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The 2011 animated film which received an Oscar nomination at the 2012 Academy Awards is climbing up the charts of one of the world's most popular streaming services. Rio, which was written by Carlos Saldanha, Earl Richey Jones, Todd Jones, Don Rhymer, Joshua Sternin, Jennifer Ventimilia, and Sam Harper, is sitting firmly as the eighth-most popular movie streaming on Max. In addition to serving as a scribe, Saldanha also directed the film, which features an immensely stacked ensemble of Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, George Lopez, and Jamie Foxx. Rio follows two animals, Blu (Eisenberg) and Jewel (Hathaway) on a trip to Rio de Janeiro. Jane Lynch, Wanda Sykes, Leslie Mann, and Will.i.am also star in Rio, which writer/director Saldanha also makes a small cameo.

Premiering on October 25, 1997, Under Wraps was the inaugural Disney Channel Original Movie. The cornerstone of the network’s programming proved to be as close to appointment viewing as it got for ‘90s kids, along with the likes of ABC’s Tgif and Nickelodeon’s Snick. Moreover, Under Wraps served as a gateway to horror for many millennials. Before the age of streaming, catching a mummy movie on the same channel where you watched Disney cartoons and Boy Meets World reruns could have been your first exposure to the macabre.

Disney attempted to recapture the magic with last year’s Under Wraps remake. The original movie was successful — and continues to hold up 25 years later — for several reasons; relatable kid leads, a great Halloween atmosphere, and a sense of humor chief among them. Director/co-writer Alex Zamm and co-writer William Robertson (Inspector Gadget 2) smartly maintained those elements for the new iteration.

Exclusive: The Disney Channel is giving us a blast from the past — with a contemporary twist. The Mouse House has set a comedic remake of the 1997 Halloween classic Under Wraps, which was the first-ever Disney Channel original movie. Christian J. Simon (Sydney to the Max), Malachi Barton (Stuck in the Middle), Sophia Hammons (The Social Dilemma) and Phil Wright (Disney Fam Jam) will star in the comedy which will begin production in Vancouver this month. Under Wraps is slated for a 2021 premiere on Disney Channel.

The re-imagined story takes place a few days before Halloween when 12-year-old friends Gilbert (Simon), Marshall (Barton) and Amy (Hammons) accidentally revive a mummy they discover in a neighbor’s basement, which they affectionately name Harold (Wright). However, they must rush to return him to his resting place before midnight on Halloween. Along the way, the team narrowly escapes a nefarious group of criminals intent...

“Chernobyl” writer-creator Craig Mazin, vocal in his opposition to the Writers Guild of America‘s current strategy in its battle with talent agencies, announced Wednesday that’s he’s dropping out of the running for the union’s second-in-command due to a family medical issue.

Mazin was running for vice president as part of a slate of WGA West executive candidates led by “Carol” scribe and presidential hopeful Phyllis Nagy. The group takes issue with the WGA’s current position in the agency fight: Mazin contends that union leadership ought to be open to negotiating a compromise, rather than see the entire practice of packaging as a non-starter.

“I am regrettably withdrawing from the race for vice president of the Wgaw due to a medical issue with an immediate family member that will require more of my attention and care in the next year than I had expected,” Mazin said...

“Chernobyl” creator Craig Mazin announced that he would withdraw from the upcoming leadership elections for the Writers Guild of America on Wednesday, citing “a medical issue with an immediate family member” in a statement sent by the Guild.

Mazin had been running for vice president against incumbent Marjorie David and Carl Gottlieb. Mazin has declined to comment beyond his statement.

“I am regrettably withdrawing from the race. Due to a medical issue with an immediate family member that will require more of my attention and care in the next year than I had expected. I would have loved to serve, but I will not be able to,” read the statement.

Also Read: Writers Guild Negotiates Fee-Free Package Deal With Mid-Sized Ata Agency Kaplan Stahler

“As the election season continues, I hope we can all keep these beautiful, final words from the late screenwriter Don Rhymer in mind: ‘Focus on the good.

Updated with statement from Phyllis Nagy and Nick Jones Jr.: Craig Mazin, the Emmy-nominated writer-creator of HBO’s Chernobyl, has dropped out of the race for vice president of the WGA West.

“I am regrettably withdrawing from the race,” he said in a statement, “due to a medical issue with an immediate family member that will require more of my attention and care in the next year than I had expected. I would have loved to serve, but I will not be able to. As the election season continues, I hope we can all keep these beautiful, final words from the late screenwriter Don Rhymer in mind: ‘Focus on the good.’”

The guild issued the statement on his behalf, saying that he “will not be commenting beyond this statement.”

Mazin had been opposition leader Phyllis Nagy’s running mate. The two other vice presidential candidates in the race are...

