My Writings
Review - Chico & Rita
This has become a second golden age for animation, with Toy Story 3 in with a good chance of Oscar glory and the huge box office successes of films such as the Shrek movies, Finding Nemo, Up, The Incredibles, Monsters inc and WALL-E. These movies have touched audiences both young and old, and share that common achievement with the famous Disney movies of the 1940s and 1950s - they fully engage the audience. We really care what happens to the Round Up gang, the Lost Boys and the Aristocats. Chico and Rita is not in that class because the story line is just not strong enough, but it is still a charming movie.
Limara Meneses voices Rita, but the main theme song, Besame Mucho, which recurs during the film is sung by Idania Valdes. Chico is based on the real life of jazz pianist Bebo Valdez, who wrote the theme tune and a number of others on the soundtrack. He remains on the Cuban jazz scene at the time the movie was released, at the age of 92.
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The way the characters are drawn is reminiscent of Tin Tin, but they are set amidst highly detailed city scapes of Havana, New York, Paris and Vegas, with an astonishing attention to detail. Each scene is full of vivid complexity, as we are introduced to the romance of first love between jazz pianist Chico, and rising Cuban singer Rita in 1940s Havana. The tale is told in flashback, and we can enjoy the references to the celebs of the time, from jazz hounds Charlie Parker, Cole Porter, Chano Pozo and Dizzy Gillespie, but also US movie legend James Dean. The film also references one of the biggest movies of the time, a tribute to the Cyd Charisse/Gene Kelly pastiche/interlude from Singing In The Rain as Chico daydreams on the boat to New York, where he hopes to be reunited with Rita. We also get a tribute to Nat King Cole, sung by brother Freddy, which fits in nicely with the mood.
The Havana city scape has been lovingly re-created with amazing accuracy, using archived photographs used by the government of the time to assist with street repairs. Photographs from the time helped recreate clothing and other visual aspects. This has been a real labour of love, from collaborators Fernando Trueba, the director, artist Javier Mariscal and animator and jazz fan Tono Errando.
8/10 An Audio Visual Treat
Review written by John Franklin : January 2011
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