--- title: "Rio 2" year: 2014 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/rio-2" fi1m_id: "rio-2" imdb_id: "tt2357291" tmdb_id: 172385 wikidata_id: "Q6296387" fi1m_score: 50 critics_score: 46 critics_reviews: 20 published: "2026-10-05T13:22:28.375562+00:00" updated: "2026-10-05T13:22:28.804254+00:00" region: "PA" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Rio 2 (2014) Directed by Carlos Saldanha · 1h 41m · Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family ## Identity Rio 2 - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/rio-2 - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** rio-2 - **IMDb ID:** tt2357291 - **TMDB ID:** 172385 - **Wikidata ID:** Q6296387 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2357291/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/172385, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6296387 **Fi1m score: 50** · Critics 46 from 20 reviews *In a sentence:* A hundred blue macaws, four screenwriters and roughly one plot per bird > Carlos Saldanha’s sequel sends its macaws up the Amazon with seven plots, a dozen songs and four screenwriters, and only Jemaine Clement’s vengeful cockatoo finds anything to do. Lovely to look at, tiring to follow; fine for the children, a long sit for anyone else. ## Synopsis Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Anne Hathaway), the last known pair of blue macaws, are raising three chicks in Rio de Janeiro, where Blu has a satnav, a bum bag and a taste for pancakes. When their human friends Linda (Leslie Mann) and Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro) find signs of a wild blue macaw flock deep in the Amazon, Jewel insists the family fly north to look for it. Pedro (will.i.am), Nico (Jamie Foxx) and Rafael (George López) tag along, scouting acts for a Carnival show. In the forest, Jewel’s long-lost father Eduardo (Andy Garcia) rules the flock and takes against his soft, domesticated son-in-law, while her childhood friend Roberto (Bruno Mars) sings rather too well. Behind them comes Nigel (Jemaine Clement), the cockatoo from the first film, now flightless and plotting revenge, as loggers cut into the trees. ## Review Carlos Saldanha’s first [*Rio*](https://film.one/film/rio), from 2011, had one idea and held it: a pampered pet bird who cannot fly is dropped into a city that never stops moving. The sequel takes Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Anne Hathaway), now parents of three, out of the city and into the Amazon, where Jewel’s father Eduardo (Andy Garcia) runs a hidden flock of blue macaws and nobody has heard of a pancake. That is a fair idea too. The trouble is that four credited screenwriters, Jenny Bicks, Yoni Brenner, Don Rhymer and Carlos Kotkin, have each brought a plot, and Saldanha has kept all of them. So, alongside the in-laws, there is a logging gang cutting into the forest, a Carnival talent audition that Pedro (will.i.am), Nico (Jamie Foxx) and Rafael (George López) have come to the jungle to judge, a smooth old flame called Roberto (Bruno Mars), Linda (Leslie Mann) and Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro) lost on a riverboat, and Nigel (Jemaine Clement), the cockatoo from the first film, now unable to fly and tracking Blu for revenge with a poisonous frog in tow. Any two of these would fill 101 minutes. The film does all of them, and the editors Randy Trager and Harry Hitner cut between them so briskly that no scene is allowed to finish what it started. The look is where the money went, and it shows. Renato Falcão lights the flight north as a series of flat painted layers, like a pop-up book opening page by page over the coast, the plains and the river, and it is the loveliest stretch in the film. Once in the forest the palette goes to deep greens and wet blues, and the macaws are drawn feather by feather. When Eduardo’s flock takes off together in formation we did sit up. It is one of the few moments where the screen is doing one thing at a time. Clement is the reason an adult will keep watching. His Nigel is a ham actor reduced to being carried about by an anteater, and he plays the humiliation with full relish, rolling every vowel. His rendition of “I Will Survive”, staged as a Carnival audition, made us laugh out loud, and then laugh again at the frog, Gabi, who adores him and cannot touch him because she would kill him. It is the only strand in the film with a joke built into its premise rather than bolted on afterwards. The leads fare less well. Eisenberg’s Blu is still a fretting, over-prepared townie, which was funny once, and the script’s single idea for him is that his father-in-law thinks he is soft. Garcia barks that line in a dozen forms. Hathaway’s Jewel is handed the dullest material of all, torn between husband and home in scenes the film keeps interrupting. The children barely register. John Powell’s score, bright with Brazilian percussion, holds the pieces together, but the songs arrive roughly every ten minutes and several of them stop the picture dead. The loggers are villains without a face worth remembering. We were tired by the hour mark, and then faintly ashamed of being tired at a film made for six-year-olds. The first *Rio* found its shape in a small story. This one has Saldanha’s plain affection for Brazil in every frame, and the Carnival audition, with its capoeira dancers and tone-deaf hopefuls, is the one place he lets that affection run loose. Everywhere else it is being managed. Children under eight will be fine; the colour and the noise never let up and the U certificate is secure. Parents will be reaching for their phones somewhere