Craig Mazin, who was running for vice president of the Writers Guild of America West, has withdrawn from the contest due to a family issue.

Mazin was running as part of the Writers for Negotiation slate, which opposes the current stalemate between the WGA and Hollywood agencies. He made the announcement Wednesday afternoon in an email to guild members.

“I am regrettably withdrawing from the race for Vice President of the Wgaw due to a medical issue with an immediate family member that will require more of my attention and care in the next year than I had expected,” he said. “I would have loved to serve, but I will not be able to. As the election season continues, I hope we can all keep these beautiful, final words from the late screenwriter Don Rhymer in mind: ‘Focus on the good.’”

Mazin said he would not be commenting beyond the statement.

This is what passes for a children’s movie these days: a 1950s sitcom drawn in pretty tropical CGI colors with a few mostly forgettable songs tossed in. I’m “biast” (pro): nothing

I’m “biast” (con): was not a fan of the first film

(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)

Why the hell anyone thinks kids would be interested in the marital happiness of a bird boy is beyond me. But this is what passes for a children’s movie these days: a 1950s sitcom drawn in pretty tropical CGI colors with a few mostly forgettable songs tossed in. Nerd bird Blu (the voice of Jesse Eisenberg: Now You See Me, The Social Network) was happy when last we saw him, at the end of the stridently mediocre Rio, and clearly that could not stand. So here, in the oh-so-creatively entitled Rio 2,...

Director: Carlos Saldanha; Screenwriter Don Rhymer, Carlos Saldanha; Starring: Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, Jamie Foxx, Kristin Chenoweth, Jemaine Clement Running time: 101 mins; Certificate: U

Between Disney's instant modern classic Frozen and Warner Bros' universally adored The Lego Movie, the bar for animated family fun has never been higher. 2011's Rio was perfectly entertaining fare that never aspired to be anything much more, and the sequel is a bright, cheerful and entirely inoffensive continuation of an uninspired franchise.

A few years after the first film left off, introverted macaw Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) is living in domestic – and domesticated – bliss with his free-spirited soulmate Jewel (Anne Hathaway). Their existence in Rio de Janeiro is ordinary to the extreme; their baby birds play on iPads in the kitchen while waiting for their pancake breakfasts to be cooked, and while Blu's right at home, the formerly wild Jewel is restless.

When Blu's former owners,...

Chicago – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 25 pairs of advance-screening passes up for grabs to the animated sequel “Rio 2” from the creators of “Ice Age” starring Jesse Eisenberg!

“Rio 2,” which is rated “G” and opens on April 11, 2014, also stars Anne Hathaway, Jemaine Clement, Kristin Chenoweth, Jamie Foxx, Andy Garcia, Jake T. Austin, Jim Conroy, Rachel Crow and Bernardo de Paula from writer and director Carlos Saldanha and writer Don Rhymer.

To win your free “Rio 2” passes courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology below. That’s it! This screening is on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 11 a.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you score and the higher yours odds of winning! Completing these social actions only increases your odds of winning; this doesn’t intensify your competition!

Soaring into cinemas in just a few short months, Blue Sky Studios’ Rio 2 promises to be another adventure-filled animated comedy fit for all the family.

The 2011 original took almost half a billion dollars around the world, launching a new franchise for the studio that created Ice Age. And now Jewel, Blu, and co. are back for more.

Kicking off the New Year in style, Fox took to the titular Rio to ring in 2014, and the studio has released this new sizzle reel teasing the celebrations. And if you hold on until the 2-minute mark, you get to see Jemaine Clement’s sulphur-crusted Cockatoo, Nigel, promising to put an end to the fun shortly, along with an adorable appearance from Kristin Chenoweth’s tree frog, Gabi.

It’s a jungle out there for Blu, Jewel and their three kids in Rio 2, after they venture from that magical city into...

Watch a new clip from Rio 2 starring Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Leslie Mann, Jamie Foxx, Rodrigo Santoro, Jermaine Clement, John Leguizamo, Kristin Chenoweth, Andy Garcia, Jake T. Austin, Amandla Stenberg and George Lopez. Carlos Saldanha directs and also wrote the script alongside Don Rhymer for the film which hits theaters on April 11th, 2014 via 20th Century Fox. Rio 2 finds Jewel (Anne Hathaway), Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and their three kids leaving their domesticated life in that magical city for a journey to the Amazon. They encounter a menagerie of characters who are born to be wild.

Due out in the spring next year, Rio 2 will bring Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenberg back for another animated adventure, picking up a little way down the line from where the original left off, with the duo now having three children under their wings.

The first full-length trailer debuted two months ago, and was more recently followed by a new teaser poster. Now Fox has released a new international poster via its Panamanian arm, giving a look at the family happy to be in the Amazon, with the exception of Eisenberg’s Blu.

