Disneynature has had much success with their Earth Day documentaries: 2009's "Earth" was about our entire planet, primarily focusing on polar bears, whales and elephants and was narrated by James Earl Jones. 2010's "Oceans", narrated by Pierce Brosnan, took us under the sea. And last year's "African Cats", about lion and cheetah families, was narrated by Samuel L. Jackson. Combined they've grossed more than $200 million worldwide. This year the studio is taking us back to Africa, this time to meet a young chimp named Oscar.

"Chimpanzee" is narrated by Tim Allen, who tells Oscar's story of survival in the rain forest. We first meet Oscar as a baby - instantly cute and likeable. He's curious and loves to literally "monkey around". His mother Isha takes care of him and tries to protect him at all times. The leader of their group is Freddy - an older chimp who's not a big fan of young upstarts, especially when he's trying to sleep.

Freddy's #1 duty is to protect his group from his enemy - Scar - and his gang of chimps who want to take over Freddy's territory for food. During one confrontation between the two sides little Oscar is separated from his mother and this takes all of their lives in a surprising direction.

At only 78 minutes "Chimpanzee" goes by very quickly. At the end I immediately thought - "It's over already?"  The subject matter is interesting and the story is engaging, I just wish there was more to it, especially since much of the film is taken-up by many wide shots of the rain forest and close-ups using time-lapse photography.

When I interviewed co-director Alastair Fothergill (who also worked on "Earth" and "African Cats"), he told me that unlike Disneynature's previous films, they wanted "Chimpanzee" to be more of a comedy. And it is, so Allen is a good choice for the narration. He has a distinct voice and adds his own personality to the storytelling. Some of Allen's lines are a little corny but there are some humorous moments with Oscar interacting with the his mom and the other chimps, and you do learn a lot about chimps, including one amazing fact about what they eat that I guarantee will surprise you.

What's most impressive about "Chimpanzee" is the footage. Fothergill and co-director Mark Linfield ("Earth") deserve a lot of credit for capturing great, natural moments on film. And it wasn't easy. The camera crews were restricted to standing 22 feet away from the chimps at all times and everyone had to wear masks so they wouldn't spread human germs to the chimps. Some of the shots are amazing, especially knowing that all of the close-ups we see had to be taken from a distance. Like the other Disneynature documentaries, there is a "Making Of" short at the end, which could have been much longer.

At times the material runs a little dry. There are one too many scenes of Oscar and the others trying to break open nuts with rocks and sticks. And come on, you named the rival chimp leader Scar? The old, evil lion in "African Cats" was also Scar. It's time the writers come-up with another name of a Disney cartoon villain for the enemies in these documentaries.

"Chimpanzee" is rated G. Unlike "African Cats", there is no blood on the screen, but there is some action/violence during the attacks that may briefly scare younger ones, especially with the over-dramatic music during those scenes. Overall, it's appropriate for kids 8 and up.

On The Official LCJ Report Card, "Chimpanzee" gets a B.

At the screening I attended, there was no preview for next year's Disneynature film. Fothergill told me there are a few projcets in the works, but he couldn't give anything away, so we'll have to wait and see what Disneynature has is store for it's 2013 Earth Day film.  Maybe we'll finally get that a bird documentary I've been looking for.

Japan's Studio Ghibli has had a great deal of success bringing their anime films to America, thanks in large part to Disney, which distributes the films in the U.S. Fans and critics alike have loved Ghibli movies, beginning with their first - 1986's "Castle in the Sky". Stand-outs from the studio include "My Neighbor Totoro" (1988), "Spirited Away", which won the Best Animated Feature Oscar in 2002, "Howl's Moving Castle", which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2006 and 2009's "Ponyo".

Their latest, "The Secret World of Arrietty", is a simple and sweet addition to the collection, written and co-produced by long-time director Hayao Miyazaki, who adapted it from the book, The Borrowers.

Borrowers are little people who live under the floors of homes. They take just what they need to survive from the humans they live with - an occasional sugar cube or tissue. And they have to be sure they are never seen. 14 year old Arrietty (voiced by Disney Channel's Bridgit Mendler) is just old enough to start going on borrowing trips with her father, which has her mother worried. Real-life husband and wife Will Arnet and Amy Peohler voice the parents.

