Guess what happens next! Oh wait, you know, don't you.

Rating: 5/10 (18 February 2012)

I don't think anyone would deny that although there was a time when almost every animated film that came out was at least good and creative and had some great songs, that time is gone. And "Rio" doesn't help the cause very much.
With a very weak, almost-not-there-yet-still-incredibly-predictable-story, "Rio" focuses on Blu, a Macaw that was stolen from Brazil when he was young for reselling but inadvertently falls off a truck and into the life of Linda, who raises him domestically in Minnesota. When a random ornithologist walks into Linda's book shop and sees a now all-grown-up Blu, he invites them down to Rio de Janeiro so Blu can mate with his female counterpart, Jewel, as they are the last two of their kind. Because we all know if you get asked to go to Rio by a total stranger, even if you own a business, you just pack up and leave, and so they are off to Brazil. However, before Blu and Jewel can do the deed, they both get stolen for sale on the black market again...and a very light, forgettable "adventure" ensues.
There is no doubt that this film is gorgeous to watch. A virtual colour orgasm, "Rio" will make you want to go to Rio! And the opening song, "Real in Rio," one of the only two Oscar-nominated songs this year, is a fantastic tune. But the film itself won't hold much interest for anyone over the age of ten. Once you get over the well-done animation and the colours, there really is not much else there. And generally, I find the use of a well-known actor's voice fun in an animated film, but here, Jessie Eisenberg doing the voice of Blu just ends up nothing more than distracting most of the time.
So. Um. Yeah. There's a reason this film didn't get nominated for Best Animated Feature. It's as clear as the skies in Brazil on a sunny day.