The entire cast of the animated smash Rio returns in Rio 2, and they are joined by a new flock of top actors and musical talents. Rich with grandeur, character, color and music, Rio 2 finds Jewel (Anne Hathaway), Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and their three kids leaving their domesticated life in that magical city for a journey to the Amazon.

Picking up a little while after things left off back in 2011, Rio 2 will see the return of Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenberg as leading Macaws, Jewel and Blu.

The original film netted almost half a billion dollars for Blue Sky Studios two years ago, and the sequel will be the first for them outside of their hugely successful Ice Age franchise, cementing their status as one of the leading animation houses in the industry.

The first full-length trailer landed early last month, and now Fox and Blue Sky Studios have launched a new teaser poster, with Blu and Jewel taking centre stage, looking appropriately parental, about to venture into the Amazon with their three children.

The entire cast of the animated smash Rio returns in Rio 2, and they are joined by a new flock of top actors and musical talents. Rich with grandeur, character, color and music, Rio 2...

A fifth poster is in for 20th Century Fox's Rio 2 animated follow-up directed by Carlos Saldana, with the voice talents of Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Leslie Mann, Jamie Foxx, Rodrigo Santoro, Jermaine Clement, John Leguizamo. Rich with grandeur, character, color and music, Rio 2 finds Jewel (Anne Hathaway), Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and their three kids leaving their domesticated life in that magical city for a journey to the Amazon. They encounter a menagerie of characters. Also in the cast are Andy Garcia, Rita Moreno, Bruno Mars, and Kristin Chenoweth. Don Rhymer and Saldanha wrote the script for the film produced by Bruce Anderson and John C. Donkin.

The family grows in this new poster for 20th Century Fox's Rio 2 animation, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway. Carlos Saldanha directs from the script we wrote alongside Don Rhymer, while John C. Donkin and Bruce Anderson produce. The voice cast also has Leslie Mann, Jamie Foxx, Rodrigo Santoro, Jermaine Clement, John Leguizamo, Kristin Chenoweth, Andy Garcia, Jake T. Austin, Amandla Stenberg and George Lopez on board. See the poster for Rio 2 (via Imp) below the film's official synopsis. The entire cast of the animated smash Rio returns in Rio 2, and they are joined by a new flock of top actors and musical talents. Rich with grandeur, character, color and music, Rio 2 finds Jewel (Anne Hathaway), Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and their three kids leaving their domesticated life...

Hitting cinemas in the height of the spring next year, Rio 2 promises to cement Blue Sky Studios’ status as one of the most successful animation houses to emerge in recent years.

The animated sequel launches the studio’s second franchise, following the immensely successful Ice Age series. And after launching the first teaser trailers earlier in the year, the first full-length trailer landed online last night over on Apple.

The entire cast of the animated smash Rio returns in Rio 2, and they are joined by a new flock of top actors and musical talents. Rich with grandeur, character, color and music, Rio 2 finds Jewel (Anne Hathaway), Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and their three kids leaving their domesticated life in that magical city for a journey to the Amazon. They encounter a menagerie of characters who are born to be wild, voiced by Oscar nominee Andy Garcia, Oscar/Emmy/Tony-winner Rita Moreno,...

We may well still be a good half-year away from the arrival of Rio 2, but Fox have already kicked off their marketing campaign for the adventure comedy / musical sequel, and with good reason.

The original film did even better than expected, netting just shy of half a billion dollars. And with Rio 2 bowing just one week after Captain America: The Winter Soldier, two weeks after Noah, and opening opposite Stretch Armstrong, Fox are no doubt wanting to lay the groundwork for the second film as early as possible.

The first teaser trailer got the ball rolling back in the spring, and now the studio have released a new teaser trailer, via Yahoo Movies, bringing to life Memory from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats.

Blu, Jewel, and their three kids live the perfect domesticated life in the magical city. When Jewel decides the kids need to learn to live like real birds,...

Rio took almost half a billion dollars for Blue Sky Studios back in 2011, and launched their first franchise outside of the Ice Age series. Needless to say, things are looking excellent for their sequel next year, Rio 2.

Currently slated for release in April 2014, the animated comedy-musical will see the original leading cast reprising their roles for the follow-up, alongside a host of brilliant new voices. And whilst we still might be ways out from its theatrical release date, we all know how fast time flies (bird-related pun only partially intended). And thus we arrive at this great first Rio 2 teaser trailer!

Blu, Jewel, and their three kids live the perfect domesticated life in the magical city. When Jewel decides the kids need to learn to live like real birds, she insists the family venture into the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in with his new neighbors, he...

