Fat Dude Digs Flicks

CHICO AND RITA (2010) - A Review

(directed by Tono Errando, Javier Mariscal, and Fernando Trueba; written by Ignacio Martinez de Pison and Fernando Trueba)

When the Oscar nominations were announced this year, the animated feature film category had five films fill the slots. Grabbing expected nominations were Dreamworks Pictures blockbusters, KUNG FU PANDA 2 and PUSS IN BOOTS, as well as Paramount’s surrealist lizard western, RANGO. Prognosticators would assume the other two slots to go to THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN and ARTHUR CHRISTMAS, rather than Pixar’s less than stellar outing, CARS 2. Defying all expectations, the Academy went global and selected a little known French film, A CAT IN PARIS, and the Spanish offering, CHICO AND RITA. Through some exciting technological navigations, I found myself able to see the latter of those two. Nothing could have prepared me for exactly how grateful I would be for that opportunity.

Set first in 1940s Cuba, the film looks back on the life of Chico, a young, poor piano player with huge dreams and ambitions. He and his friend Ramon play various clubs around Cuba, trying to get a break. By sheer luck and chance, they meet Rita, a beautiful and talented jazz singer. Chico and Rita hit it off instantly, spending the night together after successfully wooing the other over. It seems like their beautiful pairing as a couple will lead to a successful professional pairing, as well. Unfortunately, Chico’s not as single as he leads Rita to believe and she brings things to a halt before they even begin. As time goes on, the two meet up again and put the past behind them, becoming a semi-successful singing duo. The passion between them cannot be ignored and their relationship resumes. Fate continues to throw hitches in their plans pushing them apart and bringing them back together again over a span of many years. As they go their separate ways, it is obvious that their love is something that can never be destroyed.

For an animated film, it is necessary to look at the style of animation. We are inundated with so much computer generated imagery these days that it is an exciting change of pace when a hand-drawn film arrives on the scene. This film is absolutely beautiful with bright striking colors and lush visuals filling each frame. We journey with the characters through Cuba, New York City, and Las Vegas, all gorgeously represented on the screen here by the animators. These cities of the past come to life vividly. It isn’t completely without a little help from computers, though, as seems to be the case with everything nowadays. It helps speed the process. When it is noticeable, it certainly isn’t a distraction.

The film is presented mostly in Spanish with English subtitles. An online rumor claims that the film will be released with an American dub. I hope this is not the case. There is something very special about the film in its native tongue. It would rob the characters of their language barriers when they make their journeys stateside. The rumoured names also include a predominantly white cast. Watch the film. This is truly a moronic decision as the main characters are Cuban.

I really try to take a realistic approach to my viewing of screen romances. Love simply does not exist like it does in movies. Knowing that and understanding that makes so many of these romantic comedies and dramas feel like they are pandering or just plain playing the audience for fools. That why when ones come around that avoid cliche or find some interesting element to focus on, the feel grounded in reality and become much easier to relate to. CHICO AND RITA spans forty years or so in the life of these two people. Unlike other big name romances (often written by Nicholas Sparks), it avoids gimmicks to manipulate the audience into a teary-eyed frenzy. It relies on pure love. We always remember the ones that made us feel something that no one else could. Sometimes, that feeling is so intoxicating that it always brings us back. Chico and Rita both endure that intoxication. The bond between them is easy to see. The two are strong as individuals, but better together. Once it hits its stride, it is a love worth cheering.

The biggest supporting character in the film is not the aforementioned Ramon, but the exceptional Cuban jazz soundtrack. Music is as much a part of this film as anything else is. If there is anything these two characters love more than each other, it is their music. Both are extremely talented and want to be as successful as they possibly can. This is what brings them together as well as what tears them apart. While it is mostly sung in Spanish, the tone and meaning of each song is easy to grasp and feel. Passion drives them, both through love and their careers. Love affects their music and leads to their triumphs. 

I really did not expect to love this film as much as I did. Part of me wanted to hate it. “This instead of TINTIN? Come on!” However, from the moment Chico and Rita met, I was entranced. Screen love stories really have to have that something for them to stand out for me. Otherwise they blur into a Sandra Bullock-Meg Ryan-Ryan Reynolds-Matthew McConaughey pool of convoluted plots and cheesy storytelling. It’s about passion. We all experience some kind of passion towards something. The least enjoyable romantic films lack real passion. Yes. They may have a simulated sex scene, but that does not equate passion. Passion is the feeling that these two characters could genuinely exist and that their worlds are not fully complete unless the other is in it. That is a grand statement to which many don’t subscribe. In life, I don’t know if I do either. But in film, when someone really wants a romance to work, that is what has to come across or else everything is lost.

CHICO AND RITA is an animated film for grown-ups. It deals with grown-up themes of love, betrayal, and commitment. It is rated R for sexual content and a scene of violence. That said, I feel like teens that appreciate the medium of cinema should really seek out this film and experience it. Love is something that we all experience but don’t quite understand. Love itself is an odd situation. It can make us exceptionally happy or downright miserable. Chico and Rita experience both at different times. They are true characters so very easy to relate to if love has ever crossed your path. It is incredible to see such a subject tackled so well in an animated film.

Come Sunday, RANGO (for some reason) will probably walk away with the trophy. The dark horse contender, however, should be this beautiful film. As the credits rolled, I felt myself sobbing. Not wiping away a single tear that found a way to sneak out of my tear ducts. Literally sobbing, trying to stifle ugly grunts and groans so my coworker or residents didn’t hear me. I haven’t been this pleasantly surprised about a film in a long time. For that, easily:

***** out of 5.