 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Rio
- Review Date: April 9, 2011
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Vibrant bird tale is part adventure, part love story.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this animated adventure is colorful, musical, and romantic. There are a couple of frightening characters -- most notably a scary white cockatoo who relishes harming his fellow birds -- and a few bird smugglers (though most of them are dimwitted and not nearly as cold-blooded as their hench-bird). A couple of birds try to give the main character advice on how to attract his potential mate, and there are many sightings of men and women in skimpy/skin-tight Carnival costumes. Both the main lovebirds and their owners fall in love, so there are a few scenes of flirting and embracing, plus one brief kiss or nuzzle. Characters also use some insulting words, such as "idiots," "stupid," "losers," and "shut up." Linda and Jewel are strong, selfless female characters who are willing to put themselves at risk for freedom (and their loved ones), and kids and parents will learn a good bit about Brazilian customs, particularly Carnival, and what makes Rio such a unique place. Note: The movie is playing in 3-D in some theaters, which makes some scenes more vivid/intense.
What's the story?
Linda (voiced by Leslie Mann) and her pet blue macaw, Blu (Jesse Eisenberg), are the best of friends. They live in Moose Lake, Minn., where they run a bookstore together. One day, a Brazilian ornithologist named Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro) makes an unexpected visit, inviting Linda and Blu to visit his bird sanctuary in Rio so that Blu can meet -- and hopefully mate with -- the only other surviving parrot of his kind, Jewel (Anne Hathaway). Despite the fact that Blu can't fly, they agree to make the trip. But shortly after Blu meets Jewel, the two macaws are stolen by a group of smugglers that employs an evil white cockatoo named Nigel (Jemaine Clement) to do their dirty work. Blu and Jewel manage to escape, but they've always got Nigel close on their claws. Meanwhile, Tulio and Linda attempt to find their beloved birds by any means necessary, even it means navigating the chaos of Rio's annual Carnival parade.
Is it any good?
Director Carlos Saldanha (of Ice Age fame) has said it was his professional dream to create an animated film set in his native Brazil, so it's no surprise that RIO feels as much like a love letter to the country as a love story between two birds and their owners. The movie's luscious color palette is so vibrant and the music (supervised by renowned Brazilian musician Sergio Mendes) so enchanting that most adults will want to book trips to Rio after the credits roll. The main quartet of characters is helped tremendously by supporting songbirds Pedro and Nico, played by The Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am and Jamie Foxx, as well as the always-funny George Lopez as Rafael, a toucan with a large family.
One of the best parts of the movie is the inclusion of Fernando (Jake T. Austin), a street orphan who at first works for the smugglers but later redeems himself by helping Tulio and Linda. Many filmmakers would have ignored the grittier side of their beloved city, but Saldanha shows us -- very believably -- that a boy like Fernando just wants somewhere to belong. Plot wise, there's nothing particularly surprising about Jewel and Blu's adventure, but the animals we meet on the way -- a group of tech-savvy marmosets that text "OOH OOH AH AH" to each other on pick-pocketed smartphones, Rafael's toucan family, and even the crazy Nigel (Clement obviously had a ball playing this sadistic bird, plus he gets to sing) -- and the backdrop of gorgeous Rio make this an exciting cinematic vacation for all families.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's characters and messages. Which of the characters are role models? How can you tell? What do they learn over the course of the movie?
What makes animal adventures so appealing? Why do filmmakers -- and families -- gravitate toward movies that have animals as their main characters?
The movie's location, Rio de Janeiro, is as much of a character as Linda and Blu. What did you learn about Rio, Brazilian customs, and cultural traditions?
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AGE
Funny, but with several unnecessary elements.
While I liked the story and loved all the beautiful colors, I was highly disappointed in the amount of innuendo in the film. Parents do not need that in order to enjoy a movie with their kids. If anything, it made me wish I had not taken them to see it. Many of the main characters were scantily and inappropriately dressed. And while I am fine with romance in a kids movie, I hate when they focus on the sexual side of characters.
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AGE
Parents, take your children to this colorful, fun movie. Some things are over their head but parents will get an extra laugh. Cockatoo sort of scary for very young children.