Catch the trailer for Fox's eagerly anticipated Rio sequel, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway! The animated film opens April 11th, 2014. The entire cast of the animated smash hit returns and are joined by a new flock of top actors and musical talents. Rich with grandeur, character, color and music, Rio 2 finds Jewel (Anne Hathaway), Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and their three kids leaving their domesticated life in that magical city for a journey to the Amazon. They encounter a menagerie of characters who are born to be wild, voiced by Oscar nominee Andy Garcia, Oscar/Emmy/Tony-winner Rita Moreno, Grammy winner Bruno Mars, and Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth. Carlos Saldanha directs and also writes alongside Don Rhymer.

The Santa Clause 2

Directed by Michael Lembeck

Written by Don Rhymer, Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio, Ed Decter, John J. Strauss

Starring Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, Spencer Breslin, David Krumholtz, Judge Reinhold, Eric Lloyd

Why wait eight years between the original Santa Clause and its follow-up, The Santa Clause 2? This is a question I’ve been asking myself over the last week, before I watched the film for our podcast, during our recording, and now. I didn’t bring it up on the show, because I imagine the question would’ve just floated out into virtual nothingness. But I wonder. The first film opened in November of 1994 to moderate critical acclaim and strong box office returns. I honestly don’t remember how “angry” I might’ve sounded on the podcast last year (Gabe described me as such in our discussion this week), but when my wife puts the original on,...

Don Rhymer, the writer behind such films as "Rio," "Big Momma's House" and "The Santa Clause 2," died of cancer in Los Angeles. He was only 51 years old. Rhymer started his career on Martin Lawrence's "Big Momma's House" comedy. He went on to write the sequel, as well as Cedric the Entertainer's "The Honeymooners" and Matthew Broderick's "Deck the Halls." He also wrote the animated films "Surf's Up" and "Rio." The writer has been battling cancer for a long time, and has documented his treatment in a blog, called "Let's Radiate Don."...

Screenwriter Don Rhymer, whose credits included 20th Century Fox Animation’ hit Rio and the CBS comedy Evening Shade, has died. He was 51 and his longtime friend Dave Gallagher told the La Times that Rhymer died Wednesday of cancer at USC’s Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. One of Rhymer’s earliest credits was NBC’s Valerie. He also wrote for CBS’ Hearts Afire. He also worked on feature films, including Big Momma’s House and its two sequels, The Santa Clause 2, Agent Cody Banks 2, The Honeymooners and Sony Pictures Animation’s Surf’s Up. His TV credits also included episodes of the NBC series Caroline In The City and Bagdad Cafe. After his diagnosis three years ago, Rhymer started a blog “Let’s Radiate Don” that chronicled his treatment and his relationship with his wife and kids.

Actress Selena Gomez has stepped in to replace Miley Cyrus in the upcoming Sony Pictures Animation project Hotel Transylvania.

Selena Gomez will voice Mavis, the daughter of Adam Sandler's Dracula, in Hotel Transylvania. The news of Miley Cyrus' departure broke earlier this morning, and Adam Sandler's rep confirmed this afternoon that Selena Gomez has signed on. It is said that Miley Cyrus dropped out so she could take more time to figure out her own career path in feature films.

Genndy Tartakovsky is directing Hotel Transylvania from a screenplay by Don Rhymer. The story centers around a resort where famous monsters and creatures of lore can kick back and have a good time. The plot thickens when an ordinary human checks into the hotel, and becomes interested in Mavis. Kevin James, Fran Drescher, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, Cee-Lo, Andy Samberg, and David Koechner round out the voice cast.

Actress Miley Cyrus has joined the cast of Hotel Transylvania for Sony Pictures Animation. She will play Mavis, the teenage daughter of Dracula (Adam Sandler). We have the first photo of Mavis, which you can take a look at below.

The story centers on Dracula, who builds a resort for all of his monster friends to stay in. The plot thickens when a regular man (Andy Samberg) shows up at the hotel. Genndy Tartakovsky is directing Hotel Transylvania from a screenplay by Don Rhymer. The cast also includes Kevin James as Frankenstein, Fran Drescher as the Bride of Frankenstein, David Spade as The Invisible Man, David Koechner as Quasimodo, Cee-Lo as Murray the Mummy, Steve Buscemi and Molly Shannon as werewolves.

Hotel Transylvania comes to theaters September 21st, 2012 and stars Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Fran Drescher, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, Cee-Lo, Andy Samberg. The film is directed by Genndy Tartakovsky.

Rio

Stars (the voices of): Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Will.i.am, Jamie Foxx, Tracy Morgan, Jemaine Clement | Written by Don Rhymer | Directed by Carlos Saldanha

Despite valiant efforts by Fox to persuade you not to go and see Rio – someone somewhere must be responsible for thinking that those Orange Blu ads earlier this year were a good idea – if you make the effort, you are in for a surprise. Rio is a delight to your eyes, ears, funny bone and tapping feet. From the opening credits onwards, the 3D is put to full use to bring alive the colours and beats of the rain forest and the Rio carnival. Throw in some sharp, witty dialogue, perfectly delivered, plus a number of clever songs, and you have Rio.

