The Movie RIO Opened This Weekend
April 17th, 2011Patty
Photo by rio.movie-trailer,com
I don’t go out to movies often. I usually wait for them to come out on Netflix, but I have been anticipating the release of RIO for months now, for all the obvious reasons. I had read that the director and animators had studied wild, captive and companion birds in depth to make the stars of this film as true to life as possible without alienating the non-bird people (like we really care). I already have 4 of the 8 available Happy Meal toys from McDonald’s.
I bought my ticket outside the theater and the girl in the box office looked around me to see how many kids I was escorting. I grinned and said: “Just one, please.” I walked into the lobby determined not to indulge in anything from the concession counter on principal because I so object to the prices. I caved 10 feet inside the door. What is it about the smell of popcorn?
I opted to see a matinee on this first Sunday of the movie’s opening. I wouldn’t normally, intentionally, put myself in a closed room with a horde of over-excited and sugar-deluged kids (as much as I do love children), but as this is a movie that targets children and was said to carry strong messages about the wild bird trade and conservation, I wanted to see how this message was received.
photo by latino.foxnews.com
The story centers around about “Blu”, a wild caught macaw, who comes into the care of Linda who lives in Minnesota. One day, the two are visited by a South American Ornithologist, Tulio, who informs Linda that Blu is the last remaining male macaw of his species in existence (his species is referred to simply as the “blue macaw”). He has in captivity, in Rio De Janeiro, the last remaining female (Jewel), and encourages Linda to bring Blu to Rio to participate in a breeding program. Linda is overwhelmed with a sense of responsibility, and finally agrees. A group of illegal smugglers catches wind of the pair of birds, and knowing they are worth a lot of money, breaks into the facility where they are being housed. The efforts of the smugglers are assisted by a filthy, desperately ill looking cockatoo with a big chip on his shoulder.
The story continues as flightless Blu, who has only lived in a human environment, co-mingles with the native species and learns what it means to be a bird. During his adventures, he falls in love with Jewel. Rio concludes where Linda and Blu have one final exchange before she allows him, with a mixture of joy and sadness, to make the decision to return to the wild and raise a family with Jewel.
I got very choked up during this scene as it called to mind a story I had read about a woman who made the agonizing choice to relinquish her Spix macaw, the most direly endangered of all parrots and the species that Blu and Jewel are patterned after, and who had been her long-time companion, to a breeding program because it was the right thing to do.
photo by slashfilm.com
While keeping in mind that this movie was not intended solely for we bird aficionados, there were some flaws. Early in the movie, Blu was served hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies as a snack. I suspect that this was intended to drive home the idea of his very “human” existence which sharply contrasted to the life of the wild birds he encountered in Brazil. Most bird people also likely noticed that there were only three toes on each foot. This was probably done intentionally. Since birds do so much with their feet, that fourth toe might have complicated the imagery when a foot was being featured.
I have to say that they did a great job of making clear the horrors of the wild bird trade, but I wish they would have touched more upon conservational issues. There were some moments that were clearly intended for people who own birds, such as the mention of “positive reinforcement” in the scene where Blu is studying how to fly and the wild bird’s amazement at his adeptness at picking locks and breaking out of cages, as well as his ability to mimic a dog to frighten off a cat.
There was a scene where one of the fledglings of Raphael, the toucan featured in the film, exhibited the bad habit of pulling out everyone’s feathers. When questioned about this behavior, Raphael said: “Yeah, we’re having him tested”. Everyone in the theater laughed. I was expecting the humor of that line to be missed. Apparently, more people are aware of plucking problems than I had imagined.
photo by slashfilm.com
I enjoyed the movie and enjoyed watching the children around me giggling throughout. My one concern, which others have expressed, is that the movie might inspire an increased interest in pet birds. I’m afraid some might see only the cute and clownish personalities of the birds in the film and be touched by the close bond between Linda and Blu. It made bird ownership look blissful and effortless. I would have loved to have seen Blu dismantling the computer keyboard and wiping his beak off on Linda’s shirt. Many will miss the important message about freedom, which is what Blu ultimately chose, at the end.
