Directed by Carlos Saldanha

Perfectly positioned to capitalise on Soccer World Cup fever, the sequel to 20011’s Rio which grossed close to half a BILLION dollars captures everything you could want in a film of this type.

Gorgeous visuals, spectacularly animated sequences, a decent story and a voice cast bulging with names. From Bruno Mars to Anne Hathaway, there’s sure to be someone who sounds familiar to the average cinema-goer.

Having not seen the original film I can’t speak to how this one develops the existing story-lines or characters but from what I can tell it’s a broad continuation of the main characters from the first movie.

Set in the Amazon Jungle, featuring a marvellous cast of exotic creatures it’s a treat to watch.

Throw in some memorable baddies – a flightless vengeful cockatoo Nigel (Jemaine Clement) with an entourage of a smitten toxic frog Gabi (Kristin Chenoweth) and a hapless anteater named Charlie , and a posse of illegal loggers led by the “Big Boss” (Miguel Ferrer), as well as Jewel’s newly found family, and poor old Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) has an awful lot to contend with.

It’s interesting the subtle adult concepts that young audiences have become accustomed to.

Many small creatures die in this film, an accurate reflection of the law of the jungle and the natural order of things in the wild, and this is the second film in as many weeks to use the unexpected appearance of a missing parent as a major plot device. ( How To Train Your Dragon2 featured a long lost mother, this one uses both missing parents).

All in all a decent expedition both to the Amazon and to the movies, mostly suitable for kids under 12.

3 & 1/2 stars.