Rio

Much like you don't want the opening act to upstage the headliner at a concert, someone might want to pull that short cartoon featuring our favorite Ice Age character, Scrat, which runs before Rio. It's so fantastic, it upstages an average, but funny, feature presentation.

In this animated film, Jesse "The Social Network" Eisenberg provides the voice of Blu - a rare macaw poached in Rio to be sold in America, and, after an accident, picked up by a sweet girl in Minnesota, Linda (Amy Mann). Linda and Blu are best buddies for 15 years, until a strange, nerdy, oddly sexy scientist guy, Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro), shows up and informs her that Blu is one of only two of these particular macaws, and convinces her to bring Blu back to Rio so he can, ummmm, continue the species with Jewel (Anne Hathaway).

Unfortunately, Jewel doesn't have much interest in this domesticated macaw who can't fly, but the two of them find themselves on the run again as more poachers try to grab them up and smuggle them out for profit.

Will Blu and Jewel find true love?

Can Linda and Tulio find them before it is too late?

For a G-rated movie, I was a bit surprised to find a story featuring an orphaned boy who lives on the streets of Rio, two birds that have to do the horizontal mambo to continue the species (complete with romantic music being played to get them in the mood), two birds who moon another one, and a big story about evil smugglers. I guess that's why it was originally rated PG?

If you, the rug rats, your grandparents or anyone you might be bringing to the Cineplex with you can get past that, Rio is OK.

Director Carlos Saldanha and Don Rhymer fill Rio with music and lots of silliness that is funny (instead of annoying), while being the beneficiaries of a great cast, which makes the movie better because of their efforts.

Hathaway is pretty cool giving Jewel lots of spirit, and takes the time to put in an effort to add something to the vocal performance. She's not just reading her lines, like so many famous actors do when making an animated film. Hathaway is acting by adding subtleties, adjusting her voice volume and infusing Jewel with real, palpable emotion.

You can say much the same for Jemaine Clement, who plays the evil bird enforcer, Nigel. He's so good at being bad, I worry it might be too much for little kids. He's deliciously evil for adults, but there is a darkness and danger he brings to Rio that might be causing some nightmares.

I love George Lopez as Rafael - the wise, fatherly figure, Rafael, who attempts to bring Jewel and Blu together. Plus, Tracy Morgan is always funny no matter what role he plays, but his voice is just perfect for the lovable, rambunctious bulldog, Luiz. He spouts some questionable plays on popular phrases, like when the drooling dog says, "This is the spit," so parents have to watch out for that as well.

If all of those warnings didn't scare you off, I think you'll enjoy Rio.

Rio is rated G