Vivo (film)

Official release poster

***Vivo*** is a 2021 American computer-animated musical comedy film directed by Kirk DeMicco and co-directed by Brandon Jeffords (in his feature directorial debut), from a screenplay written by DeMicco and Quiara Alegría Hudes. Based on an original idea by Hudes and Peter Barsocchini, the film is produced by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation, with songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also serves as an executive producer and voices the title character. The film also features the voices of Zoe Saldaña, Juan de Marcos, Brian Tyree Henry, Michael Rooker, Nicole Byer, Gloria Estefan, and introduces Ynairaly Simo in her film debut as Gabi. *Vivo* marks Sony Pictures Animation's first musical film. The story follows Vivo (Miranda), a music-loving kinkajou, who embarks on the journey of a lifetime to fulfill his destiny and must deliver a love song to Marta Sandoval (Estefan), a retiring singer.

The film was first pitched to DreamWorks Animation in 2010 by Miranda following the success of his stage musical *In the Heights* but was canceled due to the restructuring at the company in 2015. It was later revived and fast-tracked by Sony Pictures Animation on December 14, 2016, with DeMicco directing, Lisa Stewart producing, Laurence Mark executive-producing, and Hudes writing the screenplay from a story by Barsocchini. Cast members for the film were announced in April 2021. Apart from Miranda's original songs, his longtime collaborator and musical director Alex Lacamoire composed the film's score.

*Vivo* was released in select theaters on July 30, 2021, and digitally on Netflix on August 6, 2021. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the animation, voice performances, and musical numbers.

## Plot

In Havana, Cuba, Andrés Hernández and his kinkajou Vivo play music together in the plaza. One day after their show, Andrés receives a letter from his old friend, Marta Sandoval, informing him that she is retiring from her music career. The letter offers a chance to reconnect in Miami at the he Mambo Cabana and for Andrés to finally confess his love for Marta through a song he wrote just for her. Vivo, happy with their life in Cuba, is reluctant to help Andrés. The next morning, Andrés dies in his sleep and that night, a funeral service is held in the plaza, with Andrés' niece-in-law Rosa and her daughter Gabi attending before they head back to their home in Key West, Florida.

Ashamed of his earlier reluctance, Vivo vows himself to get Marta to hear Andrés' song. He stows away to Key West with Gabi and Rosa in their luggage. Gabi finds Vivo and agrees to help him deliver Andrés' song to Marta. Under the guise of attending a cookie sale in town, Gabi and Vivo purchase bus tickets to get to Marta's show, but they are stopped by the Sand Dollars, a girl scout troop who wants Vivo vaccinated. Gabi and Vivo escape from them, but miss the bus. They end up in the Everglades, and are separated by a heavy rain storm, losing the song.

While searching for Gabi, Vivo comes across a roseate spoonbill named Dancarino, who is unsuccessful in finding love with one of his own. With Vivo's help, he is able to win the heart of Valentina. The two later rescue Vivo from a Burmese python named Lutador. Meanwhile, Gabi discovers that she was followed by the Sand Dollars on a boat and that they have Andrés' song, keeping it from her until she leads them to Vivo. When the girls are attacked by Lutador, Vivo saves them, but the song is destroyed in the process. Devastated, Vivo considers returning to Cuba until he realizes he and Gabi can recreate the song, as he knows the melody and Gabi knows the lyrics. Together, they make it to Miami and search for Marta, who has learned of Andrés' death and refuses to go on stage.

Gabi and Vivo sneak inside the Mambo Cabana, but Gabi is unable to enter and tells Vivo to go on without her. She is soon caught by security and her furious mother. Vivo finds a mourning Marta, who recognizes him from Andrés' obituary photo, and delivers the song. Touched by the song, Marta is revitalized and decides to go on stage. Vivo then locates Gabi and Rosa, who are arguing while driving back home. Gabi confesses she decided to help Vivo because she misses her deceased father Carlos. Deeply moved, Rosa reassures her daughter, and drives Gabi and Vivo back to the concert just in time to hear Marta play Andrés' song. Vivo decides to stay in Florida with Gabi and Rosa. Gabi and Vivo put on their own show in the city with Marta, entertaining the crowd.

## Voice cast

* Lin-Manuel Miranda as Vivo, a singer-musician kinkajou
* Zoe Saldaña as Rosa, Gabi's widowed mother and Andrés' niece-in-law
* Juan de Marcos González as Andrés, Vivo's owner and Gabi's grand-uncle
	+ González reprises his role in the Spanish dub of the film
* Brian Tyree Henry and Nicole Byer as Dancarino and Valentina, a pair of star-crossed roseate spoonbills
	+ Aneesa Folds provides Valentina's singing voice
* Michael Rooker as Lutador, a green villainous Burmese python who dislikes any noise
* Ynairaly Simo as Gabi, Andrés' great-niece, an energetic, but eccentric and misunderstood 10-year-old with a gift of gab and rapping
* Gloria Estefan as Marta Sandoval, Andrés' old partner and unrequited love, who is now a legendary singer performing in the United States
* Katie Lowes, Olivia Trujillo, and Lidya Jewett as Becky, Eva, and Sarah; the Sand Dollars, a trio of well-meaning but overzealous girl scout troopers
	+ Bri Holland, Alana de Fonseca, and Jada Banks-Mace provide their singing voices
* Christian Ochoa as Montoya, Andrés's friend
* Brandon Jeffords as Mr. Henshaw, a Sand Dollars customer
* Gloria Calderón Kellett as Gloria, Marta's stage manager
* Leslie David Baker as Bob, a Florida bus driver

## Music

*Main article:* Vivo *(soundtrack)*

On December 14, 2016, it was revealed that Miranda would be writing 11 songs for the film. On April 26, 2021, it was reported that Miranda's recurring collaborator Alex Lacamoire worked on the film as both its score composer and executive music producer. The film's soundtrack features "My Own Drum (Remix)", performed by Ynairaly Simo and Missy Elliott. The score was recorded at Synchron Stage Vienna. Music by Noa Kalos was used.