Viva VIVO!

 I love animated features. I have ever since I was a kid. I was especially fond of the classic animated Disney features. When I was a kid in the 1960s, the avuncular Walt Disney hosted Disney's WONDERFUL WORLD OF COLOR Sunday nights on NBC. The show often aired some of those features. Also, from my childhood through my adult years, those classics would be re-released theatrically every seven years -- PETER PAN, PINOCCHIO, BAMBI, CINDERELLA, SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, DUMBO, LADY AND THE TRAMP, SLEEPING BEAUTY. You can't readily see those richly designed pre-1960 classics today. They don't air on network or cable TV. They're not re-released theatrically. They're under house arrest on Disney Plus (+) and can only be streamed there once you join. That brings me to VIVO on Netflix from Sony Pictures Animation. Iy's a colorful musical with original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, an executive producer and the voice of Vivo. I watched VIVO this weekend. The animation is like gettng a great big, unexpected valentine in the mail. I absolutely loved it. Some reminded me of vintage Disney animation from the studio's 1950s period.

The story's action takes us from Cuba to Florida. The plot is a simple one for kids to understand and a sweet one for grown-ups to embrace. It's about friendship, loyalty and love. Vivo is a hard-luck kinkajou in Havana. He's adopted, if you will, by a kindly older street musician in Havana. Even though the animal and human cannot speak to each other, they can communicate through music. They became fast friends -- and a very popular street musician pair in the Havana plaza where they make good money from the crowd. 

One day, Andres (Vivo's partner) gets a letter from Miami. It's a tender letter from Marta Sandoval, the famous Latin singer soon to give a concert and retire. She and Andres had been sweethearts in their youth in Cuba when she was an unknown, Andres loved her but, for purely unselfish reasons, never told her. Marta wants to see him and Andres wants to see her. He'd written a song for her called "Para Marta" and, after all these years, wants to give it to her. 

He passes away before he can make the trip. Vivo is determined to get to Florida to give Marta the song for his late friend. He gets there with the unlikely help of a single parent, purple-haired little girl named Gabi, travelling with her mother. Gabi is a totally cool, independent thinker who yearns to break away from being a member of a bland, conformist, girl scouts-like troop. Gabi and Vivo bond and embark on a Florida adventure to deliver "Para Marta" to singer Marta Sandoval.

About the songs: Lin-Manuel Miranda really hit an out-of-the-park home run with this score. Gabi's number, "My Own Drum," is a hip-hop winner. "One More Song" is a poignant love tune. "Keep the Beat" is a fun rhythm number about perseverance, Lin-Manuel Miranda should get a Best Song Oscar nomination for "One More Song" or "Keep the Beat." Or both. He's just right for the voice of Vivo. Ynairly Sino is wonderful as the voice of Gabi. Brian Tyree Henry is a comedy stand-out as the voice of a lovesick tropical bird called a spoonbill. Gloria Estefan voices Marta Sandoval -- and she does sing one of the new tunes. The mature Marta is styled with a sophisticated look reminiscent of the late Latin music legend, Celia Cruz. Here's a trailer for VIVO on Netflix.

VIVO is sentimental, sweet, touching, exciting and funny. I laughed out loud at several scenes, I was touched by the bittersweet moments and I was groovin' to the new Miranda music. VIVO runs 1 hour and 35 minutes. It's good family entertainment. I plan to see it again.

Miranda produced this year's film version of INTO THE HEIGHTS, based on his hit Broadway musical of the same name. John M. Chu directed the movie. It opened to rave reviews from noted film critics. A week or two later, a non-film critic on Twtter accused the film of colorism -- claiming that most of the large Latinx cast was light-skinned and Afro-Latinos were few. National news outlets picked up the story. Miranda immediately responded to the press and addressed the situation like a true gentleman. He said that it was an important issue to raise and he'd be mindful of it in future onscreen projects. I haven't seen INTO THE HEIGHTS yet. I did see VIVO.

From the open of the Latino-centric VIVO to its final scene, no one could accuse this Lin-Manuel Miranda production of colorism. Although animated, there are many Latinos of different shades and body types in it. I've yet to see anyone bring up that positive fact on social media.