One day while she's out on her own Arrietty is spotted by Sean ("Wizards of Waverly Place" star David Henrie), a teenager who's come with his aunt to stay at this house in the country. Sean has some medical problems and needs to rest before surgery. Even though she's been told to stay away from "Human Beans", as they call them, Arrietty is drawn to Sean and he is immediately fascinated with her. The two begin an unlikely friendship and learn much from each other.

The first thing that makes "The Sercet World of Arrietty" stand out is the beautiful animation - completely hand-drawn by hundreds of Japanese animators with grace and quality. The characters are vivid and expressive and the backgrounds are gorgeous, many appear to be watercolor paintings. Both Arreitty's miniature world and the real-life settings are wonderful.

The work of the voice cast in this U.S. version is quite good, including comedy legend Carol Burnett, as the home's caretaker, who's suspected for years that little people were living in the house. She's getting the hang of voicing villains (which she also did in 2008's "Horton Hears a Who!")

At times the film feels a bit rushed. I would have liked to have seen more of the unusual relationship between Arrietty and Sean before the very abrupt ending. And though it's rated G there is some adult material here, mostly involving Sean's illness. Yes, this is an animated movie with the Disney name attached, and it's a fantasy about 4-inch tall people, but this is a little more grown-up than "Ponyo" and not recommended for the very little ones. However, everyone else will enjoy this gentle, unique story.

On The Official L-C-J Report Card, "The Secret World of Arrietty" gets a B+. The year in animation is off to a great start.

"Beauty and the Beast 3D" was originally supposed to be released on February 12th, 2010. But after early test screenings and negative backlash, Disney decided to drop it completely. In September, they decided to release "The Lion King 3D". Once that became a surprise hit, the studio decided to re-release a bunch of their classics in the third dimension.

I got ripped online for my harsh criticisms of "The Lion King 3D" because of how poor the conversion was. Too many scenes were blurry, and for stretches of the movie, there was no 3D at all. But Disney has done it right with "Beauty and the Beast" - giving it the 3D treatment it deserves.

From the memorable opening sequence with the stain-glassed windows to the glorious finale, the 3D is used perfectly. At times the conversion makes the background images (such as the statues in the castle) pop-out and become true characters.

It also enhances many of the musical numbers including "Be Our Guest" and the ballroom sequence for the song "Beauty and the Beast". And there's a moment you'll remember if you're a fan of the movie - during the song "Gaston" when LeFou is swung straight into the camera. Wait till you see that in 3D.

It's no secret that "Beauty and the Beast" is my favorite movie of all time. So there is a part of me that isn't sure that this version was even necessary. Why mess with a classic? But if this version gets more people to see the film, especially young kids, then it was worth it. In fact this is a great first 3-D movie to take little ones to (theaters are even supplying special 3D glasses that are just the right size).

Along with this new version of "Beauty" is a brand new and very funny short called "Tangled Ever After", which takes place right where "Tangled" left off. And, as always, don't leave early because during the end credits there are new black and white artist sketches of the "Beauty" characters in 3D that are very impressive.

On The Official Kid Critic Report Card, "Beauty and the Beast 3D" gets a B+.

Actor David Cross, who plays Ian the evil music producer in the "Alvin and the Chipmunks" series, said recently that working on "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" - was the most painful experience of his professional career. All I can say is - David, I feel you - because watching "Chipwrecked" was one of the most painful experiences of my professional career as a critic.

Jason Lee (who starred in the 2007 original but only made a brief appearance in the 2009 sequel) is back as David Seville. As the movie begins he is taking the three chipmunks and the three chipettes on a vacation cruise. Of course it doesn't take long before things get out of control on the ship, thanks mostly to Alvin. The six squeaky furballs end-up stranded on what they think is a deserted island and they have to learn how to take care of themselves while they wait to be rescued. Along the way they deal with a wacky treasure hunter, a spider bite that turns Simon into a French adventurer and a volcano that's set to destroy the island. It's all completely ridiculous.

While sitting through "Chipwrecked" I thought back to the 2007 original "Alvin and the Chipmunks", and how much fun that film was: the clever story and dialogue and the impressive way the chipmunks interacted with the human characters. 2009's "Squeakquel" was not as good, but still passable. But this is a total mess. I smiled two or three times during the (thankfully short) 87 minutes - that's it. Director Mike Mitchell goes from making the final chapter in the Shrek series (last year's very good "Shrek Forever After") to ending the Chipmunks franchise (we can only hope).

