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Ironically, if the creators had embraced the reality of what Cuba is, they would have ended up with a much more emotionally-resonant story – especially given current headlines of Cubans standing up for their freedom against a brutal and dictatorial regime. For instance, instead of suggesting that Marta opted to leave Cuba sixty years ago because she received an offer to perform at the Mambo Cabana in Miami, they could have shown Andrés helping her leave as the country was about to fall to the Castro’s communist regime. There even could have been a poignant song about how the rise of the dictatorship led to their decades-long separation.

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Movie Review: Vivo

For the most part, this lovable kinkajou and his fiery human helper make some really beautiful music. Read the Plugged In review: https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/vivo-2021/ If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback: https://focusonthefamily.com/podcastsurvey/

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Vivo Parent Guide

Vibrant and colorful, this animated movie manages to pack some great emotional lessons into its story..

Netflix: In this animated film, Vivo is a kinkajou (a honey bear from the rain forest.) He happily spends his days performing in Havana with his owner, Andres. But then the past reaches out and Vivo must travel to Miami on an important errand for his friend.

Release date August 6, 2021

Run Time: 103 minutes

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The guide to our grades, parent movie review by kirsten hawkes.

Andrés (voiced by Juan de Marcos Gonzalez) and his kinkajou, Vivo (Lin-Manuel Miranda), live a lyrical existence in Havana, performing music in a nearby plaza to the delight of dancing crowds. All that changes when Andrés receives a letter from Marta (Gloria Estefan), a singer he accompanied in decades past. Retiring after 60 years, Marta asks Andrés to perform with her at her final concert at the Mambo Cabana in Miami. Vivo objects vigorously to any change, but when circumstances alter, the little honey bear finds himself hitching a plane ride to Florida to deliver an original song to Andrés’ long lost love.

Vivo strikes it lucky with his traveling companion, although it takes some time before he appreciates her. Gabi (Ynairaly Simo) is Andrés’ ten year old niece, and she is a whirlwind of energy, creativity, and self-confidence. “I’m a wow in a world of ho hum,” she sings, and she isn’t kidding. Her frustrated mother is coaxing her to bond with the girls in her Girl-Guide-style troop but Gabi doesn’t want to sell cookies and save the Everglades. She wants to light up the world with her ideas. And when she discovers Vivo’s plans, she’s all in. The pair promptly head off for Miami on an adventure that will see them fending off bossy girls, rafting through the Everglades, and fleeing from a ferocious python…

Fans of Lin-Manuel Miranda will also appreciate the soundtrack, which bounces along with his usual cheery syncopation. There’s no real standout here, with the possible exception of Gabi’s “I’m a wow” theme, but the music pushes the story along more than adequately.

What really propels the film, though, is Gabi. Vivo may be the title character, but this little girl dominates every scene she’s in. Impulsive and irrepressible, her unquenchable optimism helps her bounce back from every setback as she dreams up creative solutions to problems (some of which she caused). Gabi is a prototype for resilience and young viewers can learn a fair bit just from watching her. Vivo has lessons to learn about adapting to change but it’s Gabi’s loyalty, authenticity, and determination to be true to herself that is so very powerful. As an added bonus, kids will also benefit as they see the buttoned-down Vivo and the spontaneous little girl learn to work together, balancing each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The movie is a virtual workshop in co-operation.

Thankfully, all of these positive messages come with little negative material. There is some plot-related peril – including some very scary scenes with a hungry giant snake – but any kid who can watch Disney movies is more than capable of managing this story without screaming. To the contrary, most young viewers will be smiling and laughing throughout the film, absorbing all the candy-coated messaging, with no idea that positive emotional lessons lurk beneath the laughs.

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Kirsten hawkes, watch the trailer for vivo.

Vivo Rating & Content Info

Why is Vivo rated PG? Vivo is rated PG by the MPAA for some thematic elements and mild action

Violence: Dogs chase a frightened baby bear. A limp hand is seen on screen, indicating a death. An animal sees gravestones in aquariums for dead fish. A small animal is chased by a ferocious and hungry dog. A character escapes being eaten by an alligator. Characters face extreme peril as they are trapped in a storm while riding a raft in the everglades. An animal jokes about taking a “dirt nap”. A snake coils around a character and threatens to eat him. A snake chases frightened children and tries to eat them. Sexual Content: None. Profanity:   None. Alcohol / Drug Use:   None.

Page last updated February 24, 2022

Vivo Parents' Guide

Why doesn’t Vivo want to go to Miami? Have you ever been afraid of doing new things? What are some things you can do when you’re scared of something new?

