31st Mar 2011

Rio is the kind of film that does exactly what it says on the tin (and on the side of almost every bus in London it seems). You want an all-singing, all-dancing, fantabulous, feel-good, feathered fiesta? You got it.

If you’re looking for something a bit different, perhaps a slight subversion of the genre, well … you might have to keep waiting for that one.

It’s a whole bunch of fun though. Like Ice Age, the creators’ previous offering, it’s the range of delightfully individual and well-rounded supporting characters that provide the entertainment. We’re introduced to an array of birds, monkeys, dogs and people of all shapes, sizes and rather dazzling colours, and the humour comes from their unique quirks and foibles – a harassed daddy macaw with his hordes of misbehaved chicks, for example, or a drooling bulldog with a penchant for samba. Stereotypes are admirably sidestepped and there’s a general feeling of acceptance here that’s really rather sweet.

The city of Rio, an unsurprisingly dominant feature of the film, is also depicted with an openness and honesty that appeals. Much of the action takes place within Rio’s favelas; we get 3D scooter rides through their topsy-turvy lanes, poignant shots of a poor orphan’s rooftop shack. It’s not City of God – that might be asking a bit much of the kiddies – but it’s not Disneyland either.

Jamie Foxx and Will.I.Am add a couple of great musical numbers and a credible element of cool to the proceedings, while Jemaine Clement’s role as evil cockatoo Nigel is inspired. Flight of the Conchords fans are in for a treat.

It might have been nice to hear a few more Brazilian voices in the mix though, ‘tis Rio after all…

Where the film falls down is with its all-too-predictable plot, even the youngest of viewers could handle a few more surprises than Rio offers. Disappointingly, given the handling of the other characters, Blu and his owner Linda have been written slightly one-dimensionally. Small-town Minnesota types with Woody Allen-style neuroses loosening up and letting go in bright, silly Rio – really?

It’s nice and there are certainly much less fun ways to spend a couple of hours, but flaws in the fundamentals prevent Rio from taking that soft space in our hearts occupied by the likes Finding Nemo and Toy Story. Take all the brightly coloured feathers away and unfortunately there’s really not a lot there to hold onto.

Kathy Alys