"Chipwrecked" is filled with musical numbers - the chipmunks ruining several current pop songs. Studio executives clearly hoping to sell some soundtrack CD's because they know they're not going to sell a lot of movie tickets. The CGI work on the chipmunks is surprisingly poor and at times it's difficult to understand what the chipmunks are saying.

You can only wonder what brought Jason Lee back, besides a paycheck. And it's no surprise that Cross didn't have a good time during production. He spends almost the entire movie in a pelican costume.

"Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" is the first in the series to be rated G (the others were PG). There's nothing offensive in the movie - except that the entire movie is offensive to anyone looking to have a good time. I guess very young kids who liked the other two might enjoy the adventure, but, trust me, even they will be disappointed.

On "The Official Kid Critic Report Card", "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" gets a D.

And in case you're wondering why I didn't mention anything about a shipwreck in this review, it's because there isn't one in the film. The writers apparently thought "Chipwrecked" was a clever name so they went with it even though it doesn't apply to anything in the story. Too bad they didn't spend more time coming-up with a clever script.

"The Lion King" is one of Disney's most popular films of all-time. In fact it's the studio's highest-grossing non-Pixar animated film ever (and #4 on the all-time animation list). In 2002, Disney re-released the movie for the first time, in IMAX theaters. And now nine years later the studio had brought it back again, this time in 3D. The story of "The Lion King" is based on the concept of "the circle of life." You can call what Disney's doing with this movie "the circle of cash", as they go after a new group of kids and their parents excited to see Simba, Pumba and company on the big screen.

What's interesting is that, while this "two weeks only special event" is being promoted as a 3D exclusive, the film is being offered in 2D as well. Obviously Disney is finally realizing what many of us have been saying for some time - that families can't afford 3D ticket prices. So for those who just want to see this movie in a theater (after watching it over and over on DVD) 2D is an option. The main reason for this re-released is to get fans interested in buying "The Lion King 3D" DVD when it comes out on October 4th. Sing it with me: "The Circle of Cash"...

I saw the movie in 3D so I could review it in the new format and I'll cut right to the chase: the 3D isn't great. This is a bit disappointing considering how good Disney's past 3D conversions ("The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Toy Story 1 & 2") turned out. Many of the scenes are blurry and only a few times, during the wide nature sequences with animals running and birds flying, is the 3D that impressive. But even then, it's nothing we haven't seen before. I tipped-up my 3D glasses several times during the film and there are long stretches when the 3D effect isn't used.

Originally Disney was planning to convert and re-release my all-time favorite, "Beauty and the Beast", but that plan was scrapped after word leaked-out that the 3D conversion was not going well. If this was what that movie was going to look like I'm glad that project was never completed.

As for the "The Lion King" as a film, I didn't remember much from the previous time I had seen it five or six years ago. I know I didn't love it back then and now seeing it again I understand why. The blending of serious themes of murder, death and revenge and the goofy parts with Timon, Pumba and the hyenas just doesn't work. It's stunning to me that so many people consider this film a classic.

"The Lion King 3D" (like all other versions) is rated G. There are no new scenes or songs. It's the 1994 original from the first frame to the last. As you already know there's the death of a main character and several scenes of peril, which might be o.k. for younger kids watching the movie at home, but you may not want your very upset 5-year old crying out in a public theater: "Simba's dad is dead".

At the packed screening I attended the audience was made-up mostly of two groups: parents with their young kids and twenty-somethings who grew-up watching the movie on DVD. Members of both groups sang along with the songs and knew all the dialogue. I don't belong to either group. I just sat and watched.

On "The Official Kid Critic Report Card", "The Lion King 3D" gets a C-. If you're a die-hard fan and have never seen it in a theater I suggest seeing the 2D version. You won't miss out on anything and will save some money. 

Pixar has hinted about converting and re-releasing more of their films in 3D and I'm sure that's coming. Don't be surprised if  "Finding Nemo" is the next choice.

"Seven Days in Utopia" is based on the 2009 best-selling novel:  “Golf's Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia", by David Cook. It's the story of a young pro golfer who needs help in becoming a better player and a better person. While it's corny and formulaic, it's also a rare sports movie that doesn't simply focus on winning and losing.