If you want to learn more about kinkajous, you can follow these links:

Wikipedia: Kinkajou

Kinkatopia: What Is a Kinkajou?

World Land Trust: Kinkajou

Loved this movie? Try these books…

If you’re trying to motivate a young reader, Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House series can be a good way to introduce early chapter books. The sixth in the series, Afternoon in the Amazon, sends Jack and Annie to the rainforest where they meet a kinkajou.

The Kooky Kinkajou: The Nocturnals introduces young readers to wildlife in the Amazon. Written by Tracey Hecht and illustrated by Josie Yee, this tale teaches kids to use their imaginations to stave off boredom.

For a non-fiction approach, Lisa Strattin has written Facts About the Kinkajou. This book provides kids with lots of photos of kinkajous and basic facts about their lives. Rachel Lynette has written Kinkajous, part of the Jungle Babies of the Amazon Rainforest series. This book is full of photos of young kinkajous in their natural habitat.

What Do You Do with a Kinkajou? by Alice Gilborn is a memoir of her mother’s real-life adventures owning a personal zoo, filled with horses, varied wild animals, and a kinkajou. The book is out of print but can be bought used online.

Related home video titles:

Lin-Manuel Miranda has become a significant fixture in the entertainment world. His smash Broadway musical about American history, Hamilton , is currently streaming on Disney+. Another musical by the actor/composer is In the Heights , which examines immigrant culture in NYC. He also costars in Mary Poppins Returns.

For more kid-friendly movies about animals on a quest, you can watch Christopher Robin , in which Winnie-the-Pooh comes to the rescue of his old friend who doesn’t know that he needs rescue. Paddington Bear, from “darkest Peru”, goes to London to find a new home after the death of his parents. His story is told in Paddington and Paddington 2 . In The One and Only Ivan , a silverback gorilla figures out how to lead his fellow captive animals to freedom. Finding Nemo and Finding Dory follow the adventures of Marlin and Nemo, a father and son pair of clownfish, and their absent-minded friend, Dory, as they traverse the vast Pacific Ocean.

Related news about Vivo

Coming to Netflix: August 2021

{parents:pull_quote}

What begins in lively and vibrant fashion as the title would suggest gets bogged down in a literal and figurative swamp in “Vivo.”

The animated, family-friendly musical adventure from director and co-writer Kirk DeMicco (“ The Croods ”) and co-director Brandon Jeffords offers a rich and colorful sense of place, particularly during its early passages in Cuba. When it’s about the power of music to transform and connect people across years and miles, the film is at its strongest. But when it becomes a road trip movie with the characters encountering various obstacles en route to their destination of Miami, “Vivo” loses its way.

The multitalented Lin-Manuel Miranda provides the songs and the voice of the titular role: a charismatic and wide-eyed kinkajou who busks on the streets of Havana. Most of the movie’s music carries the catchy rhythms and clever wordplay that are the signatures of the man who created “ Hamilton ” and “In the Heights.” An infectious highlight is the upbeat, Latin-flavored opening number, which Vivo performs to an appreciative crowd alongside his human companion, the aging musician Andres (a gentle Juan de Marcos of Buena Vista Social Club). The two have a warm and easy chemistry, and the furry dude couldn’t be cuter in his tiny hat and neckerchief, rapping and playing the bongo. Seriously, you may be seeing a bunch of Vivo backpacks and T-shirts when kids return to school in a few weeks.

To us—and, as we’ll find out later, to other animals—he’s intelligible, but all the rest of the world hears are adorable chirping and chittering sounds. Still, Vivo has a deep emotional connection with Andres, a tender soul who still pines for the one who got away. His former performing partner, Marta Sandoval (voiced by a gracious Gloria Estefan ), fled for the United States decades ago to fulfill her dreams of stardom. An invitation to reunite with her in Miami for her farewell concert enlivens old memories and yearnings for what might have been; his recollection of the melancholy, melon-hued sunset the day her plane took off is swoonworthy. Similarly, flashbacks rendered in traditional, two-dimensional animation add a romantic, wistful feel compared to the contours and textures of the present-day scenes.

Vivo is afraid to leave the insular familiarity of his Havana plaza for a trip to the big city. But when tragedy hits—which the screenplay from DeMicco and “In the Heights” writer Quiara Alegría Hudes handles with great delicacy and grace—he must find the bravery to make the journey and deliver one last song from Andres to Marta. A visit from Andres’ niece, Rosa ( Zoe Saldana ), and her daughter, Gabi (energetic newcomer Ynairaly Simo ), gives Vivo the opportunity to stowaway to Key West. And Gabi, a perky, purple-haired tween who’s a bit of a misfit—as we’re told repeatedly in her anthem about marching to the beat of her own drum—is so starved for friendship that she’s thrilled to make the 160-mile trek with him. She also hopes to make music with Vivo, which harkens to a loss in her own family.

