Sometimes, a film's setting can be so pivotal that it becomes almost a character in itself. Brad Anderson's Session 9 accomplishes this task, throwing us headlong into a real, abandoned mental hospital in the northeastern U.S. On another level, Rio does the same: it drops us into Rio de Janeiro where we spend most of the 90 minutes looking frantically for more color, culture and fun.
Rio doesn't try to do anything new. The story is the same "love can set you free" stuff you've seen before and better. What sets Rio apart is its attention to style: the music is infectious, the landscapes are gorgeous and the cast is perfectly suited for such a bold ride. Eisenberg is the voice of flightless Blu, a macaw who happens to be the last of his kind. Blu lives with Linda, a bookseller who leads a quiet life up north until a bird expert convinces her that Blu needs to come down to Rio to meet Jewel (Anne Hathaway). Luckily, we discover the film is not about bird mating when Jewel and Rio are stolen from the lab and meet a bunch of ridiculous friends along the road to freedom.
I shouldn't just mention these friends in passing: the supporting performances drive this film. Foxx and will.i.am are both hysterical and steal every scene they're in, Lopez finally gets a role where he's not required to scream every line and Tracy Morgan nails his bit part. But that list is far from exhaustive: listen carefully for Jane Lynch, Wanda Sykes, Jemaine Clement and more. On top of the supporting cast is the music by famed producer Sergio Mendes. The soundtrack's pitch-perfect and, like Blu, you'll find it hard not to tap your feet to the music.
Ultimately, it lacks ambition and could use a little more emotional depth, but with a great sense of place, lush colors and fabulous music, Rio rocks.
