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Parents' Guide to

Chico & Rita

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Sweet but mature animated love story is aimed at grown-ups.

Movie NR 2012 96 minutes
Chico & Rita Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

Eric Z.
Eric Z. Parent of 6 and 9-year-old
September 18, 2012
age 15+

Visually arresting and rich with music, but love story misses mark

Ironically, for all the excitement, passion, and life that the Latin jazz soundtrack brings to Chico & Rita, the story itself is a predominately quiet one, with most action and conversations very reserved and mellow. And despite all the globetrotting and love-hate yearnings Chico and Rita share and experience, there’s not enough of an investment in the time they spend together to make us feel for the times they’re apart. Directors Javier Mariscal and Fernando Trueba should be credited for bringing something unique to the animation genre, but even the engaging animation and lively Latin soundtrack can’t save or elevate the muted love story that could have been. >>>>> Chico & Rita is an animated feature released by the largely kid-friendly GKIDS, but it is definitely not for children. Rita is fully nude for an extended scene, she and Chico are both nude while making love, and several women’s bare behinds are shown. In terms of violence: Chico’s girlfriend and Rita fight across Chico’s apartment floor, Chico is shot in a dream sequence, and another character is shot several times and killed. There is also drinking, smoking, profanities, and one racial slur. >>>>> READ MY FULL REVIEW AT: filmfather [dot] blogspot [dot] com.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Chico (voiced by Eman Xor Ona) is a struggling piano player; Rita (Limara Meneses) is a struggling singer. In this animated film set in 1948 Cuba, they fall hard for each other and make not only a beautiful couple, but also a duo on the verge of stardom. The only thing that comes between them is themselves, as petty jealousy and drunken arguments threaten to break up them ... and their act. Can they have success and each other, or will their tempestuous relationship threaten their path to stardom?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

CHICO & RITA is a love story about two people who can't be together and can't be apart; if it were live action, with real people, it would probably seem predictable and cliched. But shifting the medium to animation makes the tale seem more believable and adds an entertaining, interesting, albeit ultimately not completely satisfying, twist.

This is not a cartoon for kids, it's about adults making grown-up choices. It's charming, melancholy, and bittersweet -- with sublime music -- and you root for the characters not to make the mistakes that are clearly about to happen. In the end, they may not get everything they hoped for, but eventually they get what they truly need.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Chico and Rita's relationship. Do you think they were meant to be together? Is there such a thing? Or is it a fiction promoted by movies, books, and TV shows?

  • Do you think animation is the right medium for this type of story? Can you imagine the same film using live-action actors? Do cartoons have to be aimed at children?

Movie Details

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