But “Vivo” becomes far less interesting the farther it gets from the strength of those heartwarming musical origins. Once it decides it’s a wacky action movie rather than a sweet romantic comedy—presumably to keep the youngest viewers engaged—the pacing ironically slows and meanders. An overlong interlude in the film’s midsection finds Gabi and Vivo stranded in the Everglades, encountering all manner of animal—some friendly, some predatory. Brian Tyree Henry and Nicole Byer provide the voices of a couple of beautiful but nervous birds who fall awkwardly in love with each other, and the movie grinds to a halt to watch them sing and fly. Michael Rooker ’s talents go to waste lending his menacing growl as a giant snake who hates noise for some reason. And a trio of officious and insistent Girl Scout types, whom Gabi desperately wants to avoid, add nothing to the proceedings as they track her down and try to make her sell cookies. (Their bossy, blonde leader is the spitting image of Reese Witherspoon , though.)

All these characters do is insert chaos and serve as filler, and they make zero sense if “Vivo” is meant to be a race against the clock to get the song into Marta’s hands before she leaves the stage. Yes, yes, I know. The journey is the destination, and this one’s meant to be all about facing challenges and overcoming fears. It’s rather generic kids-movie stuff, thematically. But the closer the characters get to Miami, the less urgent their mission feels. And perhaps most frustrating of all, the tune that’s crucial to driving the narrative ends up being one of the weakest and most forgettable.

Now playing on Netflix.

Christy Lemire

Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who has written for RogerEbert.com since 2013. Before that, she was the film critic for The Associated Press for nearly 15 years and co-hosted the public television series “Ebert Presents At the Movies” opposite Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, with Roger Ebert serving as managing editor. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

• Lin-Manuel Miranda as Vivo (voice)
• Juan de Marcos González as Andrés (voice)
• Gloria Estefan as Marta Sandoval (voice)
• Ynairaly Simo as Gabi (voice)
• Zoe Saldana as Rosa (voice)
• Michael Rooker as Lutador (voice)
• Paloma Morales as Croqueta Lady
• Alex Lacamoire
• Lin-Manuel Miranda

Co-Director

• Brandon Jeffords
• Erika Dapkewicz
• Kirk DeMicco
• Quiara Alegría Hudes

Writer (story by)

• Peter Barsocchini

Cinematographer

• Yong Duk Jhun

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Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

Movie Review – Vivo (2021)

July 30, 2021 by Robert Kojder

Vivo , 2021.

Directed by Kirk DeMicco and Brandon Jeffords. Featuring the voice talents of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Juan de Marcos González, Gloria Estefan, Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldana, Michael Rooker, Brian Tyree Henry, Nicole Byer, and Leslie David Baker.

Vivo, a one-of-kind kinkajou, must find his way from Havana to Miami in order to deliver a song on behalf of his beloved owner and mentor, Andrés.

Although Lin-Manuel Miranda is not the director of Vivo (that credit belongs to Kirk DeMicco and Brandon Jeffords) or one of the screenplay writers (Quiara Alegria Hudes working from a story concept by Peter Barsocchini), the long-gestating animated feature from Netflix (yet another purchase from Sony’s animation division) shares his storytelling DNA beyond just the musical numbers (which are all new songs from the Hamilton artist).

Familiar beatbox-style rapping opens the movie, as we are introduced to a kinkajou (a rainforest honey bear voiced by Lin-Manuel Miranda) and his inseparable human best friend Andrés (Juan de Marcos González), playing street music together inside a Cuban marketplace for all to hear. The number, aside from being catchy and announcing that, if nothing else, there are some excellent songs in-store from one of the most likable, talented, and creative musicians working today, gives a brief exposition on this friendship while also demonstrating that while these two are unable to communicate with each other verbally, they can understand one another through rhythm and beats and music’s universal language.

Music functioning as freedom of expression and connective tissue is nothing necessarily new for Lin-Manuel Miranda, but Vivo differs because it’s primarily a tale of love. Specifically, it’s about Andrés’ regret for never letting out his true feelings towards his former musical partner Marta Sandoval (Gloria Estefan) before she departed to Miami to successfully pursue a full-time career. He loved her, but he also didn’t want that to hold her back from realizing her dreams and didn’t envision a life for himself outside Cuba. It’s a noble and selfless inner sacrifice but possibly one that was unnecessary, withholding his romantic feelings out of fear. Nevertheless, 60 years later, a letter has come from Marta inviting Andrés to Miami to perform together.

