Sony Pictures Animation makes its debut in the musical arena with the visually vivid and sonically succulent Vivo. Tapping Lin-Manuel Miranda to not only star as the titular character but to write all the original songs adds some serious mettle. What the Hamilton and In The Heights creator delivered is a vibrant Vivo soundtrack that is simultaneously a love letter to the Latin music that made him who he is, as well as a terrific and utterly catchy enhancement of a story that pulls at those hallowed heartstrings.
Miranda is Vivo, an elusive kinkajou—native to the South American rainforests—who finds himself in Havana, Cuba. He was rescued by Andrés (Juan de Marcos González), a bit of a local musical legend who has made a name for himself playing the local square with his song-and-dance kinkajou. Seems Andrés was the accompanist/friend/aspiring love interest of chanteuse Marta Sandoval (Gloria Estefan) some half-century ago. She was invited to come to America and perform by a promoter and it was an invitation for one.
Knowing this was her dream, not to mention that the talent she possessed the world needed to hear, Andrés hugged her goodbye without ever telling her how he felt.
Sure enough, Sandoval became a huge star and the two never spoke after that fateful hug at the airport. One day—as our story begins—Andrés received a letter from Marta inviting him to Miami for her farewell concert at the same theater where she made her American debut. He desperately wants to go, but fate has other plans.
Vivo decides to take it upon himself to fulfill his longtime friend’s dream, delivering the last song he ever wrote. It is a tune he crafted the night before she departed. He hasn’t put pen to paper since.
What’s a kinkajou to do? Find his way to Miami, that’s what. With the help of Andrés’ young great-niece Gabi (Ynairaly Simo), who lives in Key West, there might just be a chance that Vivo will succeed. Of course, Vivo and Gabi are going to have to go rogue and circumvent her mother Rosa (Zoe Saldana), some incredibly committed Girl Scout-types, cleverly known here as Sand Dollars, not to mention the apex predators of the Everglades (led by a scene-stealing turn of Guardians of the Galaxy star Michael Rooker as a menacing (and enormous) snake).
Vivo is as charming as it is colorfully mesmerizing. The soft pastels of South Florida come to life in the most gorgeous of ways. Co-directors Kirk DeMicco and Brandon Jeffords have just the right touch throughout, balancing the mesmerizing musical numbers, adventurous elements, and heart that drives the story. They have gotten every ounce of dramatic, comedic, and melodic mastery out of their cast. The helmers have also fostered a tale that is perfect for the whole family, while still delivering an emotional punch. They keenly know that kids can handle films that explore the emotive spectrum, all while enjoying the eye-popping visuals and the ear candy soundtrack.
In many ways, this is Miranda’s movie, through and through. Besides delivering on those original songs that not only fit the storyline and move the plot ever forward, but he also delivers a performance that will simultaneously break and uplift your heart. We are more than accustomed to his innate musical prowess. But it was such a welcomed revelation to experience how he chose to portray this music worshiping kinkajou. Not that he has failed to deliver as a thespian previously, that is not what I am saying at all. It’s just that voice acting is a supremely challenging and unique beast.
The nuances Miranda brings to the character of Vivo are both endearing and piercing. A sense of loss permeates his existence in the first act that gives way to a man on a mission drive. The thing is the latter is distinctly driven by that initial act’s emotive arc.
The way the Mary Poppins Returns star captures the spirit of a soul consumed by the entity that is music is literally pitch-perfect. There is something so transformative about it. When those first notes enter your ears and make their way through your entire body… billions have been there. Without music, our lives would be empty.
Vivo embodies that so well, as inhabited by Miranda. But there is also his utter adoration and commitment to Andrés, who has been like family to him since he first came down from that palm tree to try to figure out what that magical sound is that emanated from the gentleman. It is that devotion that drives Vivo and as such, will resonate around the globe.
Vivo is a celebration of love, family, and yes, music—but specifically Latin music. There is something about it that is addictive. As someone who fell in love with it a few decades ago, the film hit all the right notes in that department and does so in a way that will have you humming the tunes from throughout the film for days to come.
Estefan makes an impressive mark as the subject for Andrés’ adoration. We all know she can sing like nobody’s business. She also brings a grounded reality to her turn as the singing superstar. Her Marta has clearly left her heart in Havana all those decades ago. The idea of reconnecting with “the one that got away” has brought an electricity to her life that is palpable through the Miami Sound Machine founder’s performance.
Simo makes a talent announcement with her big-screen debut. When we first meet her, she is a seemingly lost elementary school-age girl whose passion for the musical arts is clear to everyone—except her mother. It is something she got from her late father and when she arrives in Cuba with her mom to say goodbye to her great uncle, the rhythms of the streets pierce her soul and there is an awakening—as captured by Simo—that is unwavering.
One can understand why she doesn’t necessarily want to don a uniform and sell cookies with girls who seemingly could care less about her, personally. That is all handled with a power, panache, and vulnerability coming from an actress of such a young age is truly impressive.
Vivo is also a carnival of color. The Sony Pictures Animation team (who have previously given us the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Hotel Transylvania, and The Smurfs movies, as well as the Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) have truly gone beyond and dove into a luminous palette that is absolutely Cuba and South Florida—yet so much more. There is popping off the screen and there is what our eyes (and ears!) are treated to with Vivo.
It is a beautiful movie, both in subject matter and appearance.
Grade: A