Film Review: "Rio 2" (2014).

"It's on in the Amazon" in Rio 2. This 3D computer-animated musical comedy film directed by Carlos Saldanha, written by Don Rhymer, Carlos Kotkin, Jenny Bicks, and Yoni Brenner, and produced by Blue Sky Studios. It is the sequel to Rio (2011). It's a jungle out there for Blu, Jewel and their three kids after they're hurtled Rio de Janeiro to the wilds of the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful Nigel, and meets the most fearsome adversary of all: his father-in-law.

In late January 2012, while speaking to the Associated Press, after the successful release of Rio, a sequel was in the works at Blue Sky Studios. In April 2012, Deadline Hollywood reported that Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway had signed on to reprise their roles as Blu and Jewel. In October 2012, Variety stated that Saldanha had officially signed a five-year deal with 20th Century Fox that allows him to helm live-action and/or animated films, with the sequel being part of that contractual agreement. In late November, Don Rhymer, one of the writer of the first film, died during the writing phase of the sequel, from head and neck cancer. In January 2013, it was hinted that the sequel's setting will involve the Amazon. Bruno Mars was cast after Saldanha saw his performance on Saturday Night Live. After working with Mars, he re-wrote his character to make him less "macho", and, after a recording session, had a segment reanimated to fit his singing. Janelle Monáe was cast due to her Rock in Rio (1985) performance in September 2011. Tom Waits, Josh Brolin, and Ian McShane were considered for the role of Eduardo. Isla Fisher was considered for the role of Gabi. Jason Bateman, Riz Ahmed, and Taron Egerton were considered for the role of Roberto.

The film features the voice talents of Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, will.i.am, Jamie Foxx, George Lopez, Tracy Morgan, Jemaine Clement, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro, and Jake T. Austin reprising their roles, with Bruno Mars, Andy Garcia, Rita Moreno, Rachel Crow, Kristin Chenoweth, Amandla Stenberg, Pierce Gagnon, and Miguel Ferrer. For as endearing as the characters' antics are, even they can't sustain the lackluster jokes that pass for humor for the bulk of the hundred and one running time.

Despite its impressive animation and the hilarious antics of the colourful characters, Rio 2 comes up short on the storytelling front. The first Rio more or less exhausted these characters and their world, and this film doesn't add much. The storyline wanes towards the end and, from the kids' point of view, the whole package lacks momentum. I've seen cooked spaghetti with more tension. A tad crasser and pushier than its predecessor, the film is still an entirely serviceable follow-up to the 2011 hit that will thoroughly amuse kids and get a rise or two out of parents as well. I'm not going to beat around the glacier anymore than I have. If you liked the first film, you're going to like this sequel.

Simon says Rio 2 receives:

Also, see my review for Epic.