Naturally, Andrés sees this as a second chance, an opportunity to reconnect and finally spill out his heart. Meanwhile, Vivo seems terrified to travel anywhere beyond Cuba and wants to stick to the routine of playing music for the locals. There’s also a visit from Andrés’ niece and great-niece who conveniently live in Florida, which will help bridge some of that distance. Young Gabi (Ynairaly Simo, making her own mark as both a pleasant spin on the outcast child and energetic singer herself doing great things with the lyrics here) couldn’t be any more, unlike Andrés and Vivo. From her purple hair to a checkered tie and rebel personality and offbeat demeanor, she’s not like the other kids, although she doesn’t get down about that. One of the most memorable songs in the movie is her defiance of conformity and taking loneliness in stride, finding happiness from being her own person.

It should also go without saying that Gabi’s musical taste and expression also vastly differ, giving Vivo a new challenge in bonding and making the journey. Without saying much, it’s a two-person quest that contains detours to the Everglades (including a quirky Python voiced by Michael Rooker) and run-ins with Girl Scout troops trying to take Vivo away for quarantine. Gabi doesn’t see eye to eye much with her mother Rosa (Zoe Saldana) and turns out to have much more in common with Vivo, so there is some depth to the dynamic as they rush a critical piece of sheet music all the way to Marta.

The songs are all fine (occasionally, the animation style will even change for them). It’s fitting that most characters are looking for love in some way (Brian Tyree Henry has an amusing small role as a romantically awkward bird searching for a partner) with their own musical inclinations. Still, the first and last 15 minutes of Vivo are more thoughtful and heartrending. In contrast, everything in the middle is good-natured humor and diversions that pale compared to those storytelling highs. It’s not a frustrating experience, but some of the impact is lost from that tonal shift. Throughout most of Vivo , it’s easy for everything aside from the music to register as noise until the proceedings become meaningful again.

To be fair, Vivo does have something beautiful to say about the unifying power of music and its ability to allow people and memories to live on forever. There’s also a good message about speaking your feelings and what’s in your heart, as nothing hurts more than living with no knowledge of what could have been. Still, the execution is a bit too formulaic and upbeat for its own good. It’s a film that wants to achieve that Pixar-level emotional devastation but is also content settling for something safe and average that’s able to coast along by more great music from Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Flickering Myth Rating  – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check  here  for new reviews, follow my  Twitter  or  Letterboxd , or email me at [email protected]

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Vivo Reviews

... The should of this movie is expressed through its compositions. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Dec 6, 2023

A cute animal in the lead role is always entertaining, the animation is gorgeous and the story has a nice balance of fun and emotion.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 6, 2023

Vivo is a fun little journey and a more light addition to Miranda’s library of work. It might be predictable or even forgettable, but it’s not a bad time either.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Jul 19, 2023

A sizable disappointment given the participation of Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Aug 27, 2022

With a good script, a strong cast and terrific music, Vivo hits all the right notes.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Aug 25, 2022

As a huge fan of home video, the included bonus features [for "Vivo"] are minimal and a tad disappointing when compared to other Netflix/Sony Pictures Animation release "The Mitchells vs. the Machines."

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 24, 2022

Vivo expresses the anxiety and ambiguous loss surrounding transnational migration...

Full Review | Aug 23, 2022

It's fine...the plot is kinda clunky, but it's well cast. [Blu-ray]

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Aug 23, 2022

Sadly, the film's decision to downplay Cuban music in favor of American pop is stifling, and the repeated attempts at humor only serve to exacerbate its predictable structure.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/10 | May 17, 2022

A decade in the making, Vivo is full of surprises. While the story itself has its twists and turns that fail to properly hold the story along the way, it hits the ground running and manages to stick the landing in the end.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Mar 7, 2022

Vivo is a strong and heartfelt feature that is a celebration to music that only animation can deliver with such style and fun.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Feb 16, 2022

From the musical mind of Lin-Manuel Miranda, the film gives us an array of satisfying new songs for the likes of Miranda and Gloria Estefan to sing with a number of fascinating characters and situations surrounding them.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5 | Feb 12, 2022

The animation in the film is very effective, with some dream-like images that work very well in some scenes. It may not be as slick a production as some other animated films I've seen this year, but it is very effective on an emotional level.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Dec 16, 2021

There are many moments where the energy lags or the film seems to be veering of course but it's a relentless mixture of tones that is energetic and bursting with liveliness.

Full Review | Oct 26, 2021

A fun and colorful adventure about friendship, family and the power of music to change our lives that shines thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda's ingenuity. [Full Review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Oct 10, 2021

Lin-Manuel Miranda's flow brings a smile to my face, and applying it to a typical family-friendly animated adventure film allows it to bubble up and please.

