Blame It on Rio

good movie fun to watch

I read other reviews that, either slated the movie as a waste of time and money, found fault with the DVD picture quality or felt that some of the music was irritating and would have preferred more authentic Brazilian music instead (ala Antonio Carlos Jobim for example) to presumably give the movie more of a 'travelogue' flavor rather than supporting the comedic thrust of this movie. Personally, in a comedy, I don't mind if some of the music is corny. With few exceptions I don't look for great music soundtracks in comedies. Rather than provide another synopsis I'll explain why I recommend this DVD. Michael Caine is perfectly cast and capitalizes on the opportunity to characterize this role with the wit and charm that give practically every film he's in a uniqueness only he can provide. His chemistry with Joseph Bologna (who can portray the archetypal cynic as well as anyone) gives the film enough comic thrust to overlook the somewhat pedestrian performances of some of the other principal actors. In my opinion, Michelle Johnson played her role well and Valerie Harper qualified her relevance to the story but Demi Moore did little to impress. In fairness, that probably had more to do with her role in the story than her characterization. The supporting cast was ideal for the flavor of this film. I think it would be a mistake to install this film in an '80's time capsule, especially with some of the second-rate drivel that's been produced recently. Overall, it's a great movie to look and LAUGH at........and I found nothing wrong with the DVD image.

This is definitely a "time capsule" romantic comedy. This was filmed in the early 80s so there's very little plastic surgery so the bodies actually look "real". I honestly didn't see a single fake pair of breasts in the entire movie. There's a scene where Isabella (a minor character) confesses that Victor (played by Joseph Bologna, the darker-haired fellow on the cover) is the 12th man she's been with in the 12 days she's been separated from her husband and Victor is completely blase about it. Yes, this is before people knew about AIDS.The comedy revolves around Victor searching for the older gentleman that slept with his daughter so he can pummel him or worse. He drags Matthew (played by Michael Caine) around to assist in his manhunt even though Matthew is the guilty party. Hijinks ensue and everything builds to a crescendo before all is revealed. Michael Caine is pretty much himself in this movie and Joseph Bologna makes a great comic foil. Demi Moore, who plays Nicole, is surprisingly supportive of her friend's trysts with her father, but doesn't factor into the story much. Michelle Johnson is good at conveying tenderness and warmth, but was a bit unpolished as an actress otherwise. I believe she was genuinely 18 at the time this was filmed so I give her a pass.It's not laugh-out-loud funny, but it is charming. Although there's plenty of nudity, I don't think there's any serious profanity (unless you count "hell" as vulgar), only minor violence (people getting punched, roughhousing, and a small cut shaving but no serious injury) and there's no actual sex depicted onscreen. If it wasn't for the scenes at the topless beach and the polaroid Jennifer takes of herself, this would be PG-13.

Beautifully filmed on location in Brazil where Michael Caine steals the show in a hilarious romance, comedy, and light-hearted drama. While Caine and his best friend are separated from their wives on this wild vacation, sharing a private villa with their two daughters, the "innocent" daughter of Caine's best friend makes a successful pass at "Uncle Matthew" (Caine). The daughter tells Daddy that she has met and slept with a certain "kind-of-a-boy," yet as she protects the identity of her lover, she insists that Uncle Matthew "tell Daddy about the romance" as she believes this is true love. While Cain and his best friend's daughter hide the affair behind her father's back, hilarious twists and turns occur when the father insists that Cain must help him find this "illegitimate lover," as the daughter wants to "shout it from the mountain tops," while Cain is trying to "keep it quiet."Topless scenes, yes even Caine, who buries himself in the sand (being bottomless too), as friends walk up on him just after a romantic interlude at the beach where he so horribly pretends his ignorance/innocence with hilarious stuttering and muddled responses to their inquiries.Demi Moore also appears in this movie as Caine's daughter who also "likes to live dangerously", hinting at her father's behavior, and that "even best friends keep things from each other".Great aerial views of Rio de Janeiro, lively background music and many Brazilian cultural scenes and nuances make this a highly enjoyable movie. A MUST HAVE for the family and single library!!!! This is a movie you can NEVER be tired of... you will roll with laughter and definitely work those muscles even after the 20th viewing!