Of course, this movie is a must see for parrot owners, if only because it’s ALL about parrots and their welfare. It wasn’t all I’d hoped it would be, but I did enjoy it a great deal, and I do recommend it to everyone reading. For those of you interested, I found this cute Rio drawing tutorial which teaches you how to draw the birds from the movie.
Hi,
I have read most of your blogs, and appreciate your time in educating other bird owners about training their pet parrots.
I have 2 really cute Sun Conures. Their wings are not clipped and they fly around in the house comfortably. I always had this thought in mind about releasing my birds in the wild some day. If they choose to stay with us, they would not fly away. At the very end of the movie, it is a pleasure to see the excitement of freedon in the eyes of Blu when he takes to the sky.
I got my birds from a breeder and understand that they have never experienced life outside the cage. They are likely prey for other wild brids. I really love my birds and life without them will be tough. The movie leaves a question in the mind of many bird owners about their companions.
I took my two teenage children to see the movie today and we all loved it . It was a colour spectacular! For all of us it raised feelings of anger when the wild birds were captured and caged so harshly but both of them said how it was good to show this to raise awareness of the cruelty of it. My youngest , my daughter pointed out about Blu having hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies at the beginning and how stupid it was giving a parrot not only a hot drink but chocolate which is poison to them and we all felt concerned that this would give bad information to potential parrot owners. Film makers will always use artistic licence such as incorrect numbers of toes to make their films asthetically pleasing but using chocolate was very foolish. Other than this we felt it was a great film and put across a very important message. Yes it is likely to raise interrest in parrot ownership and perhaps it is up to us parrot owners to tell people we hear are interrested in owning a bird the reality and responsibilty that ownership comes with.
When people come to my house and see my parrot or hear that we have one and show great interrest I always point out the depth of resposibility that he comes with and that he is not just there to entertain us with his antics and chatter. Here’s hoping they listen to my advice!
I echo everyone’s concern about people who see the movie and buy a bird on a whim without the proper education on bird care. I’m also disturbed about those who saw the movie and think it’s OK to feed a bird hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies. Poison!!! I wish they had changed that scene as they claimed they did a lot of research – apparently not enough. Some well meaning new bird owner might just feed their birds chocolate because they saw it In the movie. Other than that, it was great to finally see a parrot movie!
My 16 year old daughter and her boyfriend went to see RIO the other day. I didn’t even know what it was about cuz I hadn’t heard of this movie yet. She told me the next day that she loved the movie but surprisingly she never mentioned to me that it was all about parrots! Now that I know, I have to go see it! I have 2 conures that I absolutely adore. Thanks for the review
I really do wish there were FREE educational requirements/training classes, laws, etc before people could own ANY pets, but especially birds/more uncommon animals, because most people don’t realize what is involved in their care, or how much attention they need! And sadly the majority of people don’t take the time to read up on what birds need to be fed and what the dangers are!!!
Thank you for this review. As an adult I love watching cartoons (please don’t ask me why) so I was interested to know your take on this film. I think with many of these films there is an important message and I do hope parents will be willing to discuss with their kids how its important to help protect our wildlife. There are so many efforts and resources out there for dogs and cats yet so little about birds. Personally, I do think all birds belong outside with the freedom to live their lives as they wish.
The thing that I was not that thrilled about was her releasing Blu back into the wild. There are many studies that state that releasing a pet bird (from birth) back into the wild will likely not survive since it was not taught how to fend for itself in the environment and taught to understand who the predators are.
I agree people r going to go out and buy birds and then when they see the mess and how much work they are they will not want them anymore . and the screaming cant forge tthe screaming . its to bad they didnt show them tearing things up like you said and the ture story of owning parrots . they are alot of work I have 5 that r pets I dont breed and I love them all but spend alot of time with them and most of it is cleaning .
We will probably see it in 3D, you didnt mention if you did. Those 3D graphics have been amazing and we dont have 3D at home or wait 30 days till we can see it on Netflix. Its good they didnt show how birds take apart everything, my Quaker actually does this with cable and plug ends. It would turn off a whole generation to birds when they think their precious Ipod will be made into scrap. You have to have the bird first and see its value in companionship before you will put up with its antics, just like kids.
Very True Laura…..:) Very True!
Most people don’t realize what there getting into….
This is a movie that we had long wished for. It is educative and informational as well as entertaining!
