DVD Reviews: Rio - Soul Surfer

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10:

Rio ***

Genre: Animation/Adventure

Rating: PG

Director: Carlos Saldanha

Actors: Anne Hathaway, Rodrigo Santoro, George Lopez

Generically entertaining, Rio keeps you smiling throughout the entire movie. While I enjoyed it (who doesn’t enjoy talking and dancing birds) it is definitely based on the much used formula Hollywood employs so often today in their animated features.

The hero is Blu (Jesse Eisenberg), the last male blue macaw on the planet. Born in Brazil but was captured and sent to Minnesota, Blu never learned how to fly. Ending up in the care of Linda (Leslie Mann), Blu into a very comfortable routine of playing, reading the paper and drinking hot chocolate with six marshmallows.

One cold winter’s day, Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro), a Brazilian ornithologist, spots Blu and asks Linda to bring him to Rio so he can mate with Jewel (Anne Hathaway), the only other blue macaw. Blu and Linda fly down and following the Hollywood formula, adventure and mayhem ensue. Blu and Jewel are stolen, by a team of dimwitted thieves assisted by the evil bird Nigel (Jemaine Clement).

Another device in the formula is to have as many celebrity voices as possible and in this case there is the smooth-talking Nico (Jamie Foxx) and Pedro (will.i.am), the experienced Rafael (George Lopez), and a slobbering dog named Luiz (Tracie Morgan) who all help Blu and Jewel win the day. Compared with Rango, another recent animated movie, kids will likely enjoy Rio more, while adults will better appreciate Rango’s offbeat writing and plot.

www.traileraddict.com/trailer/rio/international-trailer

Soul Surfer **

Genre: Drama/Sport

Rating: PG
Director: Sean McNamara

Actors: Dennis Quaid, Anna Sophia Robb, Jeremy Sumpter

Soul Surfer is based on the inspiring true-life story of Bethany Hamilton, a teenage surfing sensation who lost her arm in a horrific shark attack. Her story is one of faith, determination and the will that we all possess, the desire to continue on even in the most bleak of situations.

Bethany Hamilton (Anna Sophia Robb) was born on February 8, 1990 on the island of Kauai, Hawaii to a family of surfers. From a young age it was clear that she had a love for the water and soon took a passionate interest in surfing. If it can be said that one is born to do something, well Bethany was born to surf, winning her first competition at the age of eight. 

Her meteoric rise to fame was threatened when she was out surfing with her family friends Holt and Alana Blanchard (Kevin Sorbo and Lorrraine Nicholson) and is attacked by 14-ft tiger shark losing her arm and 60 per cent of her blood. Through her determination and skill in the water she was able to survive and was back in the water trying to surf again in only a month’s time.

With the help of her parents Tom and Cheri Hamilton (Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt) she finds the will to learn to surf again, going on to become a role model for young girls world-wide.

While Soul Surfer is based on a true story most of the elements of Bethany Hamilton’s story are grossly over-exaggerated.  The star-studded cast helps to keep the movie flowing but the script seems to drag on. It must be said that this movie is a refreshing switch from what is being produced on the mainstream screen in recent times, where young females can look up to some one and aspire for greatness no matter what their odds are.  This is a great feel good family movie.

www.traileraddict.com/trailer/soul-surfer/feature-trailer