Rio tells the tale of the last two blue macaws of their kind – Blu is in Minnesota, looking after his bookshop keeper owner...

Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son

Stars: Martin Lawrence, Brandon T. Jackson, Jessica Lucas, Portia Doubleday | Written by Matthew Fogel, Don Rhymer | Directed by John Whitesell

Benjamin Franklin once said that there are two things certain in life: death and taxes. Well, you can add “appalling Big Mommas movies” to that list. Sadly, the third instalment in the Martin Lawrence fat suit franchise fails to be a 21st Century Citizen Kane and instead is same predictable retread of old fat lady jokes that stretch the definition of the word “comedy” to breaking point.

Eager for his son to go to college, FBI Agent Malcolm Turner (Lawrence) ambushes his mailman (Ken Jeong, in his latest “I did it for the money” cameo) for the acceptance letter to Duke. His son Trent (Jackson) has other ideas and needs Malcolm to sign a contract which will enable him to tour the Us as a hip hop artist.

Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant, two of the (lesser talented) guys behind "The State" and "Reno! 9/11" before selling their souls in exchange for unearned cash (and lots of it) are releasing a book today called Writing Movies for Fun and Profit: How We Made a Billion Dollars at the Box Office and You Can, Too! It's a semi-serious self-help book for screenwriters, not about how to make a good film, but about how to make a commercially successful one. In other words, how to cheat the system.

Clearly, Lennon and Garant have a lot of experience in making incredibly shitty but very popular films that appeal to moviegoers barely smart enough to count out their ticket money. Garant and Lennon are so proud of this ability to write films for dumbshits that they want share screenwriting advice to all those out there, not who want to make good films,...

Today marks the last day of the first half of the year, and as per custom, it's time to look back and reflect on the best and worst of 2011 so far. We could easily fill a Top 25 Worst films, and in the first six months, it's much more difficult to judge degrees of suck than it is to value the merits of the handful of great films, so the measure of hostility will additionally be taken into account in ranking the Ten Worst.

The top ten films are also limited to theatrical releases, as well, which unfortunately excludes a film that's now available on iTunes that would have competed for the top spot on this list: Turkey Bowl. Track it down; it's only 62 minutes, and it may be the funniest 62 minutes of the year (check out Seth's review here, and Dan's review over at the Houston Press).

The 10 Worst Films...

Rio Directed by: Carlos Saldanha Written by: Carlos Saldanha, Earl Richey Jones, Todd Jones (story), Don Rhymer, Joshua Sternin & Jefferey Ventimilia, Sam Harper (screenplay) Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, George Lopez, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro, Jemaine Clement, Jamie Foxx, Will i Am Rio is one for the kiddies, so you'll have to forgive this childless twenty-something for feeling at odds with the target audience. The theater was stuffed with tykes with mouths agape — whispering, screaming, and coughing. I have no idea if that means they were enjoying it. From an adult perspective, this anthropomorphic epic isn't necessarily a painful endurance test, but unlike Nickelodeon's Rango, there isn't a single compelling reason to recommend it to anyone over the age of 12. The voice cast is unsurprisingly stacked with actors in vogue looking to score an easy paycheck. Jesse Eisenberg channels his innermost neurosis as Blu, our fine, feathered protagonist with a fear of flying.

Once upon a time, I dated a guy whose cockatiel had a bit of a masturbation problem; even worse, the damn bird made a habit of staring at me while doing it. Needless to say, the relationship soon hit an impasse, but I've never forgotten that evil eye of the feathery one. Exactly what does this anecdote have to do with Rio? Both feature birds that, figuratively speaking, made me want to take immediate flight into the nearest plate glass window.

In Rio, our tale begins by introducing a socially awkward macaw named Blu (Jesse Eisenberg, naturally) that lives in Minnesota with his owner, Linda (Leslie Mann), who affectionately calls her pet a "nerd bird" because he can't fly (even though he's very studied in matters of "quadrated vector angles"), but he can fetch Linda's breakfast for her every morning. Sure, it's unbelievable, but this movie comes from Blue Sky Studios production,...

Rafael (George Lopez), Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Anne Hathaway) in Rio

Photo: 20th Century Fox Ice Age franchise helmer Carlos Saldanha has teamed with Big Momma's House 2 and Deck the Halls scripter Don Rhymer to essentially take Pixar's Finding Nemo and mash it up with Dreamworks' Madagascar and call it Rio. Fascinating enough, mathematically it all works out. You take Nemo, which was a ten, and Madagascar, which was a four, add those up for 14, divide by two and you get Rio, which is a seven. It really is all about the math.