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AGE
I took my 3 year old she absolutely loved it! I thought it was cute.
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AGE
perfect all round film :D
i loved Rio when i went to see it in 3D, i think that there might be a few bits where kids might get scared but all in all i thought it was Great!
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AGE
Great music, so-so story, some beautiful scenery
I took my 4 year-old to see this movie and he LOVED it. He was literally dancing in his seat at the movie theater and cheering at parts. He really enjoyed it.
This movie is a little much for anyone younger than 4. I think that kids as old as 8 would enjoy it enough, but around 9 years old about half would be bored. Your tween is probably not going to be excited about this movie.
The story is pretty predictable and unremarkable, but I didn't expect much more. There are positive messages about helping your friends and such. The vocal performances by Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, George Lopez, etc. aren't really standout, but serviceable. The music good (althought the lyrics are not all that great), especially the Carnivale stuff - both my son and I really enjoyed the energy of the music.
There are mildly scary bits - a snarling dog (lasts for maybe 10 seconds) and a villainous bird, but nothing serious. My four year old wasn't scared. There are words that I don't care for my son to say - "butt," "hate," "idiot," etc. that don't really contribute to the story in any way, but to me, it's not a big deal. The bigger deal you make out of a word, the more the kid is going to realize it's powerful and will want to try it out. He didn't really notice or repeat any of the words.
I see a lot of talk of the "sexual" stuff mentioned in other reviews, and I have to say...it is so not a big deal. If you have ever taken your kid to the beach, they've seen the same amount of skin, if not more. I liked that the movie included Carnivale - how can you do a movie about Rio without including Carnivale? That's like setting a movie in Paris and not including the Eiffel Tower. The skin in the movie is not "sexy" - frankly, I've seen similar stuff on the Tournament of Roses parade floats. The language bothered me more than the "skin."
There are gorgeous, sweeping shots of Rio. Parts of it play like a travel commercial. The city looks gorgeous and the shots are fun to look at. My son was pretty excited to see a representation of South America, which he has studied in school.
There's enough energy and humor that kept me from falling asleep, but it's not like a Pixar movie where I would totally choose to watch it on my own, even without my son. However, it's an OK option for the music.
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AGE
Language was grating!
I left the theatre wondering why a kids movie needs to repeatedly use the words "stupid, idiots, loser, shut-up, butt, and hate" (among others). Thankfully my 3-year-olds know these are not acceptable words but it gets to be a little grating when they are used so many times in a 90 minute period. I realized before I took my children to the movie that it was probably aimed at a slightly older age group, but I still can't imagine who would want their 6 or 8-year-olds to talk that way. And the biggest shame was that the great messages about smuggling birds, Rio's Carnival, looking out for your friends, etc. kind-of get lost because of the incessantly annoying language. Aside from the language, it was a cute movie!
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Kid, 12 years old
April 20, 2011
AGE
None should watch it
Stupid Worst Movie Ever
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AGE
Check it out before you show your kids....
My thoughts were much like most of the parents I see here. Though there were positive messages in Rio, I was shocked that in almost every scene people were half naked in bikinis or costumes. Granted they are in Rio during carnival but they could have been more discrete. In one scene, one of the birds flew into someone’s backside on the beach. The movie has a few funny moments but I suggest that parents check it out before you show it to your kids. It is a cute movie though.
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AGE
Quick trip to Brazil
Liked it because: 1) it was funny- for kids and adults 2) the 2 kids with me (4 and 5 years old) started talking about Brazil and South America 3) there is singing and dancing which I find keeps the kids entertained.
Did not like: 1) some skimpy outfits 2)emphasis on carnival- which kid is really that interested in carnival?
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May 16, 2011
AGE
Wow...besides the colorful birds there wasn't much we liked about the movie. The story wasn't interesting, the dog drool was disgusting, and the sexual "shake your bottom" and sexy carnival costumes didn't really need to be included in a KIDS movie.
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| Topics: | adventures, wild animals |
| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Director: | Carlos Saldanha |
| Cast: | Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, Leslie Mann |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 96 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | April 15, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | August 2, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | mild off color humor |
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