Lucas Black stars as Luke Chisholm, who, from a very young age, has been pushed by his father to become a great golfer. On the final hole of a tournament in Texas Luke has a meltdown, loses the tournament and his father, who's also his caddie, walks away from him. On his way home he stumbles upon the very small town of Utopia where he meets Johnny (played by Robert Duvall). Johnny runs the town's golf course and also used to be a pro golfer.

Over the next seven days Johnny uses some rather unique methods to try to teach Luke how to improve his game both physically and mentally. The two develop a nice relationship as the old master passes along his wisdom on golf and life to the young student. It's not Yoda and Luke Skywalker, but many of the scenes between Black and Duvall are quite good.

Overall, "Seven Days in Utopia" is nice, but the story has too many holes - and I don't mean golf holes. Clearly there were some scenes missing in the screening I saw because at least one major plot point is never explained. And in general the editing is very choppy. And there are flashback scenes in which the characters ages are questionable.

On the positive side there are some unpredictable moments, including a somewhat surprise ending. And, just as with this year's "Soul Surfer", there's a Christian element to the story that's right out in the open. It's refreshing to see God referred to in a motion picture in a serious, spiritual way. You can tell this isn't a Hollywood production.

As for the performances, Duvall is fanatastic. Even in a small film such as this he gives his all and proves, once again, that he is one of our finest actors. Black is just o.k., but there are very few actors who don't looks average when they share the screen with Duvall. Both Melissa Leo and Kathy Baker have very small, supporting roles. Deborah Ann Woll (TV's True Blood) is very good as Luke's love interest.

The worst part of the movie is that writer/director Matthew Dean Russell spends the last half hour with Luke's comeback tournament. The two Golf Channel announcers get more screen time than any of the actors from that point on. Russell stages a realistic-looking tournament, but the sequence goes on forever and is BORING! It could have been handled, more effectively, in half the time.

"Seven Days in Utopia" is rated G. There's nothing here for anyone to worry about. But if your not a golf fan it may to tough to get through, which is too bad, because the film's main message is that life is more important than golf. But the movie doesn't follow it's own advice. Still, I recommend it because of Duvall's performance and the refreshing story.

On The Official Kid Critic Report Card, "Seven Days in Utopia" gets a C+.

I was very excited when I first learned that Disney was planning to bring Winnie the Pooh back to the big screen. I've loved all the characters from the Hundred Acre Wood since I was very young. Once I saw the trailer for the first time late last year and then learned that this new version was going to have the feel and look of the classic 1960's shorts my hopes grew even more.

Thankfully, "Winnie the Pooh" is delightful. The 2D, hand-drawn animation is stunning, with colors as vibrant as in any digital, computer-animated film you've ever seen. And the tone is classic "Pooh", right from with the opening scene in a real boy's bedroom, filled with stuffed versions of Pooh and his friends. There is a narrator (John Cleese - a perfect choice), characters interacting on screen with the animated pages of the book, and wonderful dialogue that occassionally has Pooh, Eeyore and the others talking directly to the narrator (and us).

The movie begins with Pooh needing some "hunny" to fill his tummy because he's run out of his favorite food. But soon everyone's attention turns to trying to find a new tail for Eeyore, and that becomes a contest, with the winner getting a big pot of hunny. But then an even larger  problem arises: a note found near Christopher Robin's house has everyone believing that the boy has been taken by a mysterious creature called the "Backson" and all of their efforts now go toward trying to save their friend.

The magic of  the Pooh books and previous on-screen versions has always been in the writing and it's the same here. Each of these very familiar characters is well defined and their interactions are often priceless. There are some very funny lines delivered in such a low-key fashion, often so quickly, one after the other, that you simply end-up with a smile on your face throughout most of the movie.

And the voice cast is tremendous. The legendary Jim Cummings is back as both Pooh and Tigger. Talk show host Craig Ferguson does a great and almost unrecognizable job as Owl and Tom Kenny (the voice of SpongeBob) debuts as Rabbit. There are several songs in the film, all appropriately simple and fun, and most performed by actress Zooey Deschenel. Oddly, the song that made the trailer so powerful ('Somewhere Only We Know' by Keane) isn't in the movie. I can only guess that the studio wanted to keep the tone of the film silly and sweet and not too serious or emotional.

"Winnie the Pooh" is rated G and, of course, it's appropriate for everyone. The version released in theaters this summer was only 63 minutes long, a nice length for little ones, but the DVD/Blu-ray does include extended scenes and, of course, plenty of extras. And don't think this is just a kids movie. Anyone of any age will be charmed by the story, the characters, the dialogue and the message.

