Rio

And now, for the first time in a while, comes an animated film available in both 3-D and flatscreen formats. Its title is Rio and it is currently the year's finest display of color and music.

Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) is a neurotic Spix's Macaw who lives in a Minnesota bookstore with Linda (Leslie Mann). One day, an ornithologist named Túlio (Rodrigo Santoro) comes in with Blu on the brain. It turns out Blu is the last male of his species, and a female named Jewel (Anne Hathaway) awaits him in Rio de Janeiro. So Blu and the humans head off to the aforementioned city just in time for Carnivale.

Except when Blu meets his “mate,” he quickly finds that Jewel’s not that interested. They get caught by smugglers, but despite them getting chained together, they escape. Since Blu can’t fly, he’s not much help. But with a few new animal friends, the two have a better chance to get out of this mess.

As with the avifauna in Brazil, the film is amazingly colorful. Under director Carlos Saldanha, a native of the eponymous city, both the animals and their environments are perfectly visually realized. It also benefits from its catchy and fun music, whose collaborators include John Powell and Sergio Mendes. It’s simply the best glimpse of Rio one can get at a bargain price.

Amongst the supporting cast, the best has to be Nigel (Jemaine Clement), the smugglers’ campily evil cockatoo mascot. Other highlights include the duo of Nico and Pedro (Jamie Foxx and Will.i.Am), who provide a few tunes to the soundtrack. Their distinctive quirks, as well as those of the leads, are perfectly provided by their big name talents.

To 3-D or not to 3-D? You’ll have to decide that. You'll also get to see a fun cartoon starring Scrat from the Ice Age movies just before the film starts. Whatever the choice, you won’t regret going to Rio.

Jethro's Note: What about Mars Needs Moms? According to some opinions, it's not even an animated film. Uhh, OK.