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Vivo (film)

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Vivo
Official release poster
Directed byKirk DeMicco
Screenplay by
Story byPeter Barsocchini
Quiara Alegría Hudes
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyYong Duk Jhun
Edited byErika Dapkewicz
Music byAlex Lacamoire
Production
companies
Distributed byNetflix
Release date
  • July 30, 2021 (2021-07-30)
Running time
99 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Vivo is a 2021 American computer-animated musical comedy-drama film produced by Sony Pictures Animation. The film is directed by Kirk DeMicco and co-directed by Brandon Jeffords, from a screenplay by DeMicco and Quiara Alegría Hudes, and a story that was based on an original idea by Peter Barsocchini; with songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who voices the title character in the film. The cast also features the voices of Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldana, Juan de Marcos González, Michael Rooker, Brian Tyree Henry, Nicole Byer, and Gloria Estefan. The film marks Sony Pictures Animation's first musical film.

The film was first pitched to DreamWorks Animation in 2010 by Miranda but was canceled due to the restructuring at the company in 2015. It was later revived and fast-tracked by Sony Pictures Animation on December 14, 2016.

Vivo was released in select theatres on July 30, 2021, and digitally on Netflix on August 6, 2021. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised the animation and musical numbers.

Plot

In Havana, Cuba, Andrés Hernández and his kinkajou Vivo play music together in the plaza ("One of a Kind"). One day after their show, Andrés receives a letter from Marta Sandoval, an old friend of his, informing him that she is retiring from her music career. The letter offers a chance to reconnect in Miami, Florida at the Mambo Cabana and for Andrés to finally tell Marta how he feels about her through a song he wrote just for her ("Mambo Cabana"). Vivo, happy with their life in Cuba, is reluctant to help Andrés and leaves in a huff. After reflecting on his past and how Andrés rescued him as a baby, Vivo returns and packs his suitcase. The next morning, it is discovered that Andrés has passed away in his sleep and that night, a funeral service is held in the plaza, with Andrés' niece-in-law Rosa and her daughter Gabriela attending before they head back to their home in Key West, Florida.

Vivo is determined to get Marta to hear Andrés' song ("One More Song") and stows away to Key West with Gabriela and Rosa. Gabi is thrilled when she discovers Vivo hiding in her stuff and explains to him how no one understands her because she's different from everyone else ("My Own Drum") and doesn't want to be a part of her girl scout troop, the Sand Dollars. She soon discovers Marta's letter to her tío Andrés and becomes a part of Vivo's mission.

Under the guise of attending a cookie sale in town, Gabi and Vivo purchase bus tickets to get to Marta's show, but they are stopped by the other Sand Dollars (Becky, Eva and Sarah). When Gabi claims that she rescued Vivo, they insist on taking him in to be quarantined for 10 days, as is the Sand Dollar protocol for rescued animals. Gabi and Vivo escape from them, but miss the bus. They end up in the Everglades and are separated by a freak storm ("Keep the Beat"), losing the song.

While searching for Gabi, Vivo comes across a spoonbill named Dancarino, who is unsuccessful in finding love with one of his own. With Vivo's help, he is able to win the heart of Valentina ("Love's Gonna Pick You Up") and the two of them rescue Vivo from a noise-hating green anaconda named Lutador. Meanwhile, Gabi discovers that she was followed by the Sand Dollars on Eva's boat and that they are holding Andrés' song, keeping it from her until she leads them to Vivo. When the girls are attacked by Lutador, Vivo is able to save them ("Tough Crowd"), but in the process the song is destroyed.

Depressed at having failed his mission, Vivo decides to go back to Cuba. Then he hears Gabi reciting the lyrics and realizes that they can recreate the song, as he knows the melody ("One More Song (Reprise)"). Together, they make it to Miami and go searching for Marta, who has learned of Andrés' death and refuses to take the stage ("Running Out of Time").

Gabi and Vivo sneak inside the Mambo Cabana, but Gabi is unable to open the door as it is locked by a chain and tells Vivo to go on without her. She is soon caught by security and her furious mother, who has discovered that she ran away. Vivo finds Marta, who recognizes him from Andrés' obituary photo, and delivers the song. He then locates Gabi and Rosa, who are driving back home, and Gabi finally shares her feelings with her mother: she felt the need to be a part of Vivo's mission to deliver the song because Andrés never got to tell Marta how much he loved her, just like she never got to tell her dad before he died.