Great review!
My beautiful six year old cockatoo Tukee went through some turbulent experiences before he arrived at our home a year ago. He was one very frightened little guy. The previous family had three young boys who teased and tormented him endlessly and finally their mother put the bird up for sale. My wife bought him, cage and all and brought him home. He quickly charmed his way into our hearts and lives while putting the fear of the Great Parrot into our family dog and our son who thought teasing the parrot was funny. The parrot taught him that funny is chasing a 22 year old man up stairs and into the bathroom. My wife was not amused and lovingly carried the parrot back to his cage where he proudly strutted around on top of his cage for the next hour. Her son shouted that either that damn parrot goes or he’s going. He now has his own apartment.
Thank you for all your encouragement and advice. Errol Helton, FLorida
The line “Yeah, we’re having him tested” with regard to feather pulling, was not a reference to plucking. It’s presumably more in the nature of the Woody Allen movie where the son is a conservative, and the parents eventually discover that, whew! he’s got a disease, he’s really a Democrat. I doubt anybody there even thought about captive birds plucking
I wish the animators would not anthropomorphize their animal subjects, in this case, giving parrots human eyes. I love my parrots’ eyes in all their expressions and uniqueness, and I am sorry that Hollywood can’t find the same kind of appreciation. But it is, after all, just a movie.
However, I will probably still go see it. Or wait till it’s on DVD so my flock can enjoy it, too!
And if this movie is not to your liking, I highly recommend “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill”.
Aloha Chet and Dave,
Mahalo for the continued emails!!! Yes, I have already seen the movie and thought it was great. It does hit on the illegal bird trade and the conditions that these birds are kept in. The movie did a good job in matching the personalities of the birds. We took our daughter, friends, and their kids (five little ones in all) to see this. My daughter later asked if people really do this (import illegally caught birds) and we told her unfortunately yes.
I have a 2 1/2 year old Blue & gold Macaw (Nakalulu) and cannot imagine what it would be like without her (Linda losing Blue). Our friends we went to see the movie with are the one’s that breed her. We all enjoyed the movie and the “PopCorn Chet”.
This movie is a must see!!!
I haven’t seen the movie yet but now that I know it’s about parrots I’ll go and let you know what I think. Thanks for your review. I have a conure and I know I’ll love it.
Will definately see it!
Thanks for the info.
I haven’t seen the movie yet but will watch it at home when it’s released on DVD because I just KNOW I’ll cry like a baby when Blu and Linda say good-bye.
I recall the rush to buy parrots when the movie “Paulie” came out some years back and a handful of decent pet-shops put the brakes on that by putting up signs everywhere spelling out the real facts about parrot companions.
I’m sure the message in Rio about wild-caught birds will be picked up by children too. There isn’t a lot of things out there scarier than the thought of being kidnapped and taken away from your home!
I went to see the movie yesterday and I absolutely loved it!
It was funny, sweet as well as heart felt!
I think the importance of wild caught bird problem was well represented and the message was felt as well as the difficulty and responsability of taking care of pet birds!
Loved it, loved it, loved it!
Haha I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed they were missing a toe…I kept complaining about that to my friend, she had to keep telling me to shut up
looks so cute! will have to see this one. the movies make it look so easy taking care of our feathered friends but not in reality! they are all worth it though.
The new movie review got me thinking about a real life project I know of.
I live in Costa Rica and am involved in my small way, helping a group restore the population of Scarlett and Great Green Macaws. They have had a breeding program for many years and also a release program.
http://www.thearaproject.org.
It is a wonderful program that has been very successful. Please check out a small clip the World Parrot Trust did on the Ara Project in Tiskita Costa Rica.
http://www.parrots.org/bossorange/
The project is in need of funding and donations, they just moved their breeding program and all of the birds to 2 new locations. I am sure whatever you can do would be of great help.
Thanks
Marcia
I would like to know more about the beautiful person that gave up her Spix macaw the the sake of the species’ survival. Do you have any information on her??
