Appealing imagery in ‘Rio’ isn’t enough

Thanks to studios like Disney/Pixar and Dreamworks, animation has become the ultimate genre for those seeking family-friendly movies. Children are entertained by cute and funny creatures and parents are treated to intelligent writing and what can be more adult-oriented plots — i.e. "WALL-E."

However, not all animated films succeed at capturing audiences of all ages. Twentieth Century Fox's "Rio" sadly finds itself in such a category.

"Rio" tells the story of Blu (Jesse Eisenberg), a blue-feathered macaw taken from his nest in the Brazilian forest as a chick. Blu is found by a little girl named Linda (Sofia Saldanha) after his cage falls off the back of a truck in a frigid northern Minnesota town. After Linda promises to always care for her new friend, the film fast-forwards through time using a montage of photos depicting Linda and Blu growing up together. This segment is quaint and necessary for transporting the film to the present day, but there is none of the action, character development or sense of emotion to which we have become accustomed thanks to movies like "Toy Story" and "Up."

The film comes to a rest with the now 20-something Linda going through her daily routines with Blu by her side. Stumbling into their lives one day is Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro), a well-intentioned but clumsy scientist hoping to save Blu's species from extinction by bringing him to Rio de Janeiro to mate with Jewel (Anne Hathaway), assumed to be one of the last females of their kind. Despite her reservations, Linda agrees and off we go to Rio.

It is in Rio that the film becomes visually impressive, with colorful shots of this sunny and energetic paradise on the coast of Brazil. Rio is where the film's conflict arises. Not long after arriving, Blu and Jewel are kidnapped. Escaping is made all the more difficult by two obstacles. The first is that Blu — having spent his entire adult life as a domesticated bird — cannot fly.

The second problem pertains to the less-than-stellar feelings Blu and Jewel feel toward one another. As this early dislike for one another poses a problem for escaping successfully, the pair enlists the help of a toucan (George Lopez), a canary (Jamie Foxx), a cardinal (Will.i.am) and a slobbery bulldog (Tracy Jordan). As in many animated films, the bulldog is adorably sweet and funny, if not a little dumb — all of which should make him a fan favorite.

 Because it lacks in witty dialogue and real depth, it's important to note the intended audience of "Rio." Everyone might laugh at the antics of the bulldog and the interpretation of Carnivale, but make no mistake: This is a child's film. The jokes would be appropriate on Nick Jr. or in a Saturday morning cartoon. None of the humor will go far over a 5-year-old's head, which is not bad but disappointing for adults looking for entertainment suited for their age group.

What "Rio" misses in dialogue and an interesting story, it more than makes up for in images. Made in 3-D, "Rio" is one of a rare collection of films that utilizes the technology for its benefit. A scene in which Blu and Jewel hitch a ride with a hang glider as Blu flies above the tree-covered mountains, white sand beaches and metropolis below absolutely is stunning cinema. With that said, 3-D results in less vibrant colors in other scenes. As our heroes wind their way through a Carnivale parade and what looks like the world's best party, the colors don't jump off the screen as they could were the audience not forced to view the spectacle through darkened lenses.

Being a children's movie, the ending is far from a surprise. Then again, it does not have to be when the target demographic is not old enough to know who George Lopez is. For young children, "Rio" should bring smiles to their faces. For the rest of us, the eye-popping images have to suffice, which is not enough for an animated film in 2011.