Review: ‘Rio 2’ is more harmless fun

Posted on April 18, 2014

When the animated film “Rio” hit theaters in 2011, I called it “harmless fun,” finding it enjoyable although not terribly memorable or inventive, despite the colorful scenery and characters and somewhat catchy tunes.

Now we have “Rio 2,” which is also colorful and musical and fun, but once again doesn’t leave much of a lasting impression. Although the first film had a competent if predictable story about Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Anne Hathaway), the last known blue macaws in the world, the sequel can’t seem to figure out exactly what it wants to do, resulting in several plot threads simply disappearing while others finish with a whimper rather than a bang. In fact, the entire film is rather anticlimactic, and the journey to the end is a lot more enjoyable than the final act.

Like the first film, “Rio 2” is harmless fun which will surely entertain children, but in a year in which we’ve already had “The Lego Movie” and “Mr. Peabody and Sherman,” I left the theater wanting more.

The film is rated G.

 

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