around the logging subplot. Watch for Clement, and for the flight to the Amazon, and then decide whether the rest is worth sitting through. *Fi1m score 50, published 5 October 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics find Rio 2 a lesser sequel: bright, busy and good-natured, but some way short of the original. Nearly every review, including the harsh ones, praises the animation, particularly the rainforest colours and the macaws’ synchronised flying routines, along with the Latin-flavoured musical numbers. Of the new characters, Kristin Chenoweth’s poisonous frog Gabi and Jemaine Clement’s vengeful cockatoo Nigel are named again and again as the liveliest things in it. The complaints are almost as consistent as the praise. The film is overstuffed, say most critics, with too many subplots, too many lessons and too many songs, so that it tires rather than delights. The spread is wide. The Evening Standard and Digital Spy find it cosy and charming; IndieWire and Eye for Film find it tedious and sentimental. The Guardian goes further, calling it bland and commercial, with little art or wit beyond Clement’s performance. ## Straight answers **Is Rio 2 worth watching?** *Rio 2* is worth watching for children under eight and a long sit for anyone else, and we scored it 50. Four screenwriters have each brought a plot and Carlos Saldanha has kept all of them, so no scene finishes what it started. Jemaine Clement’s vengeful cockatoo and the painted flight up the Amazon are the parts an adult will enjoy. **How long is Rio 2, and what is it rated?** *Rio 2* runs 1h 41m. It is an animation and adventure film. **Where can I watch Rio 2 in Panama?** *Rio 2* is streaming on Disney+ in Panama. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How does Rio 2 compare to Rio?** *Rio 2* is the busier and weaker of the two films, and the original [*Rio*](https://film.one/film/rio) is the one we would put on first. The first film had one bird, one city and one story and held to it; the sequel has seven plots and a song every ten minutes. Both are prettily animated, and Jemaine Clement’s Nigel is the best thing in each. **What should I watch after Rio 2?** After *Rio 2*, try [*Rio*](https://film.one/film/rio) (2011, Fi1m 70): The original, with one bird, one city and one story, which turns out to be enough. Then [*Song of the Sea*](https://film.one/film/song-of-the-sea) (2014, Fi1m 82): Irish, hand-drawn and quiet; proof that a family film can hold a single thought; and [*The Jungle Book*](https://film.one/film/the-jungle-book) (1967, Fi1m 80): Still the jungle musical to beat, with songs that advance the story instead of pausing it. ### Reviews we read (20) - **Evening Standard**, The Standard (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel a cosy, highly appealing family film. They praise its relaxed introduction to Brazil and single out Nigel’s rap rendition of “I Will Survive.” [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/rio-2-film-review-9238989.html) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Justin Lowe (70/100, inferred): Lowe finds the sequel colorful and frequently entertaining, though its humor and pacing are less effective than the original’s. He particularly praises the vivid rainforest animation and the standout comic performances by Kristin Chenoweth and Andy Garcia. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/rio-2-film-review-691500/) - **Screen Daily**, Mark Adams (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a review, but the paywall shell does not reveal the critic’s verdict. No specific element of praise or complaint is visible in the accessible text. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/rio-2/5070106.article) - **Radio Times**, Alan Jones (3/5): Jones finds the sequel colorful and entertaining but overstuffed with songs and slapstick. He singles out toxic frog Gabi as the best new character. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-sf0k5s/rio-2/) - **Time Out**, Tom Huddleston (3/5): The review frames Carlos Saldanha as a warm-hearted filmmaker. It praises the heartfelt quality of his films, though the full review text is unavailable. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/rio-2) - **Total Film**, Kate Stables (3/5): Stables finds the sequel good-hearted and enjoyable, though its plot is predictable and the franchise’s future feels uncertain. She praises the colourful, swooping 3D musical numbers and singles out Jemaine Clement’s revenge-obsessed cockatoo for adding venom. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/rio-2-1-review/) - **The AV Club**, Kevin McFarland (C): McFarland finds the sequel weighed down by excessive subplots and visual overload. He praises the Carnival auditions, especially the use of capoeira, as the funniest part. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/too-much-story-and-too-many-bright-colors-bring-down-ri-1798180203) - **Los Angeles Times**, Betsy Sharkey (50/100, inferred): Sharkey finds the film overloaded with plots, issues and characters, though its music keeps it from falling flat. She singles out the Latin-influenced musical numbers as fabulous, alongside the colorful animation. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-rio-2-20140411-story.html) - **Vulture**, Bilge Ebiri (50/100, inferred): Ebiri finds Rio 2 overstuffed and tiring, despite flashes of delight. He praises its personal, vividly rendered scenes celebrating Brazil, especially the animated tour of its cities. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2014/04/movie-review-rio-2.html) - **Empire**, Angie Errigo (35/100, inferred): Errigo finds the film unfocused and only sporadically funny, though its visual splendour lifts it. She singles out a dazzling Busby Berkeley-style bird routine as a highlight. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/rio-2-review/) - **Variety**, Justin Chang (35/100, inferred): Chang finds the sequel lively but ultimately more exhausting than exhilarating, weighed down by too many competing storylines and lessons. He praises the vivid animation and textures, especially during the macaws’ synchronized flying routines. [Read](https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-rio-2-1201148036/) - **Slant Magazine**, Eric Henderson (1/4): Henderson pans the film as shapeless, overstuffed and lacking narrative cause and effect. He praises Gabi’s comic, tragic musical number and the jungle talent-show audition montage. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/rio-2/) - **The Guardian**, Mike McCahill (20/100, inferred): McCahill finds the sequel bland and overly commercial, with little art or wit. He singles out Jemaine Clement’s performance as Nigel as a bright spot amid the weak scripting. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/apr/03/rio-2-review) - **IndieWire**, Charles Solomon (10/100, inferred): The critic pans the film as a tedious sequel whose attempts at fun fall flat. He singles out its rambling story, intrusive songs, and generic visual design as major flaws. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-rio-2-124267/) - **Digital Spy**, Emma Dibdin (3): Dibdin finds the sequel affable and charming, but unlikely to be memorable. She praises the villains and their musical number, while noting that the scattershot plot may leave adults struggling. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a561647/rio-2-review-affable-and-forgettable-easter-holiday-fare/) - **Paste**, Brent Simon (5.5/10): Simon finds the sequel overstuffed and forgettable, despite being perfectly fine. He praises its entertaining Broadway-style musical numbers, while criticizing the scattered script and weakly developed relationship themes. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/rio-2) - **The Playlist**, The Playlist Staff (C-): The review finds the film visually striking but narratively cluttered and emotionally empty. It praises the flight-to-the-Amazon sequence’s pop-up-book style, while criticizing the film’s subplots and simplistic environmental message. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/review-rio-2-featuring-the-voices-of-anne-hathaway-jesse-eisenberg-jamie-foxx-and-andy-garcia-20140409/) - **HeyUGuys**, Stefan Pape (2/5): Pape finds the sequel formulaic and ultimately unsatisfying, despite its positive environmental message. He singles out Jemaine Clement’s voice performance as the film’s strongest element. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/rio-2-review/) - **The Wrap**, Alonso Duralde (20/100, inferred): The review finds the sequel tedious and dull despite occasional amusing moments. It praises the musical numbers, especially Kristin Chenoweth’s song about her poisonous touch. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/rio-2-review-zippy-musical-trapped-inside-tedious-kiddie-movie/) - **Eye for Film**, Angus Wolfe Murray (10/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel overwhelmed by sentimentality and lacking in excitement. He singles out the sugary songs and thin comic relief as failures to rescue it. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/rio-2-2014-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) ## Details - **Director:** Carlos Saldanha - **Director:** Carlos Saldanha - **Screenplay:** Don Rhymer, Carlos Kotkin, Jenny Bicks, Yoni Brenner - **Story:** Carlos Saldanha - **Cinematography:** Renato Falcão - **Editor:** Harry Hitner, Randy Trager - **Music:** John Powell - **Producer:** John C. Donkin, Bruce Anderson, Patrick Worlock - **Cast:** Jesse Eisenberg as Blu (voice); Anne Hathaway as Jewel (voice); will.i.am as Pedro (voice); Jamie Foxx as Nico (voice); Leslie Mann as Linda (voice); George López as Rafael (voice); Andy Garcia as Eduardo (voice); Bruno Mars as Roberto (voice) - **Runtime:** 1h 41m - **First release (Azerbaijan):** 19 March 2014 - **Genres:** Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family - **Budget:** $103 million - **Box office:** $499 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9L06tdcG8A ## Where to watch in Panama - Disney+: streaming, hd *Checked 2026-10-05.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IL, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie 2015: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie (nominated) ## If you liked this - *Rio* (2011), Fi1m 70: The original, with one bird, one city and one story, which turns out to be enough. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/rio.md) - *Boy and the World* (2013): A Brazilian animation that says more about the country’s forests and cities with crayons. - *Song of the Sea* (2014), Fi1m 82: Irish, hand-drawn and quiet; proof that a family film can hold a single thought. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/song-of-the-sea.md) - *The Jungle Book* (1967), Fi1m 80: Still the jungle musical to beat, with songs that advance the story instead of pausing it. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-jungle-book.md) - *Ice Age* (2002), Fi1m 73: Saldanha’s earlier studio at its leanest: three animals, one baby, no subplots to spare. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ice-age.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/rio-2