Full Review | Oct 7, 2021

Vivo is clearly aiming for the same pseudo-educational cultural experience that has become Lin-Manuel Miranda's calling card. Yet, in many ways, it's actually an even more antiquated view of Cuban culture than the stereotypes it's aiming to replace.

Full Review | Oct 2, 2021

Miranda accentuates the Cuban beats and rhythms quite nicely, and a couple of his songs feature his signature rapping/singing combination that tends to elevate the proceedings when necessary.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Sep 11, 2021

Leaving me with a smile on my face, tapping toes, and a warm spot in my heart, "Vivo" is one of the best animated offerings of the year.

Full Review | Original Score: 7.5/10 | Aug 27, 2021

By no means a classic, Vivo hits enough of the right notes, literally and figuratively, to put it on your family-time calendar.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Aug 20, 2021

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Brilliant but deals with death & suicide., report this review, too sad for 13 under, funny, entertaining & heartwarming.

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Film Review – ‘Vivo’ Is a Joyous Delight with Great Songs and Characters

The spirit and heart of a place can’t quite be captured without physically being there. Yet films offer a pathway to areas that most audiences will never travel to, and the best way to convey the feeling of a unique location or specific community is to show the energy and values infused into residents. What they share with visitors should be the best of what a place that means so much to them has to offer. The new animated musical comedy Vivo does that masterfully, showcasing a taste of Havana, Cuba through song and soul.

Vivo is a kinkajou, best described as a rainforest honey bear, who lives in Havana and spends his days regaling locals with his musical talents and the assistance of his owner, Andrés. They have a great routine and Vivo loves his life. That stability is forever changed when a letter arrives from Marta Sandoval, a famous singer who wants to reunite with her longtime partner for her farewell concert in Miami. When Andrés is unable to deliver a love letter – in song form – that he wrote years earlier, Vivo takes it upon himself to do so, reluctantly jumping into the suitcase of Andrés’ grand-niece Gabi to make the trip to the United States.

This movie is really a lot of fun, and its success is due in large part to the establishment of ground rules for what its characters can’t do and a lack of emphasis on whatever else feels more fantastical. For instance, Vivo, voiced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, sings and talks so that the audience can hear, but to the human characters in the film, he just sounds like an animal making noise. Other animals, however, can understand him and communicate directly. As with so many animated films, the laws of gravity and the actual measurements of space and time are more flexible, allowing the journey to be even more appealing given that it’s not bound by traditional limitations.

This film opens very strongly with an introductory song and only becomes more vibrant as it continues. Fans of Hamilton and In the Heights will be thrilled to recognize not only Miranda’s voice but also his style of music, one that features fast lyrics and buoyant dance sequences. It’s also not all the same, as demonstrated in particularly fabulous fashion by Gabi, voiced by the marvelously impressive thirteen-year-old Ynairaly Simo in her film debut. Her signature song, “My Own Drum,” includes the catchy refrain “I bounce to the beat of my own drum,” indicating her uniqueness and lack of interest in conforming to what society expects, which makes her a perfect partner for the very different but equally individually-minded Vivo.

The framing of this film’s narrative is similar to so many animated adventures before it, but it’s a formula that works, and one that works exceptionally well. There’s unexpressed love, nature-knowledgeable Girl Scouts, and even egotistical bus drivers, with a tremendous array of talent providing voices for all of the characters, among them Zoe Saldana, Juan de Marcos, Brian Tyree Henry, Nicole Byer, Michael Rooker, and Gloria Estefan. Though Vivo does encounter unexpected obstacles along his path to try to find Marta and give her the music that will communicate how Andrés felt about her, this film doesn’t have a dull moment and is entirely engaging for the whole of its ninety-five-minute runtime.

Vivo is categorized in the Representation Matters Collection for Netflix, which affirms its evident commitment to showcasing a culture that feels special and singular, expressed vividly through Miranda’s musical style. The animation is beautiful and vibrant, and this film deserves a place alongside Coco , Over the Moon , Abominable , and other recent winning explorations of communities across the world in positive, uplifting, and poetic ways.

Vivo premieres globally on Netflix on Friday, August 6th.

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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Vivo’ On Netflix, An Animated Adventure Starring Lin-Manuel Miranda As A Singing Kinkajou

Where to stream:.

