Synopsis
Rio 2 is a 2014 animated musical comedy and the sequel to the 2011 film Rio. Directed by Carlos Saldanha, the film returns the blue macaw and the cast to a different part of the world. The film reunites macaws Blu and Jewel, as well as the cast, and takes them to the Amazon rainforest, leaving behind the city of Rio de Janeiro.
Rio 2 continues the narrative of the first film. Blu and Jewel live happily in Rio de Janeiro with their three children, Carla, Tiago, and Bia. While Jewel, who all conservative, feels that they children must learn that there is a bird world ‘wild’ to connect to, and is ‘balanced’ with domestication, technology, fanny packs and faddy modern pancakes, as well as the rest of the West as a whole.
One day, their human friends Tulio, which is a bird expert, and Linda, which is an animal conservationist, make a shocking discovery about there still possibly being Spix’s macaws in the hot Amazon rainforest. Jewel could not contain her enthusiasm and Blu, who does not share the same enthusiasm about leaving the city for the Amazon, ‘consents’ to go with her.
The group sets off into the rainforest. They are accompanied by their old friends, the music-loving toucan Rafael, the lively canary Nico, and the beat-boxing cardinal Pedro, embarking on a joyous and lively adventure.
When they reach the Amazon, they are stunned to discover a hidden flock of Spix’s macaws. Even more delightful is the fact that these are Jewel’s long-lost relatives, including her father, Eduardo. Jewel is ecstatic, however, Blu feels uncomfortable in the wild and around the vigilant Eduardo. Complications arise when Jewel’s childhood friend Roberto, charming and fully at ease in the wild, appears on the scene.
The situation is about to get worse. The evil cockatoo Nigel (voiced by Jemaine Clement) who survived the first movie, has come back with a vendetta. Together with his loyal underlings, a mute anteater named Charlie and a spunky poison dart frog named Gabi, Nigel has tracked Blu and the gang to the rainforest.
All of these elements combine to add additional stress on Blu as he attempts to support his new flock while also trying to prove to Jewel’s family that he is worthy. To this end, he learns to parse and trust his instincts and to navigate the many complex relationships that make up each social ecosystem, most notably, the disparate social worlds of wilderness and urban life, family and self, and sociability and solitude.
Profile and Voice Actor
Blu (Jesse Eisenberg)
Blu is an endearing macaw, passionate about his routines and order. His character development hinges on his journey of learning to trust not only his capabilities, but also his instincts, especially when he is out of his comfort zone.
Jewel (Anne Hathaway)
Unlike Blu, Jewel picks life on the edge as the risky member of the flock. While most of her personality reflects the wild, and her children especially, want to have some connections to the urban life as well, so they can transition well.
Eduardo (Andy Garcia)
Eduardo, Jewel’s long-lost father, is also the macaw tribe’s leader. He is very traditional and self-assured, but to an extreme. He stands out as a direct contrast as he is less appreciative of outsiders as is his tribe. He also acts dismissively to Blu and his urban lifestyle.
Roberto (Bruno Mars)
Roberto is Jewel’s old friend. He is charming, confident, and graceful and quickly becomes a ‘friendly rival’ to Blu.
Gabi (Kristin Chenoweth)
Though Gabi is a tiny frog, she has a gigantic personality and is madly devoted to Nigel. Even though her role is small, she adds a lot of unexpected heart and humor to the story.
Nico (Jamie Foxx), Pedro (Will.i.am), and Rafael (George Lopez)
This lively trio adds rhythm and humorous relief to the film. They also have jungle auditions to scout talent for the “Amazon’s Got Talent” musical showcase.
Themes
- Family and Belonging
Rio 2 is essentially a story about family. Jewel and Blu face different parenting styles, yet the story demonstrates how families can become stronger by embracing both their roots and their differences. Charming and heartfelt is Blu’s journey as an outsider to finding his place in Jewel’s world.
- Self-Discovery and Growth
At the beginning of the film, Blu is a character who is stuck in his old ways. However, he eventually transforms into a more confident, flexible bird. This type of development illustrates that the most significant personal growth can come from stepping outside one’s comfort zone.
- Nature and Conservation
Rio 2 makes a soft contribution to sustaining environmental consciousness and stressing the significance of saving nature and its endangered forms through its subplot of the destruction of the rainforest.
- Embracing Diversity
The movie embraces and advocates for the appreciation of differences and the understanding that they can work together to form a strong unified whole. The various birds and musical performances foster a lively appreciation of diversity.
Visuals and Animation
Rio 2 is filled with cheerful and lively animation. The film is a treat for the eyes with the beautiful animated rainforests and the macaws’ illuminated feathers. The attention given to detail is remarkable whether it is the city of Rio or the thick jungles. The musical scenes, and especially the audition scenes, were the best.
The expression of the characters was beautifully captured and creatively animated. Emotions were integrated into the performances and were particularly evident in Blu’s anxiety, Jewel’s elegant demeanor, and Gabi’s small, dramatic, animated expressions. These all enriched the storytelling.
Music and Soundtrack
Music is important is Rio 2. The movie includes original songs that incorporate some Brazilian beats and styles blended with pop and original songs, done by some of the voice actors, including Bruno Mars, Janelle Monáe, Will.i.am, and Jamie Foxx. The songs are cheerful, family-friendly, and fit the adventurous and joyous spirit of the movie.
Most positive feedback on the songs was on the fusion of the worldly diverse sounds. The songs, “What is Love” and “Welcome Back” stood out even more because of the emotional stir they packed within the rhythm.
Reception and IMDB Rating
Critics and audiences score Rio 2 positively on IMDb with 6.3/10. Many viewers acknowledged the heart, humor, and the songs of the movie, even when some critics felt that the movie failed on surpassing the original.
Audience Highlights:
Fun for Families: Viewers of all ages found the movie visually stunning, amusing, and entertaining.
Message Driven: Many acknowledged its family friendly message on family cohesion and conservation of the environment.
Strong Voice Performances: Dynamic spirit and harmony of the voice actors was important in filling the animated characters with life, ingenuity, and soul.
Critic Notes:
Some observers described the plot as more cluttered than the first movie.
Others felt the musical numbers and visual spectacle made up for any weaknesses in the story.
Conclusion
Filled with humor and music, Rio 2 strikes and succeeds the heartwarming tone set by its precursor. It offers fun and laughter, and, simultaneously, talks about audience’s identity, their belonging, and their care for the environment and without the overly preachy tone. It targets all audiences.
Rio 2’s animation and caricatures are entertaining and delightful. It tells the audience that home is people, and people, and birds, are all that really matter.
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