"Rio" - A family film worth getting excited for

It's not often I find a movie that makes me smile from beginning to end, but "Rio" has just been added to this list. Although the luster of animated, 3D films has some what worn off, this film has more than enough personality to make it shine through the clutter of "family, friendly movies."

This is a story about a bird name Blu, played by Jesse Eisenberg, who is captured as a chick and taken from his home of Rio de Janerio. He ultimately ends up in Minnesota where he is taken care of by a book keeper named Linda (voiced by Leslie Mann). When a scientist named Tulio informs them that Blu is the last living male of the blue macaw population they travel back to his original home of Rio de Janerio to save the population. Once there Blu is introduced to Jewel, a female Macaw played by Anne Hathaway, but things between the two don't start out well. When a group of poachers and an evil cockatoo, voiced by Jemaine Clement, come after the two they must rely upon the friendships they create with a family-oriented toucan (George Lopez), a rapping Cardinal (Will.I.Am), singing Canary (Jamie Foxx) and ingenious Bulldog (Tracey Lawrence) to help them through not only these obvious problems but also through more subtle personal battles.

It's tough to find a child friendly movie that deviates from the main character meets friends, faces fears and everyone ends up happy format that has become the norm and this film also fails to do so. However, the movie is not without its strengths. Stunning visuals, catchy music and a story, no matter how played out, that connects the audience to the characters make this a great movie for families, especially ones with kids. Songs performed by Jamie Foxx and Will.I.Am get your feet tapping and the slapstick comedy sprinkled throughout garner a few laughs. The entire cast does a great job, thanks in part to being placed in the perfect role for each of them making the movie even more enjoyable.

The story follows the maturation of Blu first and foremost, but there are several other minor storylines that mirror his journey and eventually tie directly into it. These include Linda’s search for love depicted in the pictures of her shown at the beginning of the movie as well as in actions later in the film and the search for some meaningful relationship by a lonely homeless boy.

"Rio" is in theaters as a 3D movie and without a doubt falls into the category of movies that would be better off without it. It does nothing to enhance the story and only during scenes when all of the characters are in flight does it add any extra viewing pleasure to the story. The awkwardness found in characters Linda and Tulio seems forced and unrealistic making the scenes between the characters stand out as ridiculous.

This movie is above all else a family film and in that sense is a home run. Following in the footsteps of movies such as Shrek and Cars, this film is one that kids will want to see over and over again and it deserves that distinction.