• Vivo (2021)
• Stream It Or Skip It

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Lin-Manuel Miranda might be one of the busiest men in Hollywood; from penning and starring in Broadway hits like In the Heights and Hamilton and melting our hearts with the infectious tunes of Moana to taking on a leading role in Mary Poppins Returns and directing the upcoming Tick, Tick… Boom!, it’s a wonder the multitalented music man ever gets a moment of rest. He once again lends his voice and writing skills to an animated adventure in Vivo , now streaming on Netflix.

VIVO : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: Vivo (Lin-Manuel Miranda), a kinkajou (an adorable rainforest mammal related to raccoons) spends his days busking in the streets of Havana, Cuba, with his owner Andrés (Juan de Marcos). They put on quite the show wherever they go, charming the hearts of locals and tourists alike. At the end of one long day of performing, Andrés is stunned to receive a letter from his long-lost love and former collaborator Marta Sandoval (Gloria Estefan), who tells him she is set to perform a farewell concert in Miami in the near future. Andrés is inspired by this letter, revealing that he wrote her a song all those years ago to tell her how he felt – and never played it for her. While Vivo is initially totally against the notion of leaving Cuba behind, he is inspired to go in Andrés’ place when tragedy strikes.

After hitching a ride with Andrés’ niece Rosa Hernández (Zoe Saldana) and young daughter Gabi (Ynairaly Simo) back to Florida, Vivo begins his journey to bring the song to Marta. With the help of the precocious Gabi, they venture the 100 miles to Miami, through the Everglades and beyond. Despite some sassy girl scouts, a grumpy python, and a few other obstacles in their path, the adorable duo will stop at nothing to deliver this special song to Andrés’ amor.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: Vivo may bring to mind other family favorites like Coco , Soul , Kubo and the Two Strings , Tangled , and even Finding Nemo .

Performance Worth Watching: I really wanted more of Andrés (Juan de Marcos), even though his physical absence for most of the film is obviously necessary. But de Marcos’ voice is smooth like butter, and Andrés’ character is totally infectious; he charms us exactly as he should in a very short amount of time. Andrés’ delightful charm is partially due to the animation, sure, but most of it is thanks to de Marcos’ lovely voice performance.

Memorable Dialogue: It might be cheesy, but an early line from Vivo – “what difference can one song make?” really sets the tone for the rest of the film. While he initially says it in a moment of skepticism and fear, we soon learn just how big an impact one gesture can have in many lives.

Sex and Skin: None.

Our Take: With its dazzling visuals, catchy tunes, and heartfelt story, Vivo is the platonic ideal of a film enjoyable for the whole family. The tragedy that strikes early on might be a little more difficult for younger viewers, but much like the depiction of loss in Coco , Vivo manages to avoid going too dark in the face of death. It only takes moments to be immersed in the world of the film; Havana and its inhabitants is animated in arresting fashion, full of life and color and music and all kinds of people. As soon as Miranda’s signature fast-paced verses drop as Vivo charms onlookers in the square, you know you’re in for something uniquely charming. It’s delightful, plain and simple. I could watch a whole film of just Andrés and Vivo winning hearts all over Cuba.

Vivo , for all its charms and delights, does struggle with some of its secondary stories; I found myself waiting for the sequences in the Everglades to end (the spoonbills were cute, but unnecessary) and didn’t really know why the “Sand Dollars” were there. The relationship between Rosa and Gabi also felt a bit underdeveloped, especially given the tremendous loss they suffered and are still navigating when we meet them. These issues aren’t enough to mess with the wholesome magic at Vivo ‘s core, however, and the film is able to overcome any problems with the help of Miranda’s toe-tapping tunes and some genuinely great voice performances. (Don’t be surprised if your children are singing “My Own Drum” for the foreseeable future).

Our Call: STREAM IT. While Vivo may stumble over a few story blocks, Miranda’s memorable tunes and a heartwarming message at its center make this sweet film more than worth your time.

Will you stream or skip the animated adventure #VivoMovie on @netflix ? #SIOSI #VivoNetflix — Decider (@decider) August 9, 2021

Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines, hogging the mic at karaoke, and thirst-tweeting. Follow her on Twitter: @jadebudowski .

Stream  Vivo  on Netflix

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Vivo review – the best beat is a heartbeat

Vivo may not be Lin-Manuel Miranda’s best, or even Sony Animation’s best, but its message, music, and inclusivity make it an essential watch.

This review of the Netflix film Vivo does not contain spoilers. 

Leave it to Lin-Manuel Miranda to make the kinkajou mainstream. Despite sounding like the name of a second-generation Pokémon, it’s actually the name of the tropical mammal at the forefront of Sony Animation’s latest animated venture — and its first-ever animated musical — with Netflix, Vivo .

