RIO (Rated PG)

Failing to be a true connoisseur of the very best animation, I found myself thinking that “Rio,” with its brilliant color and attention to detail on the whole spectrum of avian inhabitants of the Brazilian jungle, could have been a product of the Walt Disney studios.

Well, I mentioned this to some critic colleagues, only to get a blank stare or a dismissive shrug in return. It appears I won’t be joining the Animation Critics Society any time soon.

But I say “Rio” is more than just adequate; it’s a perfectly fine entertainment geared to young kids that is not off-putting to adults.

“Rio” is the story of a rare blue macaw that was kidnapped as a baby bird in Brazil and ended up quite by accident being raised by a little girl in Minnesota. “Rio” represents a homecoming, of sorts, for the bird known as Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg).

The sheltered, pampered Blu grew up with Linda (Leslie Mann), now a meek young woman who runs a bookstore in Moose Lake, Minnesota.

Blu neither knows how to fly nor has any need to do that. His blissful life is ordinary and predictable, but of course we know that won’t last forever.

One day, an earnest Brazilian ornithologist named Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro) arrives in Minnesota in search of the exceptional exotic bird. It appears that Blu is the last of the blue macaw male species. Tulio proposes a trip to Rio de Janeiro so that Blu may mate with the last remaining female of his kind.

Naturally, Linda is not keen on traveling to a distant land, fearing the worst for her beloved bird. Perhaps she read the State Department warnings about the slums of Rio. Or she’s heard of the high crime rates. Not unexpectedly, things don’t go swimmingly for various reasons.

First of all, the timid Blu is completely overpowered by his initial encounter with Jewel (Anne Hathaway), a bossy, feisty free-spirit who is unhappy about being confined to a bird sanctuary. She’s even less interested in mating with the Minnesota bird who fails to make a great first impression.

Things only get worse when the two putative lovebirds are shanghaied by some scummy bird smugglers looking to make a fast buck on the black market. However, Blu and Jewel, chained together, are forced to seek common ground, if only to put their wits together to escape.

A whole bunch of secondary animal characters come into play. On the one hand, there’s the delightfully villainous, grungy cockatoo Nigel (Jemaine Clement), who works for the bad guys and holds a grudge against all birds better looking than he.

Helping out the mismatched macaws to break free from the smugglers is a jolly toucan (George Lopez), who seems more interested in playing matchmaker.

To evade the criminals, Blu and Jewel also get help from a slobbering dog (Tracy Morgan) and a cardinal and canary comic duo (Jamie Foxx and will.i.am).

With the setting of Rio de Janeiro, it’s only fitting that Carnival is taking place, offering even more local color as well as colorful scenery to the inevitable chase sequences.

“Rio” may not prove to be the most memorable animation film, but it is a nice representation of all that is right for a family entertainment, even one directed more to young kids than to the entire age spectrum.

TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL

The second annual TCM Classic Film Festival is coming to Los Angeles for a four-day movie lovers’ binge that takes place from April 28 to May 1.

The primary action will be located in the heart of Hollywood, with screenings at the venerable Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Egyptian Theatre.

The historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel will be the home to Club TCM with exclusive special fan gatherings, receptions, panel discussions and much more for festival pass holders.

Of course, you don’t need to be a pass holder for many of the screenings. On Friday, April 29, there will be a special screening of “Spartacus” including a discussion with Kirk Douglas, still going strong at the age of 94.

On Saturday, April 30, Peter O’Toole gets a special footprints ceremony at Grauman’s Chinese.

As a James Bond fan, I am looking forward to the Sunday, May 1, screening of “Goldfinger,” which will be memorable for the discussion with the film’s director, Guy Hamilton.

One of the intriguing panel discussions will be “The Best Trailers Ever Made: The Art of Selling Movies.”

The TCM Classic Film Festival is fast becoming a “must” for cinema lovers.

Get more information by checking out the festival’s Web site at www.tcm.com/festival. More importantly, check into the magical world of Hollywood at the end of this month.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.