Voices of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldana, and Juan de Marcos Gonzales
Directed by Kirk DiMicco
Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda
We make a cross-country journey to Cuba and south Florida for our next vacation. This one goes back to 2010, when Miranda first pitched it to Dreamworks. They dropped it in 2015, but Sony picked it up a year later after the success of Moana. It was originally intended to be released in theaters, but after the pandemic hit, it was moved to Netflix in August 2021 (though it apparently did make it into a few theaters in July). It did well enough then, but how does it look now that people can hit the theaters again? Let's begin in Cuba and learn more about the title character and his friend and find out...
The Story: Vivo (Miranda) is a kinkajou living in Havana, Cuba with elderly musician Andre Hernandez (Gonzales). Vivo is upset when Andre reveals that his former partner Marta (Gloria Estefan) has invited him to Miami to see her in concert at the Mambo Cabana. He's even written a song for her. Vivo tries to dissuade him, but finally understands how important it is to Andre, who loved Marta but wasn't able to tell her before she went on to have a big career on her own.
Sadly, Andre dies in his sleep before he can make the trip. His niece-in-law Rosa (Saldana) and her daughter Gabi (Simo) come from Key West to attend their funeral. Vivo stows away in Gabi's luggage, hoping to get Andre's song to Miami. Gabi finds him after his attempt to get on the bus fails. Gabi loves music and is determined to show her mother that she can do a lot more than sell cookies with a troop of rather obnoxious Sand Dollar scouts. She and Vivo dodge the overly rigid Sand Dollars and help two lovesick rosate spoonbills in the Everglades as they make their way to Miami and to remind Marta how much Andre really cared about her.
The Animation: While not as elaborate as Sony Animation's Into the Spider Verse films, there's still a lot to like here. The crisp, brilliant colors beautifully reflect their tropical setting, from the brilliant golds and reds of Havana to the deep purples and emerald greens of the Everglades. Vivo himself is utterly adorable and moves very well. There's some nice set pieces, too, especially in the jungle, with that wild and well-animated storm and the chase with Lutador (Michael Rooker) the Burmese python. Look for some nifty 2-D animated sequences during the numbers "Mambo Cabana" and "Inside Your Heart" that function as flashbacks to Marta and Andre's relationship.
The Song and Dance: Some great performances, colorful animation, and Miranda's music carry the day here. This was Simo's debut, and she was wonderful as energetic Gabi, especially in her solo "My Own Drum." There aren't many pre-teens who can keep up with Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda for his part is charming and lively as Gonzales is heartbreaking in his brief role early in the film as the kindly musician who wants to see his true love and sing with her one more time. Saldana does equally well as the mother who just wants her music-crazy daughter to make friends her own age.
Favorite Number: We open and close with "One of a Kind," as Vivo explains his life and how he and Andre work in perfect harmony to entertain the people of the plaza...and then show how he now has even more fun entertaining Key West with Gabi. "Mambo Cabana" is Andre's explanation of how he lost Marta and now wants to write her "One Last Song." Vivo wishes he wouldn't and tries to sabotage his efforts at first. Gabi's music may not be the most harmonious, but it's certainly energetic as she explains to Vivo that she marches to the beat of "My Own Drum."
She and Vivo "Keep the Beat" as they turn their raft through the Everglades into their own home-made drum set. Vivo's less happy to be caught between the Spoonbills' duet "Love's Gonna Pick You Up." Not to mention, that snake is a "Tough Crowd." "Running Out of Time" is the montage that brings everyone to the Mambo Cabana, while Marta's heartfelt and heartbreaking "Inside Your Heart" is Andre's confession of love as Vivo imagines the two young and together forever onstage.
What I Don't Like: For all the great music and charming characters, the plot is older than the Everglades, and the movie doesn't really do much that's new with it. We've seen all of this before, in animation and live-action, with music and without it. While the characters are cute and the beginning and end are touching and even heartbreaking, the generic middle section is far less interesting. A lot of the segment in the Everglades in particular seems more like padding than anything.
The Big Finale: Not the greatest animated movie ever, but adorable fun if you or your pre-teen are fans of Miranda, Spider-Verse, or tropical adventures.
Home Media: A Netflix exclusive when it came out, it's now easily found on disc and streaming.
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