The film starts with the titular creature performing on the streets of Cuba with his elderly owner Andrés, a talented musician in his own right. When a former flame turned international superstar, Marta Sandoval, invites him to perform at a concert with her overseas in Florida, Andrés packs his bags without hesitation.

Years prior, Andrés had written a song for Marta. In it, he expressed his true feelings for her, yet never gave it to her out of fear that she would stay with him and not follow through with her dreams. While reluctant at first, Vivo ultimately warms up to the idea to support his dear friend. However, when Andrés suddenly passes away, Vivo takes it upon himself to deliver that song and the message that Marta never knew. Along the way, he encounters several new friends including Andrés’ grand-niece Gabi, two clumsy roseate spoonbills, and some wild and well-intentioned girl scouts.

There are many things to love about this film. Overall, I enjoyed the animation, the music, the humor, and the message. However, the film’s setting is easily my favorite aspect. While the film starts off in the South Caribbean country of Cuba, most of it takes place in Florida. Even though the film is confined to a small corner of the globe, thanks to the various geographic landscapes the state has to offer it still feels like an international adventure. I know it probably sounds like a silly thing to appreciate, but a story like this could have gotten stale very quickly, and the setting ensures that the characters stay on their toes constantly. Plus, like the rest of Sony’s animation, it’s always beautiful to take in.

Although I wouldn’t say it’s the best work that Sony’s done, it is up there with another one of the company’s gems this year, The Mitchells vs. The Machines . Director Kirk DeMicco, who previously helmed The Croods , takes a lot of really cool liberties in the film, breaking the rules of traditional animation and incorporating a lot of fantastical elements, especially during its musical numbers. The result elevates the audience and makes them feel as joyous as Vivo is performing.

While arguably repetitive of some of his previous works, Miranda’s musical contributions are also a memorable part of the film. He wrote 11 original songs for it. Even though I don’t think all of them are bangers, there are some really great ones. The performances that he and the rest of the cast carry the songs through are ultimately what makes them all enjoyable.

The best performance by far in the film is that of newcomer Ynairaly Simo. She plays Andrés’ niece Gabi, and she pretty much steals the show. Vivo certainly gets all the cute moments and the best songs, but Gabi gets the more emotional ones and funniest dialogue.

Now, although the movie is really entertaining and filled with so many great moments, it did fall flat at times. For example, I found the film’s penultimate musical number — which the entire thing kind of builds up to — to be one of the weaker songs. Additionally, there are some subplots that feel a bit too tacked on. One prime example of this is Gabi’s mom’s whole arc. Throughout the film, she searches the city to try and prevent Gabi from going to the concert. Despite a wildly different motivation here, it felt to me very derivative of similar plotlines in other animated films. More specifically, I think Onward executed that subplot a bit better.

Overall, this film still delivers. Its message about the power of love, even after life, is unparalleled. Not only does it deliver in terms of entertainment too, but it also delivers with its representation. Miranda may have gotten a lot of backlash for the lack of representation in his last film In the Heights , but that’s not the case here. I recall covering Sony’s Wish Dragon a few months ago, and talking about how even though it was a so-so film people would still be able to resonate with it on a personal level because the characters feel like real people. The same goes for Vivo .

Being a person of Cuban descent myself, I can especially vouch for that. As if seeing the flag and hearing the language wasn’t enough, many of the characters in this film including Andrés and Gabi felt like members of my own family. So while it may not be perfect, it’s still important. What Vivo lacks in story, it makes up for in its message, music, and inclusivity.

What did you think of the Netflix film Vivo? Comment below.

Article by Dempsey Pillot

Dempsey Pillot joined Ready Steady Cut in May 2021, and he is an entertainment critic and content producer with extensive experience with written reviews and interviews. As well as being a loving full-time father, husband, and confessed cinephile, Dempsey is an Assignment Editor at Spectrum News NY1, a local news network covering New York City.

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Film Review: ‘Vivo’ is a Colorful and Musical Animated Experience

A hallmark of good animated fare has long been a catchy soundtrack. In fact, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that some of the best musicals have been found within the world of animation. Now, Vivo can be added to that list. Featuring a whole host of enjoyable tunes from Lin-Manuel Miranda , the film works overtime to charm you. Between the bright colors, songs, and voice work, Netflix and Sony Animation have a hit on their hands. It’s more than a little bit of a shame that Vivo won’t be hitting theaters, but even as a streaming option, it manages to stand out. Especially for families, this is one to look forward to when it hits Netflix in early August.

Vivo is fairly simple, but it’s rather well executed, and that makes a difference. You don’t have to overload on ambition or a high concept in order to work. Sometimes, a classic story done well is all you need. The bright and colorful animation stands out, so if the story only hints at deeper elements, you likely won’t mind one bit.