On The Official Kid Critic Report Card, "Winnie the Pooh" gets an A-. I have a few very minor quibbles, but they're not even important enough to mention. This is clearly one of the best animated films of the year.

"Cars" is my all-time favorite Disney/Pixar film. It's got memorable characters, great dialogue, a terrific story and wonderful animation. And it has a lot of heart. "Cars 2" is not as good as the original, but it still doesn't disappoint.

This is a rare case when the storyline for a sequel is almost completely different from the first film. Lightning McQueen returns home to Radiator Springs after winning his fourth Piston Cup (which is now named after the Hudson Hornet - a.k.a. Doc Hudson, who has passed away since the first film, due to the real-life death of Paul Newman, who voiced the character). Lightning (Owen Wilson) and his best friend Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) are ready for a fun summer together.

But then Lightning is asked to take part in the first-ever World Grand Prix, which involves race cars from all over the world competing in three foreign locations - Tokyo, Porto Corsa, Italy, and London. The event is sponsored by Allinol - a new, eco-friendly fuel that could be the future of racing.

While in Tokyo for the first race Mater meets two British spies - Finn McMissile (voiced by Michael Caine) and Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer). They think Mater is an American spy, and being a tow truck is just his cover. They're tying to solve a case that involves protecting the world's oil supply.

The opening scene of "Cars 2" sets the tone. We follow McMissile - tracking, chasing and fighting a group of bad guys made-up of some of the worst real-life cars (Pacers, Gremlins, and Yugos). We immediately know that we're in for a James Bond-type spy caper that, as I mentioned earlier, is very different from the first film.

And many moviegoers, including fans of the original, may be surprised and disappointed. The sentimental element of the first film: the old vs. new theme, the romantic subplot, the lessons about winning not being the most important thing - NONE of those are present here. If you're looking for the warm and fuzzy Pixar touches, there are very few to be found.

Clearly director John Lasseter made the film he wanted to make - a non-stop action/adventure spy mystery. You may not agree with that choice, but there's no arguing that he and the rest of his Pixar team succeeded in their goal. The animation in "Cars 2" is phenomenal. Both the chase scenes and racing scenes are visually spectacular. The colors light-up the screen and the exotic locations are magnificent looking.

As always with everything the studio produces involving "Cars" (including the TV shorts) the creativity is amazing. There are so many funny automobile and pop culture references and sight gags it's impossible to catch them all the first time you watch.

Mater is, without a doubt, the star of "Cars 2". The story revolves around him, not only his role as a "spy" but his relationship with McQueen. This is Mater's story, which is not a surprise, since he was clearly the break-out star of the first film. There's a downside to that, because he and Lightning are separated for much of the film and these two work best when they are together on screen. The same problem occurred in "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa". When the four main characters, who are so good together, are separated by the script and go on their own adventure the movie stops being fun. Some of the scenes in "Cars 2" involving Mater as the spy, discussing the case with McMissile and Shiftwell, are necessary, but the film momentarily loses it's spark. 

The voice work, as you would expect, is top notch. Larry the Cable Guy gets and delivers most of the great lines. He is turning Mater into one of the greatest animated characters in movie history. John Turturro and Eddie Izzard join the tremendous cast, which includes all the regulars from the first film, even though most of them have only very small roles in this sequel, which may also disappoint fans.

"Cars 2" is rated G. There are plenty of action scenes involving guns and explosions, and one event that actually surprised me, but overall it's appropriate for everyone. Little kids will love seeing Lightning and Mater again, racing fans will appreciate the action on the tracks, and parents and adults who like a good spy caper with plenty of laughs thrown in, will also have a good time.

On The Official Kid Critic Report Card, "Cars 2" gets a B+. It is not a classic (like the original, or last year's "Toy Story 3") but it's definitely worth watching. Just don't try to compare it to the feel-good Pixar favorites of recent years. Instead, just go along for a great ride.

The "Toy Story Toons" short - "Hawaiian Vacation" - highlights the extras. It's fantastic. If this is how Pixar is going to continue to keep Woody, Buzz and the rest of that gang alive then I'm all for it.

Disneynature's 2011 Earth Day documentary, "African Cats", takes place in Kenya, and focuses on a pride of lions and a family of cheetahs, both trying to survive. The lion story involves a battle over territory involving two male rivals and an aging lioness trying to stay alive to protect her cub, while the cheetah tale centers around a mother's effort to raise her cubs and teach them how toi live and hunt in the wild.

