Rio-2-Teaser-Poster-sliceWith forthcoming sporting events such as the World Cup and the Olympics fast approaching, the bustling, effervescent city of Rio is seemingly the place to be, and thanks to Carlos Saldanha, the director of the eponymous children’s animation, we return to the Brazilian capital once again, in the anticipated sequel, Rio 2.

In this instance, however, our favourite family of macaws, led by father Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and his partner, Jewel (Anne Hathaway), venture off on a vacation to the Amazon rainforest, taking their three children along for the ride. While the sceptical former is civilised and domesticated, the latter is excited to be returning to her former home, as the family are forced to adjust to a life in the wild. With the vengeful Nigel (Jemaine Clement) on their tail, Blu has more problems on the home front, as he finally meets his uncompromising and intimating father-in-law, Eduardo (Andy Garcia).

While not catching that same playful vivaciousness of the first offering, there’s a nice message enforced in this production, as we delve into issues such as the destruction of the rainforest, and doing so from the perspective of the inhabitants themselves. There’s something more profound looking at the issue from the inside, with the careless, floundering humans appearing so callous and absent-minded. As we are getting to know the macaw community, the slight feeling of emotional attachment that has been formed enhances the impact of these themes, making for a picture that could take a younger crowd on a quite enlightening journey.

That being said, it’s underplayed somewhat, and Saldanha can be accused of not treating his audience particularly respectfully, in what is ultimately a formulaic and frustratingly conventional turn. You can predict within moments how this film with play out, and while that’s often the case with kids’ animations, this lacks any form of risk or ingenuity in the process. Following on from the likes of The Lego Movie, Frozen, and Wall-E, there’s no denying a child’s appreciation for intelligent, creative pieces of cinema.

On a more positive note, there is an exploration of very human, relatable themes, as Saldanha shifts these tribulations onto our winged protagonists, like trying to impress your parent-in-law, or marital, relationship problems. Eisenberg’s distinctive vocal talent is effective too, as there’s an awkwardness to his voice, similarly to that of Woody Allen, which instantly puts him on the back foot, and therefore easy to root for. He’s the ultimate underdog, a notion enhanced by the fact his species is significantly rare. However the introduction of so many macaws in this sequel takes away that vulnerability that served the character so well in the previous endeavour, losing that exposure and risk of extinction. The finest, most accomplished voice-over belongs to that of Clement, who remains the best thing about this production. It’s a well-crafted role too, as a real Shakespearean villain, yet one that’s so pathetic in his conviction.

Given the strikingly colourful, vibrant aesthetic, and the South American flavour that exists, with a carnival spirit prevalent, sadly the animation is somewhat underwhelming. When matched by a hackneyed, insincere narrative, and with a distinct lack of both comedy and poignancy – regrettably the outcome is that of a rather unsatisfying feature film.

[Rating:2/5]