Rosa reassures her daughter that her father knew how much she loved him, and drives Gabi and Vivo back to the concert just in time to hear Marta play Andrés' song ("Inside Your Heart"). Vivo decides to stay in Florida with Gabi and Rosa, and they perform in the city together with Marta ("Grand Finale").

Voice cast

Production

Development

The film's origins trace back to 2010, when Lin-Manuel Miranda pitched an idea for a film to DreamWorks Animation following the success of his stage musical In the Heights. Due to a restructuring in 2015, DreamWorks eventually dropped the project. On December 14, 2016, Sony Pictures Animation eventually acquired the project from DreamWorks and fast-tracked it under the name Vivo, which was based on an original idea by Peter Barsocchini, with Kirk DeMicco directing, Lisa Stewart producing, Laurence Mark executive-producing, and Quiara Alegría Hudes writing the screenplay from a story by Barsocchini.[2][3] On June 12, 2019, Kristine Belson announced at the 2019 Annecy International Animated Film Festival that Rich Moore would join the film as co-producer of the film with Roger Deakins serving as the film's visual consultant.[4] The 2D animation was handled by James Baxter while the main animation is handled by Sony Pictures Imageworks. The cast was announced on April 26, 2021.[5]

Music

On December 14, 2016, it was revealed that Miranda would be writing 11 songs for the film.[2] On April 26, 2021, it was reported that Miranda's recurring collaborator Alex Lacamoire will work on the film as both its score composer and executive music producer.[5]

Release

On December 14, 2016, the film was scheduled to be theatrically released on December 18, 2020.[2] On January 26, 2018, the film's theatrical release date was moved a month earlier, to November 6, 2020.[6] On November 1, 2019, the film's theatrical release date was moved to April 16, 2021,[7] only to be delayed to June 4, 2021, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] On April 26, 2021, Sony announced the cancellation of the film's theatrical release and licensed the film rights to Netflix, with Sony retaining home entertainment, linear TV, and Chinese distribution rights.[5] The film was released to select theatres on July 30, 2021, and on Netflix on August 6, 2021.[9][10]

Reception

Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports that 88% of 65 critics have given the film a positive review with an average score of 6.80/10. The films critical consensus reads: "Vivo offers few surprises, but this attractively animated adventure is enlivened by the catchy songs contributed by star Lin-Manuel Miranda."[11] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 65 out of 100, based on 21 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[12]

References

  1. ^ Romano, Nick (November 11, 2020). "His Dark Materials gave Lin-Manuel Miranda 'new perspective' on adapting Kingkiller Chronicle". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 14, 2016). "Sony Animation Sets Lin-Manuel Miranda's 'Vivo' For 2020 Bow". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  3. ^ Han, Angie (December 14, 2016). "Lin-Manuel Miranda's Vivo Coming From Sony in 2020". SlashFilm. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  4. ^ Hopewell, John (June 12, 2019). "Sony Pictures Animation Links To Tencent, Sets 'Boondocks,' Tartakovsky Duo". Variety. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 26, 2021). "Sony Animation Lin-Manuel Miranda Musical Pic 'Vivo' Headed To Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; April 24, 2020 suggested (help)
  6. ^ Hipes, Patrick (January 26, 2018). "'Vivo', Lin-Manuel Miranda's Animated Movie, Shifts Release Date". Deadline. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  7. ^ Gonzalez, Umberto (November 1, 2019). "'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' Sequel Lands Spring 2022 Release Date". TheWrap. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  8. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 24, 2020). "'Spider-Man: Homecoming' Sequel Pushes 'Doctor Strange 2' To 2022: Disney & Sony Release Date Change Team-Up". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  9. ^ Lee, Benjamin (July 29, 2021). "Vivo review - sweet but forgettable Netflix animation is Pixar-lite". The Guardian. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  10. ^ @NetflixFilm (July 21, 2021). "Vivo and Gabi sing their way through the Florida Everglades—without a map or a plan—to deliver a song that will change everything. ♫ VIVO arrives August 6 on Netflix! #VivoMovie ♫" (Tweet). Retrieved July 21, 2021 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ Vivo (2021), Rotten Tomatoes, retrieved August 2, 2021
  12. ^ "Vivo Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
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