Blame It on Rio

**Blame It on Rio** is a 1984 American romantic comedy film directed by Stanley Donen which was released on February 17, 1984 by 20th Century Fox.

It is based on the 1977 French film, "Un moment d'égarement."

## Plot

Matthew Hollis and Victor Lyons, two friends who work for the same Brazilian company decide to take a vacation together without their wives, taking their teenage daughters with them. However, trouble starts to stir up when Matthew begins an affair with Victor's 17-year-old daughter, Jennifer.

## Cast

* Michael Caine as Matthew Hollis
* Joseph Bologna as Victor Lyons
* Michelle Johnson as Jennifer Lyons
* Demi Moore as Nicole "Nikki" Hollis
* Valerie Harper as Karen Hollis
* José Lewgoy as Eduardo Marques
* Lupe Gigliotti as Signora Botega
* Nelson Dantas as Doctor

## Production

Principal photography for "Blame It On Rio" began on March 11, 1983 and ended on December 10, 1983.

Filming took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from March 15, 1983 to December 10, 1983.

According to producer\director Stanley Donen, "Blame It On Rio" was the first foreign movie in Brazil to operate under new government guidelines.

Michelle Johnson was picked for the role of Jennifer out of 300 candidates despite not having previous acting experience. Because Johnson was 17 years old at the time of filming, she received permission from a judge to appear topless in some scenes of the film.

Director Stanley Donen has referred to the film's production in Brazil as being "horrendous."

Donen has said that principal photography was marred by excessive bureaucratic requirements for personal information for the cast and crew; endless rainfall falling on days, in which the forecast said otherwise; and the late (and even non-arrival) of goods, products, and services.

Demi Moore turned down the role of Lucy Lane in "Supergirl" to appear in the film.

## Box Office

"Blame It on Rio" grossed $3,437,660 during its opening weekend at the box office. Overall, it grossed $18,644,570.

## Critical Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, "Blame It on Rio" has an approval rating of 8% based on 24 reviews with an average rating of 3.40/10. The site's consensus reads: *"It isn't clear who is most culpable for this creepy comedy's sheer wrongness, but its smarmy laughs and uncomfortable romance will leave audiences feeling guilty long afterward. Read critic reviews."*

Writing for The New York Times, Vincent Canby said: *"Though the scenery can't be faulted, there's not a single funny or surprising moment in the movie. However, Blame It on Rio is not simply humorless. It also spreads gloom. It's one of those unfortunate projects that somehow suggests that everyone connected with the movie hated it and all of the other people involved."*

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film a rating of 1 star out of a possible 4, writing: *"It's really unsettling to see how casually this movie takes a serious situation. A disturbed girl is using sex to play mind games with a middle-aged man, and the movie get its yuks with slapstick scenes [...] What's shocking is how many first-rate talents are associated with this sleaze."*

TV Guide Magazine said: *"Blame It On Rio turns into a most uncomfortable film, leeringly depicting an affair with decidely icky undertones of incest and pedophilia. Between gratuitous (if titillating) nude scenes and a succession of lame soundtrack songs, there are plenty of travelogue shots to pad out the thin narrative line. Caine looks embarrassed through the entire film, as well he might."*

Rita Kempley of The Washington Times wrote: *"Blame It on Rio, ha. Rio is innocent. Let's put the blame on executive producer Gelbart along with Caine and Bologna. Unlike the starlettes they've taken in tow, these three guys are old enough to know better."*