In April 2011, Twentieth Century Fox released Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studio’s CG animated feature “Rio.”  The film was born from the imagination of Carlos Saldanha, who co-directed or directed the global blockbusters “Ice Age,” “Ice Age: The Meltdown” and “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.”  Saldanha had long wanted to write a love letter to his hometown of Rio. He came up with a story about a nerdy, highly domesticated bird who goes on the adventure of a lifetime in that wondrous city.

To fully realize the scope and breadth of this magical world and its vivid characters, Saldanha brought together an all-star voice cast, led by Oscar® nominees Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenberg, Oscar and Grammy®-winner Jamie Foxx, acclaimed musical artist will.i.am, actor-musician Jemaine Clement, comedic actress Leslie Mann, actor Rodrigo Santoro (a Brazilian native), actor-comedian George Lopez, and funnyman Tracy Morgan.  

The filmmakers enveloped the action – and audiences – with a combination of Brazilian sounds and contemporary pop music.  The soundtrack featured a stellar musical cast performing under the guidance of composer John Powell and Brazilian music legend and “Rio’s” executive music producer, Sergio Mendes.

“Rio” became a worldwide smash with a global box office tally of $486 million.  It also was a huge hit on DVD and Blu-ray disc.

Now, Saldanha returns to Brazil and reunites his beloved characters in RIO 2.  In the new film, it’s a jungle out there for Blu, Jewel and their three kids, after they’re hurtled from Rio to the wilds of the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful and villainous Nigel, and meets the most fearsome adversary of all…his father-in-law. 

Our favorite “Rio” characters are joined by Oscar nominee Andy Garcia, Grammy winner Bruno Mars, Tony® winner Kristin Chenoweth and Oscar/Emmy®/Tony winner Rita Moreno.  RIO 2 also features new Brazilian artists and original music by Janelle Monáe and Wondaland.

 “Rio” producers Bruce Anderson and John C. Donkin return for the new film, as well.

In RIO 2 we find Blu, Jewel and their family living the perfect domesticated life in the city.  The offspring are: Bia (voiced by “The Hunger Games’” Amandla Stenberg), who lives with her beak in a book and likes spouting facts and figures, just like her dad; Tiago (Pierce Gagnon, “Looper”) the youngest, who is always up for adventure, especially if it involves destroying something; and Carla (singer/actress/comedian Rachel Crow), the eldest, a spunky teen who longs to get a little space from her protective family so she can express her musical side. 

When Jewel decides the kids need to learn to live like real birds, she insists the family venture to the Amazon.  Blu tells his buddies of his travel plans, but Nico, Pedro and Luiz warn him of the myriad dangers that could lie ahead in the wild.  But the ever-positive Rafael encourages Blu, reminding him that “a happy wife means a happy life!”

Upon their arrival, Blu and Jewel meet the locals, including Eduardo (Andy Garcia), a larger than life patriarch with a firm set of rules, who becomes a comedic obstacle for Blu; Mimi (Rita Moreno), Eduardo’s warm and sassy sister, who likes to speak her mind, even to her overbearing brother; and Roberto (singer-songwriter-record producer Bruno Mars), a perfect specimen of a wild bird who charms everyone around him and makes Blu self-conscious.  As Blu tries to fit in, he worries he may lose Jewel and the kids to the call of the wild.

Meanwhile, the treacherous cockatoo Nigel plots his revenge on Blu, aided by Gabi (Kristin Chenoweth), a cute poisonous frog who is fiercely loyal to Nigel and though small in stature, possesses a huge villainous heart. 

With the success of “Rio” the call for a sequel came quickly.  Having already teased a new life together for Blu and Jewel – and their three new arrivals – in the film’s finale, Saldanha pitched his idea for a new story.  What if Blu and his family aren’t the last Blue Macaws, he posited.  What would happen to the family dynamic?

Saldanha decided to set his new story in the mammoth Brazilian wilderness.  “I wanted a setting very different from the one we explored in ‘Rio,’ he explains.  “I thought we should move away from the city.”

So, in RIO 2, it’s on…in the Amazon, not only visually, but musically.  “We wanted to look at different musical ‘flavors,’ sounds and exciting new beats that make the soundtrack for RIO 2 even bigger than the first film’s,” says the director.

After Saldanha wrote the story, screenwriter Don Rhymer, who had worked on “Rio,” began fleshing out Saldanha’s ideas.  It was a fruitful collaboration, which sadly ended when Rhymer passed away in late 2012.  “Don was our guy,” says Saldanha. “He embraced the vision of the first film and had really exciting ideas for RIO 2.  His death left a big gap for us.  We were lucky to have the amazing writers Carlos Kotkin, Jenny Bicks and Yoni Brenner help finish the screenplay, but Don was a very special person who played a big role in the project’s development.” 

RIO 2

Director:　Carlos Saldanha

Writers: Don Rhymer (Story, ) Carlos Saldanha (Story)　 

Stars:　Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Jemaine Clement

Length: 101 Mins