Movie review: Rio ***

Rio ***

Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Jamie Foxx
Director: Carlos Saldanha
Rated: PG
Showing: Neptune Cinema week of Friday, April 29 - Friday 7pm; Saturday and Sunday 2:30/ 5pm; weekdays 6:30pm. For more information about film times, call 292-7296.
Tickets: Buy tickets online
Runtime: 96 minutes
Animation/adventure

Jesse Eisenberg shot to fame playing wussy geeks in The Social Network, Zombieland and Adventureland.

Here he continues the trend — but this time his neurotic character is a nerdy and rare blue macaw who finds himself lost in Brazil.

In an all-too-familiar story, the shy and timid bird gains his confidence and learns to fly high thanks to some colourful new friends.

The adventure starts when Blue, the last blue male macaw of his kind, is taken to Rio by his adoring librarian owner to mate with the only other surviving blue macaw, the exuberant Jewel (Anne Hathaway).

But they run into trouble in the form of two rare birdnappers and must escape — except Blue cannot fly. And so begins his journey to find his wings.

The animation is vividly colourful and richly detailed, from the birds’ feathers to the Rio scenery.

The colour and atmosphere of Brazil’s carnivals are brought to life, while the scenery is breathtakingly beautiful.

The movie is a little run-of-the-mill plot-wise and will really only delight youngsters, although there is some fun dialogue and good music from Will.I.Am and Jamie Foxx.