Rio 2

“Oh the sky will be blue, and you guys’ll be there, too. When I finally do what frozen things do in summer!” – Olaf.

Frozen things. In summer. Ok. So why am I starting off a review for the movie “Rio 2″ with a quote from the movie “Frozen”? A couple of reasons. First, I love the movie “Frozen”. Everybody does. At least everybody with any warmth in their heart. I’m sure there are probably a few Scrooge’s out there who hate “Frozen” just because it’s so popular and hating popular things makes them feel so…elite. But I love “Frozen”! So, I’m quoting it first of all because I can and it makes me feel good. “Do you want to build a snowman?” See. I did it again.

The other reason I’m quoting “Frozen” is because there is going to be the inevitable juxtaposition and comparison of “Frozen” with every other animated movie that will be coming out over the next several years. A whole lot of people, rightly so, are going to measure the value of future animated films by the comparison of it and that juggernaut of a masterpiece Disney produced last year.

Now, on the one hand that is an absolutely fair thing to do. On the other hand, it isn’t. For example, many an athlete has had the daunting task of following the hall of fame legacy of another player. Imagine, for example, what it will be like for the next short stop for the New York Yankees having to follow in the footsteps of Derek Jeter. No, thank you. However, there are those times when it works out. The San Francisco 49ers did pretty good when they followed up Joe Montana with Steve Young. The bottom line is that people will always compare what is now with what recently has been and in the comparing can often miss the value of what they have because it doesn’t measure up to what they knew then. And it’s within that context that “Rio 2″ hits the pre-summer screens in what I’m sure 20th Century Fox hopes will be a movie that can thaw the icy-thick stranglehold “Frozen” still has on the conscience of the entire movie-going population. That’s gonna be about as tough as thawing out the north pole (no global warming references please)

In my opinion, “Rio 2″ will give that thawing out process a good shot at success. Or, at the very least, put a little crack in the ice.

“Rio 2″ is a lot of fun. It should stand on its own as a fun movie. My concern is that comparisons with it to “Frozen” won’t let it be what it was made to be: a fun, colorful, entertaining, kids-of-all-ages movie with no ulterior motive or message other than we should appreciate our family, friends, and world and walk out of the theatre with a smile on our face. My fourteen year-old daughter and I watched “Rio 2″ in a theater loaded with little kids who were stone-silent the entire time: something that elevates “Rio 2″ very high. Any movie that can captivate a small child (we’re talking 4 and 5 year-olds here) for that long is a bona fide success. The problem, however, is that too many families will probably make too many comparisons of “Rio 2″ with “Frozen” and thereby miss the beneifts of this really pleasing and fun movie and not go see it. It’s better than the original, in my opinion. Not Oscar worthy, but not every movie has to be Oscar worthy: sometimes it’s ok to just make a movie that will be entertaining and fun for everyone. And fun is the key word for “Rio 2″.

There are many moments of laughter. I heard most adults laughing out loud several times at moments that were truly funny…especially when Kristen Chenoweth’s character was on screen (she has a musical number that is a show stopper. I would go see it again just for her). There is an easy, breezy feeling to this movie (sorry Covergirl) that reminds me of the things I love best about summer. The bright colors, the splashing water, the sound of kids laughing, amusement parks where the whole family spends time together having a good time. This is what “Rio 2″ feels like. And, I’m happy to say, it carries with it a nice little message about the value of family, friends and being good stewards of the things we have in our lives and will leave for future generations. And I’m also pleased to report that there is little to no raunchy humor. Too often, animated films feel a need to go to the basement (or toilet bowl) to get a laugh. Thankfully, “Rio 2″ stears clear of that bum steer (or the steer’s bum…did I just go for some potty humor myself just then?)

“Rio 2″ is fun and that ought to be enough in summer. And when I think of Olaf singing, “And you guys’ll be there, too” I am reminded of the heart of all true artists. True artists feel no sense of competition with other artists. The art form itself matters far more than the artists within it. In fact, they want the other artists to be there with them too…advancing…improving…succeeding in the art form…pushing it to new heights together. That’s how I feel about “Rio 2″. It should “be there too” in the minds of moviegoers ALONG WITH “Frozen”; not COMPARED TO it.

No, kids won’t be singing any of the songs from this movie in the car over the next ten years or even ten months. But they just might smile and laugh with you this weekend. You might just be reminded about what summer and family is all about. Just like Olaf does with everyone else he’s around. With Olaf, every day is a happy day and everyone is someone to appreciate and have fun with in the moment without comparison with anyone else.

Yep, “Rio 2″ is the Olaf of the summer movie season. For some, that may just be too simple. Those who think so could use a good thawing out themselves. And seeing “Rio 2″ might help.