The studio's previous theatrical releases - "Earth" (2009) and "Oceans" (2010) - featured a wide variety of animals, on land, in the air and underwater. Many of the creatures in those films had never been seen on screen before, at least not this close. Because of that there was a "Wow" factor with "Earth" and "Oceans" that's missing from "African Cats". There isn't anything in this film that I was amazed or even mildly surprised by.

However, as is always the case with Disneynature, the photography is phenomenal. And the direction and editing of the wildlife footage superb. I'd really like to see a "making of" documentary of this documentary. Some of the shots of the animals are so tight, even during the intense action scenes, that it's hard to imagine how the camera people were able to get them.

And Samuel L. Jackson, who narrates the film, gives a warm and friendly read, with plenty of emotion. But the main problem with "African Cats" is that the stories of these two groups don't grab you emotionally. Because of the decision to go specific, the storylines of these cats have to be interesting and unfortunately they aren't. There isn't enough drama or character development to hold my attention for the entire movie. I wish that we were shown more footage of other species and their situations.

Walking out of "African Cats" I didn't have the feeling that I had just learned something new about lions and cheetahs or the African savanna, and most people will feel the same way. In fact most of the concepts of life and death among animals in "African Cats" can be found in Disney's own - "The Lion King". And that had laughs and some great music!

Even though "African Cats" is rated G, and it comes from Disney, that doesn't mean it's appropriate for the entire family. This film is all about wild animals hunting, killing and eating other wild animals. Parents - there is a lot of death in this movie (remember, the "Circle of Life" thing?), so don't show this to the little ones thinking this is going to be a cute and cuddly experience. It's o.k. for kids 8 and up, as long as they understand the "predator-prey" situation involving animals in the wild.

On The Official Kid Critic Report Card, "African Cats" gets a C+.

Disneynature's 2012 Earth Day film will be "Chimpanzee", which tells the story of an orphaned chimp. Another very specific story. Let's hope this one has something interesting to say.

"Rio" has a lot in common with the movie's main character - a blue macaw who can't fly: It's nice looking, but never takes off.

The opening 5-minutes of the film are great. We see Blu as a baby bird, in the rain forest of Brazil and learn how he ends-up in Minnesota as a pet. This sequence sets the stage for what could have been a terrific animated film. But, unfortunately, everything goes downhill from there.

And, as usual, a weak story is to blame. There's hardly anything original in this script. Blu is the last male of his species and he's being forced to mate with the last female blue macaw, named Jewel. At first, of course, they can't stand each other, but you know that will change. And then there's poachers who want to kidnap the birds and sell them for a lot of money. And what would a movie like this be without the cast of friends they meet along the way who try to help them, save them, and teach them about love.

The only thing that separates "Rio" from other animated films like this is that it's set in Brazil and it's filled with Brazilian music. In fact, this movie can best be described as a musical adventure and not a comedy, since there are hardly any laughs. Will.i.am and Jamie Foxx play two of the "supporting" birds and they do many of the songs, some that seem forced into the storyline, in an effort to try to make this like a Disney film. It is not.

And the lack of originality is surprising, since "Rio" comes from the creators of the "Ice Age" trilogy, which is one of the funniest and well-written animated series of all-time, with memorable characters and plenty of heart. "Rio" lacks all of that.

One thing I can congratulate the filmmakers on is the stunning animation. The scenes of Rio de Janeiro from the sky are beautiful and the look of the entire film is colorful and lively. Blue Sky Studio remains one of the best in the business with CGI animation.

Jesse Eisenberg is perfectly cast as Blu and Anne Hathaway voices Jewel. George Lopez and Tracy Morgan are also part of a very talented voice cast. The problem is they don't have any great lines to work with.

"Rio" was originally rated PG, but was changed to G at the last minute. There are a few dicey lines, some mildly violent fighting scenes and cute birds being kidnapped. But little kids won't care, they'll still like all the colorful creatures. Everyone else will have a hard time staying interested in what's going on.

On "The Official Kid Critic Report Card", "Rio" gets a C. A bit of a disappointment, to say the least.

Next-up for Fox & Blue Sky is the 4th "Ice Age" film: "Ice Age: Continental Drift next July.