If You Wanna Be Happy, See Rio 2!

DETROIT (WWJ) – Right from the start, Rio 2 brings the fun! The sequel to the 2011 smash hit kicks off with a romping New Year's Eve celebration featuring a musical number that just might have you dancing in the aisles – or if you prefer, dancing in your seat. At any rate, you'll be mesmerized by the beat!

Blu and his wife Jewel are back in Rio 2, and they've brought their old buddies along with them: Nico, Pedro, Rafael and Luiz. In Rio 2, the love birds and their three kids are living a comfortable – if non-bird-like life – in Rio de Janeiro. When Jewel learns that Blu's best friend Linda (who raised him) and Tulio (Linda's new husband) are in the Amazon looking for more Blue Macaws, she decides it's the perfect opportunity for her family to head there to find out for themselves if it's true.

While en route, Blu, Jewel, the kids - Bia, Tiago and Carla - and the rest of the gang encounter a number of challenges, including going up against Blu's old adversary: the treacherous cockatoo Nigel. There's also Gabi, a cute, but poisonous frog who will do anything for Nigel, and Charlie, Nigel's other sidekick, an anteater that often gets distracted by his appetite. As if that's not enough, Blu has even more to contend with in the Amazon, such as the family dynamics that ensue once Blu meets his father-in-law and Roberto, Jewel's potential suitor.

With Rio 2, Director Carlos Saldanha does a wonderful job crafting yet another fun movie. He co-directed 2002's "Ice Age" as well as "Robots" in 2005 and in 2006, he directed the smash hit "Ice Age: The Meltdown."

After watching Rio 2, audiences are sure to fall in love all over again with Blu, Jewel and the rest of the loveable characters from the original Rio, although Rio 2 does have a specialness about it that's sure to captivate moviegoers on its own.

Rio 2 features new Brazilian artists and original music by Janelle Monae and Wondaland. Starring the voices of Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, will.i.am, Jemaine Clement, Tracy Morgan, George Lopez, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro, Jamie Foxx, Andy Garcia, Rita Moreno, Bruno Mars and Kristin Chenoweth. Rated G.

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