Viewed – 10 February 2012 DVD
It would be easy to pass off many animated movies these days as simply more of the same, and although this likable entry has the same old themes, such as believing in yourself, fish out of water etc, it has enough comedy, lush visuals and all round ‘fun’ to make it worth your while. Blu is a rare breed Macaw, who having been captured by poachers as a baby, soon becomes the pet of a young girl. Over fifteen years they become inseparable. Then one day a wildlife expert spots Blu and offers to take him and his owner to Brazil where he knows about a female Macaw, and if they hit it off, it could mean the saving of the species. That is until a band of ruthless smugglers intervene.
From the guys behind the Ice Age movies, this is a vibrant and instantly enjoyable movie. The voice acting, whilst nothing special adds personality, with Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway delivering the goods as the two Macaws. The relationship between Blu and his owner is pretty much the same as that seen in other movies such as Bolt, and as a story, it’s fairly predictable. Thankfully the gag factor is more hit than miss and the increasingly entertaining situations (with a memorable carnival chase) mean it never gets tiresome, and support characters like a rapping bird voiced brilliantly by The Black Eyed Peas’ Will.I.AM. and a salivating bulldog, brought more than a few giggles my way. The Rio de Janeiro setting is also gorgeous and enhances the whole movie, meaning that all in all – this is one to see.
Verdict: 4 /5