Rio is the story of Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg), a rare macaw living in snowy Minnesota who's asked to return to his home in Rio de Janero where he will be matched up with Jewel (voiced by Anne Hathaway) and asked to help propagate the species. The situation goes bad when Jewel and Blu...

Rating: 3/5

Writers: Don Rhymer (screenplay), Carlos Saldanha (story)

Director: Carlos Saldanha

Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, George Lopez, Leslie Mann, Jemaine Clement (all voice)

Studio: 20th Century Fox, Blue Sky Studios

Rio centres on Blu (Jesse Eisenberg), a domesticated and endangered macaw living in Moose Lake with his doting owner, Linda (Leslie Mann). Upon receiving word that a female macaw, Jewel (Anne Hathaway), has been found in Rio de Janeiro, the duo head off to South America on a mission to replenish the species. Shortly after arrival, and once the birds have been united, they fall victim to a gang of animal smugglers. Blu and Jewel must battle against not only them, but also the unusual terrain and an eagle-eyed cockatoo (Jemaine Clement) hellbent on keeping them under lock and key, in a bid to return to safety.

Read more on Theatrical Review: Rio...

Reviewed by Chris Allsop

(April 2011)

Directed by: Carlos Saldanha

Written by: Don Rhymer

Featuring the voices of: Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, will.i.am, Jamie Foxx, George Lopez, Tracy Morgan, Jemaine Clement, Rodrigo Santoro and Leslie Mann

“Rio” sets out its agenda in its title: There is a story involving a nervous macaw dealing with erectile dysfunction — sorry, an inability to fly — but it plays second fiddle to the riotous South American setting that is this film’s true star.

This is unclear in the early stages, when we meet domesticated blue macaw Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and his owner Linda (Leslie Mann) living an uncomfortably close existence in a Minnesota bookstore. Discovering that Blu is the last male of his kind, they fly out to Rio de Janeiro to try to mate him with a female: Jewel (Anne Hathaway). Bird smugglers kidnap the precious pair, and soon it’s a...

Reviewed by Chris Allsop

(April 2011)

Directed by: Carlos Saldanha

Written by: Don Rhymer

Featuring the voices of: Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, will.i.am, Jamie Foxx, George Lopez, Tracy Morgan, Jemaine Clement, Rodrigo Santoro and Leslie Mann

“Rio” sets out its agenda in its title: There is a story involving a nervous macaw dealing with erectile dysfunction — sorry, an inability to fly — but it plays second fiddle to the riotous South American setting that is this film’s true star.

This is unclear in the early stages, when we meet domesticated blue macaw Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and his owner Linda (Leslie Mann) living an uncomfortably close existence in a Minnesota bookstore. Discovering that Blu is the last male of his kind, they fly out to Rio de Janeiro to try to mate him with a female: Jewel (Anne Hathaway). Bird smugglers kidnap the precious pair, and soon it’s a...

You may be asking yourself: why is the esteemed Shadowlocked.com, home to the most geekness, reviewing a family film feast? I had to wonder myself when our Editor asked me to cover this. The idea of a talking Blue Parrot (unless it was part of a dark mass hysteria) was not the most appealing subject. But it helps to consider it in the case for and against 3D films and the state of the art of animation. On those grounds, dear friends, I ask you to consider this piece.

Throughout Rio the things that stood out for me were the beautiful lighting and scenery, along with meticulous attention to detail in just about everything. The feats of natural animal behavior that Blu, Jewel, Nigel and the other birds were developed to do were outstanding. The amount of work that must have gone into researching animal movement was obvious at all times.

Rio

Reviewed by Kate Atherton

Stars (the voices of): Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Will.i.am, Jamie Foxx, Tracy Morgan, Jemaine Clement | Written by Don Rhymer | Directed by Carlos Saldanha

Despite valiant efforts by Fox to persuade you not to go and see Rio – someone somewhere must be responsible for thinking that the Orange Blu ads were a good idea – if you make the effort, you are in for a surprise. Rio is a delight to your eyes, ears, funny bone and tapping feet. From the opening credits onwards, the 3D is put to full use to bring alive the colours and beats of the rain forest and the Rio carnival. Throw in some sharp, witty dialogue, perfectly delivered, plus a number of clever songs, and you have Rio.

Rio tells the tale of the last two blue macaws of their kind – Blu is in Minnesota, looking after his bookshop keeper...

