Chico & Rita

Name: Chico & Rita
Genre: Romance, Music, Animation
Released: February 10, 2012
Duration: 94 min
Rating: 76

2012

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 23 Ratings

See All

7.3

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.3	Your Score
7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 23 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Movie Details & Credits

Magic Light Pictures | Release Date: February 10, 2012 | Not Rated

Summary: Cuba, 1948. Chico is a young piano player with big dreams.
Rita is a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice. Music and
romantic desire unites them, but their journey - in the tradition of the Latin ballad, the bolero - brings heartache and torment. From Havana to New York, Paris, Hollywood and Las Vegas, two passionateCuba, 1948. Chico is a young piano player with big dreams.
Rita is a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice. Music and
romantic desire unites them, but their journey - in the tradition
of the Latin ballad, the bolero - brings heartache and torment.
From Havana to New York, Paris, Hollywood and Las Vegas,
two passionate individuals battle impossible odds to unite in
music and love.(Magic Light Pictures)… Expand

Director: Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal and Tono Errando

Genre(s): Romance, Music, Animation

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 94 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Shawn Levy

Mar 29, 2012

It's hot and sweet and made with inspiration and cheek. And it is not your children's animated fare -- which, in this case, is a recommendation. Read full review

Andrew O'Hehir

Feb 9, 2012

A dazzling and delightful work of modernist animation, a classic movie romance and a hip-swinging, finger-popping tale of musical revolution, Chico & Rita is the first big serendipitous surprise of 2012. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Feb 22, 2012

The music is terrific. Idania Valdes dubs Rita's sensuous, smoky singing voice, and the film is essentially constructed as a musical. Read full review

Stephen Farber

Feb 3, 2012

It's a pleasure to surrender to the movie's lush visuals, which are accompanied by wonderful jazz classics performed by Valdes, Estrella Morente, and Freddy Cole (Nat King Cole's brother), among many others. Read full review

Walter Addiego

Feb 16, 2012

The film boasts an original score by Cuban pianist and composer Bebo Valdés, who was featured in "Calle 54." Read full review

Michelle Orange

Feb 7, 2012

The result has only a loose resemblance to Valdés's story - though real-life figures including Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Chano Pozo, and a Cuban songstress who bears some resemblance to Rita Montaner are featured as characters - but it's a dazzling thing to behold. Read full review

Ed Gonzalez

Feb 5, 2012

A shallow romanticization of Batista-era Cuba -- when the nation was a tropical paradise for the delectation of American jetsetters -- and what the revolution left in its wake. Read full review

SEE ALL 27 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

muzziklover

Mar 2, 2012

A proof that animated films are not just for kids but for adults as well. This is the film that should have won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. I like Rango but it wasn't anything spectacular compared to this. Pretty much one of the best romantic films I have ever seen. It's portrayalA proof that animated films are not just for kids but for adults as well. This is the film that should have won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. I like Rango but it wasn't anything spectacular compared to this. Pretty much one of the best romantic films I have ever seen. It's portrayal of the early 50's is breathtaking, its design is unique, the animation, though simple, is full of life and energy and allows the simplest facial expression become a legit emotional feeling, the two leads are realistic, charming, complex and have an unrivalled chemistry and the music is authentic and timeless. I honestly couldn't see this as a live action film as it wouldn't capture the emotion and expression that the animation allows into the love story. I am in love with this film. Great story, great characters, great animation, great music. If you love romance films, don't ever pass this up on DVD.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

BrunoVn00

Jan 12, 2020

A realistic, genuine love story told very well. It has good-looking visuals, the animation is fantastic, the sets look immersive and engaging and the score is amazing. The leads develop a genuine chemistry as the movie goes on (because at first I thought that their romance felt superficial)A realistic, genuine love story told very well. It has good-looking visuals, the animation is fantastic, the sets look immersive and engaging and the score is amazing. The leads develop a genuine chemistry as the movie goes on (because at first I thought that their romance felt superficial) and it has much more going on than just the love story. It's thought provoking and you can get so many things from this movie and understand the point of it in different ways and perspectives.

This is an excellent romantic movie that will not bore you in the slightest. I highly recommend it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Lyn

Jan 20, 2013

It's hard to explain how a Spanish-language film featuring not-that-sophisticated animation could be so utterly captivating. The music helps, of course, and the way the star-crossed Cuban lovers evoke another time. I thought of "Calle Ocho," "The Mambo Kings" and "An Affair to Remember." Loved it.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

khan2705

Feb 14, 2012

I may not be very stunned by this movie as i was from a foreign animated movie with "The Illusionist" but this still was extremely dazzling, amazing and quite charming movie. An adult animated movie with a classic romantic story over the span of life time and places with deep cultural rootsI may not be very stunned by this movie as i was from a foreign animated movie with "The Illusionist" but this still was extremely dazzling, amazing and quite charming movie. An adult animated movie with a classic romantic story over the span of life time and places with deep cultural roots and lovely jazz dazzle to it, this is a good movie to watch.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

mapizarro

Nov 27, 2013

"Chico & Rita" offers a beautiful and charming moment. Trueba brings a fantastic old story about love. "Chico & Rita" is like "Porgy & Bess" with latin sounds and excellent honor to Bebo Valdés. "Chico & Rita" and "Wrinckles" are newest beginning of Spanish animation cinema history."Chico & Rita" offers a beautiful and charming moment. Trueba brings a fantastic old story about love. "Chico & Rita" is like "Porgy & Bess" with latin sounds and excellent honor to Bebo Valdés. "Chico & Rita" and "Wrinckles" are newest beginning of Spanish animation cinema history. Soundtrack is faboulous, plot is solvent and directing is correct. Azúcar!!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Nov 22, 2021

I very much enjoyed the latin music played in this film, both in the background and during live performances depicted on screen. This is more a music film than anything else, although it is clearly an animated film as well. I quite liked the old fashioned style of animation featured too -I very much enjoyed the latin music played in this film, both in the background and during live performances depicted on screen. This is more a music film than anything else, although it is clearly an animated film as well. I quite liked the old fashioned style of animation featured too - there is a certain nostalgic sense to it. The plot is a bit cliched I suppose but its a pretty easy watch and I found it pretty entertaining regardless, with enjoyable music and animation, as I say and so on that basis, I would recommend it, yes. Oh and perhaps its worth pointing out that it is a slightly more adult animation, in that there are sex scenes depicted, so its not suitable for viewing by particularly young audiences. The dialogue is mostly in Spanish, so its a world cinema film - that may or may not put you off (there were subtitles on the Blu-Ray disk I viewed).… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 6 REVIEWS