Movie Review: Netflix’s Vivo Made Me Feel Viva
There is an innate tenderness to Lin Manuel Miranda’s work; approaching every tale he tells and every character he creates like moving acts of resilience. They are beautiful concoctions of strength and cheer, of which feel one and the same to him. Similarly, we see Latinos in such a light, but, most importantly, I define a good human being with such a twinkle. Fun and fierce make great people, and in his newest union with Sony, Vivo, out August 6 on Netflix , you will find such people or rather a kinkajou.
Lin Manuel Miranda voices, or rather sing-raps, as a kinkajou named Vivo. Immediately, the film feels like a colorful, joyous breath for a world that, currently, is struggling. Honestly, if someone told me a rainbow personally painted and did the visual effects of Vivo, I would believe it. The film is breathtakingly vibrant, and immerses you into the heat and rhythms of Havana, Cuba with Andres’ singing (Juan de Marcos González) and our little honey bear prancing around with the standard, uniqueness of an LMM song. .
As I watched Vivo, I realized that the most successful animated films are based on some level of existential, tragic crisis. They wouldn’t be able to tap into adults inner child without being able to tap into adult’s grown reality: we have to make life-altering choices, especially after tragedy. This movie thrives on the idea that when a door opens, you cannot simply find a window…. you have to make one. The beauty of this spectacular film and Lin’s musical work is that it aptly comes out in a time when grief is very real for many people. For a lot of us who have lost loved ones in the last 2 years, especially the ones that taught us to dream without ever seeing one of their own come true, the meaning of life has become our question. In Vivo, we get one answer: the best way to honor those that taught us to dream is to learn how to dream even bigger in their name.
With a love song in hand, and determined to give it to Andres’ long lost love, Marta (Gloria Estefan), Vivo journeys from Havana to Miami, and changes so many people’s lives, on the way, with his brightness and positivity: something Lin Manuel Miranda can say he has done, as well. Obviously, as I saw hard hearts become softened and a spunky, little girl learn to love herself and help out an animal more human than most, my tears streamed more than Netflix ever will. I simply needed a movie that made me hope, and see that the best way to mourn someone is to honor them by living your best life.
Good people thriving! Yes, please! An animal that inspires love in all! GIVE ME THE TOY LINE, STAT! Vivo is a wonderful film for the family, and, like all Sony films, a reminder that the greatest thing to make your life feel good is to be loved by a good person. Vivo is out on Netflix August 6.