Watch a new Rio clip with Angry Birds in the mix! Who doesn't love this game? It's become a worldwide phenomenon. Rio opens via 20th Century Fox on April 15th. Carlos Saldanha directs the Christopher Jenkins-produced animated family adventure, from the script by Don Rhymer. Check out how the Angry Birds try take out the 20th Century Fox logo...hysterical. Rio Synopsis: From the makers of the hit Ice Age series, Rio is a comedy-adventure about taking a walk on the wild side. Blu is a domesticated Macaw who never learned to fly, living a comfortable life with his owner and best friend Linda in the small town of Moose Lake, Minnesota. Blu and Linda think he’s the last of his kind, but when they learn about another Macaw who lives in Rio de Janeiro, they head to the faraway and exotic land to find Jewel, Blu’s female counterpart.

Watch a new Rio clip with Angry Birds in the mix! Who doesn't love this game? It's become a worldwide phenomenon. Rio opens via 20th Century Fox on April 15th. Carlos Saldanha directs the Christopher Jenkins-produced animated family adventure, from the script by Don Rhymer. Check out how the Angry Birds try take out the 20th Century Fox logo...hysterical. Rio Synopsis: From the makers of the hit Ice Age series, Rio is a comedy-adventure about taking a walk on the wild side. Blu is a domesticated Macaw who never learned to fly, living a comfortable life with his owner and best friend Linda in the small town of Moose Lake, Minnesota. Blu and Linda think he’s the last of his kind, but when they learn about another Macaw who lives in Rio de Janeiro, they head to the faraway and exotic land to find Jewel, Blu’s female counterpart.

Three new preview clips from 20th Century Fox's upcoming 3-D CGI-animated feature, Rio, have been released online. Written by Don Rhymer (Surf's Up) and directed by Carlos Saldanha (Ice Age), Rio follows a rare blue macaw named Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg ) as he leaves his quiet domestic life as a pet in Minnesota to travel to the exotic city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in search of a female (Anne Hathaway) of his species. Additional voice talents include Jamie Foxx, Leslie Mann, George Lopez, Neal Patrick Harris, Jemaine Clement, Rodrigo Santoro and Brazilian bossa nova singer Bebel Gilberto.

Next Showing: Rio opens April 8

Link | Posted 3/15/2011 by BrentJS

Rio...

Watch new clips from Rio including an extended clip, a music video and Anne Hathaway and Jamie Fox character spots! The extended clip is called "Hang Glider" and the music video called Feel the Rhythm from the film which opens April 8th via 20th Century Fox. Directing is Carlos Saldanha from the writring by Don Rhymer. Rio features the voice talents of Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Jamie Foxx, Leslie Mann, Jake T. Austin, Jermaine Clement, Rodrigo Santoro, Neil Patrick Harris, Tracy Morgan , Carlos Ponce, Will i Am, George Lopez and Wanda Sykes. Catch it in theaters April 15th. Rio is a comedy-adventure about taking a walk on the wild side. Blu is a domesticated Macaw who never learned to fly, living a comfortable life with his owner and best friend Linda in the small town of Moose Lake, Minnesota. Blu and Linda think he’s the last of his kind,...

Watch new clips from Rio including an extended clip, a music video and Anne Hathaway and Jamie Fox character spots! The extended clip is called "Hang Glider" and the music video called Feel the Rhythm from the film which opens April 8th via 20th Century Fox. Directing is Carlos Saldanha from the writring by Don Rhymer. Rio features the voice talents of Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Jamie Foxx, Leslie Mann, Jake T. Austin, Jermaine Clement, Rodrigo Santoro, Neil Patrick Harris, Tracy Morgan , Carlos Ponce, Will i Am, George Lopez and Wanda Sykes. Catch it in theaters April 15th. Rio is a comedy-adventure about taking a walk on the wild side. Blu is a domesticated Macaw who never learned to fly, living a comfortable life with his owner and best friend Linda in the small town of Moose Lake, Minnesota. Blu and Linda think he’s the last of his kind,...

The United States economy is currently sporting close to a 10 percent unemployment rate. Right now, for every available employment position in the United States, there are five people vying for the job. The median duration of unemployment is over 30 weeks. More than 25 million Americans are now either jobless or underemployed.

Martin Lawrence is not one of them.

When the recession hit, millions of hard-working people, many of whom who rarely missed a day of work, who gave their lives to companies, and who put every bit of themselves into their work, still lost their jobs, as well as their means to support their families. Meanwhile, Martin Lawrence gives a lousy effort for a few hours several weeks out of the year, recycles old material, tells the same jokes, wears the same expressions, and makes the same movies, and yet he's a multimillionaire. He's lazy, incompetent, unoriginal, and apathetic. He also lives in a $37 million mansion,...

Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son *

Stars: Martin Lawrence, Brandon T. Jackson, Jessica Lucas, Portia Doubleday | Written by Matthew Fogel, Don Rhymer | Directed by John Whitesell

Benjamin Franklin once said that there are two things certain in life: death and taxes. Well, you can add “appalling Big Mommas movies” to that list. Sadly, the third instalment in the Martin Lawrence fat suit franchise fails to be a 21st Century Citizen Kane and instead is same predictable retread of old fat lady jokes that stretch the definition of the word “comedy” to breaking point.

