I think its becoming increasingly challenging coming up with interesting ideas and characters for animated movies. I was looking forward to a new animated movie, but - unfortunately - I was not overly impressed with 'Vivo'.

Credit where credit is due: the animation is stunning! It is beautiful and colorful. The original musical numbers were also good. There were also some very funny moments, and there's a great call to adventure.

So, why didn't I like the movie then? It didn't feel original. It felt like a 'Coco' wannabe, and the songs sounded all too familiar to the style of 'The Greatest Showman', as if they were hoping to create a 'Greatest Showman' type soundtrack. Regarding the titular character, Vivo, I wasn't always sure whether it was meant to be a cat or a monkey. Turns out it is a kinkajou, but it doesn't even remotely look like one. I also wasn't sure whether this creature was actually able to talk, or just make sounds, and they added the dialogue for us to understand it better. Or could this creature talk?

So, the film is about an elderly man, Andres, who looks after a kinkajou called Vivo. Together they perform every day in the local plaza - until Andres receives a letter from Marta Sandoval - the love of his life, although he never told her that. Marta is now an accomplished singer, and wants Andres to perform at her final show. Uhm, this is where they start pushing the boundaries of believability. Why would she want him to perform? According to the story they haven't seen (or spoken) to each other in 60 years. So, why after six decades would she suddenly want him to perform with her? And when she doesn't hear from him, she's so upset at her final show that she doesn't even want to go on stage. Wha-a-a-a-at??? She hasn't seen the man in sixty years, now she's upset about him not coming to her show???

Sadly, Andres died a day before leaving for the show. (Off course, he didn't even tell Marta he received her letter, and was interested in going. This film is set in modern day, so there are phones, and Internet, so what the hell?? If it was set hundred years ago, it would have made more sense). Vivo, in the meantime, made friends with Gabi - to score a free ride to Miami, where Marta is to perform her final show, and Vivo needs to take a song to her which Andres wrote (for her...). Oh, whatever, I'm done with all these conveniences and coincidences. Let's just say there are too many reasons why I didn't like this film.

Also, some scenes were cartoonish and silly and definitely more for a young audience.

Would I watch it again? No.

As its name suggests, Vivo is a vivid animated film full of life, color, music and emotion. Directed by Kirk DeMicco and Brandon Jeffords,Vivo is the first-ever musical for Sony with a Latino theme, and the story is certainly very relevant and aims to be significant for the Latino community. Vivo features all-new songs written and performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda which are powerful, emotive and contribute nicely to the storytelling.

Vivo is about the way we connect with others through music. In a very old-fashioned Cuba, a kinkajou named Vivo is voiced by Lin-Manuel Miranda. A kinkajou is a mammal that looks like a monkey but is a rainforest "honey bear." Vivo and his owner Andrés enjoy making music and performing together. When Andrés receives an invitation from his friend, famous singer Marta Sandoval (Gloria Estefan),to attend her farewell show in Miami, Vivo is in charge to deliver the message to reconnect their friendship.

Vivo connects with our inner and pure childhood emotions and the characters in this story are lovable and relatable. For example, with the help of a young girl, Gabi, our protagonist Vivo is able to make the journey to Miami. Gabi, an aspiring musician, is a girl with talent and ambition, but rebellious and spontaneous. Gabi is a very special character representing the effervescent tween years where not everything fits in the molds of society. The animation in Vivo is gorgeous: the characters are colorful and vibrant. The attention to detail in the architecture and landscapes of Cuba is breathtaking. The presence of nature is also key to the story. As Vivo and Gaby navigate their way to Miami, they travel through the Everglades and encounter the wildlife at its fullest.

Vivo demonstrates a nice balance between traditions and everyday life and new adventures and discovering life out of our boundaries. Another great success is how the film resonates with a multigenerational audience, connecting youngsters and older members of the family effectively making it a perfect experience that unites the whole family. Vivo shows us the power of music in making connections between us and how music helps us to achieve goals.

I give Vivo 5 out of 5 stars and recommended it for all 8 to 18, plus adults. Vivo opens in theaters and Netflix on August 6, 2021.

Reviewed by Zoe C., KIDS FIRST!

This film is definitely not the sum of its parts. The emotional core of the story can't really be identified among its messy composition - is it the bond between Vivo and Andrés? The tension between Gabi and her "friends", or between her and her mother? The prior relationship between the singer and Andrés? The swamp animals? The new relationship between Vivo and Gabi? The plot bounced between these so much that none of them fulfilled their full potential, even if the individual moments were enjoyable to watch and punctuated with lively musical sequences (brash, but lively). Gabi is quite loud and seems like an annoying comedic relief sidekick elevated to the status of main character, which makes it much harder to watch. This ultimately felt like a series of talented skits barely stitched together. By the end, I was wondering "what was that really about?"