MANILA, Philippines - The makers of Rio have outdone themselves this year as the sequel to the animated film succeeded in playing with the colorful imagination of children.
During Rio 2's pre-screening in Makati City on Saturday, children were immediately engaged with the funky, festive and cool music and display of colors made even more alive by Blu, Jewel, their children and friends Nico and Pedro, Rafael and Luiz.
Children (even their adult companions) were shouting with excitement and giggling the entire movie, which displayed a more colorful Amazon and its inhabitants.
In this Rio sequel, Blu and his family -- wife Jewel and children Bia, Carla and Tiago -- would leave behind their domesticated lives in Rio in search for other Blue Macaws in the Amazon jungle.
After several miles of flight and a few misses by the antagonist Nigel and his gang, the family -- accompanied by Blu's closest buddies -- would find a hidden sanctuary of Blue Macaws at the heart of the Amazon.
The huge flock turns out to be led by Jewel's father, Eduardo.
During the reunion of Blu's family with Eduardo's flock, the movie would feature an amazing show by the Blue Macaws - singing, dancing and flying within their hidden sanctuary.
Blu would try, but fail several times to fit in with the flock as its leader, Eduardo, is extremely anti-human. Blu, as he is raised by Linda, is used to humans and has been living all his life like a human.
At the start of the movie, Blu would be seen cooking pancakes and during their flight to Amazon would constantly check with his GPS device for directions.
Bruno Mars joins the flock of the Blue Macaws this year playing the character of the suave and Jewel's childhood friend Roberto. Andy Garcia is playing Jewel's father, Eduardo.
The other voices behind the main characters are: Jesse Eisenberg for Blu, Anne Hathaway for Jewel, Amanda Stenberg for Bia, Rachel Crow fo Carla and Pierce Gagnon for Tiago, Jemaine Clement for Nigel, George Lopez for Rafael, Jamie Foxx for Nico will.i.am for Pedro and Tracy Morgan for Luiz.
The movie is a must see for children this summer. It opens on April 9 in Philippine cinemas.