Eager for his son to go to college, FBI Agent Malcolm Turner (Lawrence) ambushes his mailman (Ken Jeong, in his latest “I did it for the money” cameo) for the acceptance letter to Duke. His son Trent (Jackson) has other ideas and needs Malcolm to sign a contract which will enable him to tour the Us as a hip hop artist.

Watch clips from the Los Angeles premiere of Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son! The Red Carpet Screening was hosted by Big Boy. Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son opens February 18th and is scripted by Matthew Fogel from the story by Don Rhymer and the characters created by Darryl Quarles. Also, in case you missed them, see movie clips, interviews and a behind-the-scenes look at the Martin Lawrence comedy. There are 8 clips from the film as the interview clips with director John Whitesell and producer David T. Friendly as well as stars Martin Lawrence, Brandon T. Jackson, Jessica Lucas. The story follows FBI agent Malcolm Turner (Lawrence) and his stepson Trent (Jackson) who go undercover at an all-girls performing arts school after Trent witnesses a murder...

Watch clips from the Los Angeles premiere of Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son! The Red Carpet Screening was hosted by Big Boy. Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son opens February 18th and is scripted by Matthew Fogel from the story by Don Rhymer and the characters created by Darryl Quarles. Also, in case you missed them, see movie clips, interviews and a behind-the-scenes look at the Martin Lawrence comedy. There are 8 clips from the film as the interview clips with director John Whitesell and producer David T. Friendly as well as stars Martin Lawrence, Brandon T. Jackson, Jessica Lucas. The story follows FBI agent Malcolm Turner (Lawrence) and his stepson Trent (Jackson) who go undercover at an all-girls performing arts school after Trent witnesses a murder...

Watch new clips from Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son, including interviews and a behind-the-scenes look at the Martin Lawrence comedy. There are 8 clips in standard and high definition as well as interview clips with Martin Lawrence, Brandon T. Jackson, Jessica Lucas, director John Whitesell and producer David T. Friendly. Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son opens February 18th and is scripted by Matthew Fogel from the story by Don Rhymer and the characters created by Darryl Quarles. FBI agent Malcolm Turner (Lawrence) and his stepson Trent (Jackson) go undercover at an all-girls performing arts school after Trent witnesses a murder. See the featured Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son clip...

Watch new clips from Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son, including interviews and a behind-the-scenes look at the Martin Lawrence comedy. There are 8 clips in standard and high definition as well as interview clips with Martin Lawrence, Brandon T. Jackson, Jessica Lucas, director John Whitesell and producer David T. Friendly. Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son opens February 18th and is scripted by Matthew Fogel from the story by Don Rhymer and the characters created by Darryl Quarles. FBI agent Malcolm Turner (Lawrence) and his stepson Trent (Jackson) go undercover at an all-girls performing arts school after Trent witnesses a murder. See the featured Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son clip...

Movie tie-in connects hit bird-slingshotting game to upcoming animated film starring voice of Jesse Eisenberg.

By Adam Rosenberg

"Rio"

Photo: 20th Century Fox

Fox aired a 30-second spot for its forthcoming animated family comedy "Rio" during the fourth quarter of a tense showdown between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers at Super Bowl Xlv. In an advertising first, the trailer contained an embedded code for an unlockable level in the top-selling Apple App Store game "Angry Birds."

The level connects to a larger contest that offers participants the opportunity to win a trip to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for the film's March 22 premiere. Also out in March is "Angry Birds Rio," a movie tie-in that brings developer Rovio Mobile's hit bird-slingshotting game to the characters and locales of the Fox film.

"Rio" is the work of "Ice Age" director Carlos Saldanha and "Big Momma's House" writer Don Rhymer.

Movie tie-in connects hit bird-slingshotting game to upcoming animated film starring voice of Jesse Eisenberg.

By Adam Rosenberg

"Rio"

Photo: 20th Century Fox

Fox aired a 30-second spot for its forthcoming animated family comedy "Rio" during the fourth quarter of a tense showdown between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers at Super Bowl Xlv. In an advertising first, the trailer contained an embedded code for an unlockable level in the top-selling Apple App Store game "Angry Birds."

The level connects to a larger contest that offers participants the opportunity to win a trip to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for the film's March 22 premiere. Also out in March is "Angry Birds Rio," a movie tie-in that brings developer Rovio Mobile's hit bird-slingshotting game to the characters and locales of the Fox film.

"Rio" is the work of "Ice Age" director Carlos Saldanha and "Big Momma's House" writer Don Rhymer.