I saw the movie last weekend and thought it was cute and funny. I also liked that it had a message to it about the horrors of the wild bird trade like one bird that was running around in a cage going crazy or many birds in one cage and the blue hycinith macaw entinction. I really enjoyed it but the first thing I said was that birds can’t eat chocolate, it will kill them. I also noticed 3 instead of 4 toes. I was really amazed by how lifelike the birds feathers and actual movement were, it was like they put a cartoonish head on a real parrot. The people in the movie were very stiff and cartoonish though. I would like to know how they made the birds movement look so real. I loved the music and scenery also. Very colorful and the towns actually looked like real buildings. I would recommend seeing it. Lots of fun for bird lovers and kids alike.
I want to go see this but I hope people don’t go out and buy parrots for their kids now because they liked the movie. This happened with the 101 dalmations and numerous other movies. But I am excited to go see it . . . and eventually buy it like Pauly!!
I loved the movie . It was a feel good event and a lot of laughs . I own a red fronted Maccaw . I truly did not see any of the dismantaling habits that my real bird displays . although he is a sweet boy and i love him dearly!!!!!! As mentioned , these birds need a lot of attention and love !
I went and saw this movie on Tuesday and thought it was a very funny take on some very serious subjects. I do rather think the laughter to the comment “we’re having him tested” was likely a reaction to that phrase being used so often in regards to uncontrollable children, rather than a reference to bird plucking problems tho.
I haven’t seen the movie yet and probably won’t till it is on the market for some time. I live in Nigeria and have an African grey. It is true that parrots are alot of work but nothing compares to the joy of seeing them learn to play and talk and have so much fun.. Martha is like having a child, she requires alot of atttention and care but my husband and I love her so much and she is truly a part of our family and very much integrated into our lives. Someone mentioned that you have to know what you are getting into when you get a parrot, and that is so true, when she picks all the numbers of the cell phone or destroys the remote or pokes holes in my favorite shirt or chews the buttons off of my husband’s shirt she is not the most popular member of the family at that moment, but like kids you have to forgive and forget and just move on and try not to leave things where they can get their beaks on them. Martha has put her signature on almost everything in our home and still she is the delight of our hearts. Right now she is sitting on my kitchen cupboard door ,(her favorite place) and when she claims it as her own she doesn’t even like me to do my dishes,,,NOT SUCH A BAD THING, HAHA!! She is a wonderful sweet little bird most of the time but like me she has her moments but I wouldn’t change her for a moment. I really think that she is so attached to my husband and me that even if she could, she wouldn’t leave us.. she follows us everwhere and is only in her cage at night, the rest of the time she is like a little puppy and goes where we go. She play outside and has alot of her little friends come for bread crumbs and rice and leftover pieces of corn and what ever else she has dropped in her feeding frenzy. Anyway all that to say this if you are getting a parrot, please take care to do the research like you would with any addition to your family. They are not easy if you don’t know what you are doing and you must be very patient and loving toward them, they are very special little guys and deserve the very best of love, care and attention. They are not part of our world but we are a part of theirs. I raised and have had many pets all my life and whatever they are they are precious and not to be the brunt of our anger or mistreatment at anytime. Please love your pets like you would love your children and your spouse… take good care of them always…. HAPPY PARROTING AND HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE …… Lynn
I enjoyed the movie it was funny, althogh the smallest things looked to be popping out and me noticing like any other bird owner for example birds definitly can’t pick their beak.
P.S. Not to sound weird or anything, “…once in a while i pee in the bird bath.” that is a line from Rio and for the record birds don’t pee.
i hate it
To find out about some real life success stories of macaw reintroduction visit
http://www.thearaproject.org
and also You tube videos on the project http://www.youtube.com/user/hatchedtoflyfree/
[...] Idiocracy was at work, I believe, in the film “Rio,” in which parrots, who resemble only humans and primates in their unique, brainy ability to [...]
Rio is one of the best animated movies ive seen yet and because i love parrots and all animals this really moved me. I learnt alot from it too, made me sad though cause It reminded me of my african tequila that got lost two weeks ago in south africa just b4 me getting back at the end of the month, i really hope she is ok or she returns home to us by some mircle…my sister felt bad for loosing her and she knew a friend that is giving away his african grey cause his kids to pay attention to him, so his giving him to me and im adopting him and will love him as i did with Tequila but he wont replace the bond that me and her had, im really going to miss her
His name is going to be keo, I hope he likes me