This animated adventure begins in Cuba. There, Vivo (voice of Lin-Manuel Miranda), a musical kinkajou, is living a lovely life playing music for adoring crowds, all at the side of his doting owner Andrés (voice of Juan de Marcos González ). The latter may not understand the former (though we do), music bonds them. One day, Andrés gets a letter in the mail that will change things forever. Arriving from the famous singer Marta Sandoval (voice of Gloria Estefan ), the note is inviting her old partner to a farewell concert she’s having. Marta is hoping to reconnect with him, and the feeling is mutual. However, Andrés passes away before he can head off to Miami and reunite. His passing leaves Vivo with a song that Andrés wrote to Marta, one that tells her what he’s always felt. Desperate to get her the song, he sees an opportunity when Andrés’ family visits for his memorial. Tween Gabi (voice of Ynairaly Simo ) takes a shine to Vivo, and while he doesn’t care much for the out of control kid, she’s his ticket out of here.

Hiding away in Gabi’s luggage, Vivo arrives in Miami and, along with the high energy girl, sets out for Marta’s concert. Dodging animals, children, and Gabi’s mother (voice of Zoe Saldana ), the pair bond while attempting to fulfill Andrés final wish. The journey is a mess, with close calls throughout, but one filled with adventure and music.

Lin-Manuel Miranda makes for a strong voice acting lead, while also putting forth solid music. Nothing here approaches Hamilton, but between Vivo and In the Heights , not to mention the impending tick, tick…Boom! , he’s having a hell of a year. He makes the talented kinkajou a character well worth following. Ynairaly Simo may prove divisive, though it’s not for a lack of effort. Gabi is incredibly high energy, so Simo goes all in on that. It just may be a bit much for some. Miranda and Simo do make a good team, however. The rest of the voice cast includes Nicole Byer , Gloria Estefan, Juan de Marcos González, Brian Tyree Henry , Michael Rooker , Zoe Saldana, and more.

Filmmaker Kirk DeMicco co-directs here with Brandon Jeffords , while co-writing with Peter Barsocchini , Quiara Alegría Hudes , and Lin-Manuel Miranda (who also contributes the musical book). While DeMicco and company certainly puts forth a simple work, it’s done in an amusing enough way that it goes down easy. Admittedly, Gabi may grate on some as a character (including yours truly), she’s designed to entertain the youngest of viewers. Aside from that, and a bit of a bloated running time, they all come together to make Vivo easily enjoyable.

Vivo will delight children, while still being more than amusing enough for adults. Initially meant to be a theatrical release, the movie would have been thrilling to see on the big screen. Still, even just on Netflix, it’s going to make kids very happy. In fact, it’s going to make entire families smile, and that’s truly something.

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Vivo review: Lin-Manuel Miranda's rapping kinkajou movie could use a little less rapping kinkajou

Netflix's peppy new animated musical travels from Havana to Miami, with a bit of fun and some mishaps along the way.

Forget pirates. Vivo takes place in the modern Caribbean, all neon waves and pastel clothes, with Cuban beats echoing across the Florida straits all the way to Miami. The musical adventure (streaming Friday on Netflix) stars Lin-Manuel Miranda as the voice of Vivo, a kinkajou who works as the animal half of a street-performing duo. The opening number takes place on the streets of Havana, with a tune that lets Miranda mix his chatter-rap version of Broadway with a generous helping of local musical flavor. Non-animated Havana has lately been the sight of vast anti-government protests. Your mileage for a cheerful cartoon in that setting may vary, and even second graders will find the politics rather hazy.

Vivo sort of delivers as an energetic caper, moving from one colorful locale to another. Vivo's owner, elderly guitarist Andrés (Juan de Marcos), gets a letter from his long-ago near-love, the now-famous singer Marta Sandoval ( Gloria Estefan ). Flashbacks to the glory days of Andrés and Marta play out in dreamlike 2D, with animation that's romantically jazzy and anti-realistic on purpose. It looks lovely — and makes the rest of the film feel a bit bland, despite the lush coastal environments. (The film comes from director Kirk DeMicco, who also made The Croods ; rude to always say "Pixar looks better," but, well.) Vivo sets off to bring Andrés' lost ballad to Marta in time for the superstar's last Miami show. That requires a stopover in Key West — and a partnership with Andrés' grandniece Gabi (Ynairaly Simo). Their trip cuts through the Everglades, so that's four vacation locales in one brisk, 96-minute runtime.

Charismatic newcomer Simo makes Gabi a breakout character, con­fidently aspirational in her eccentricity, with a drum obsession that masks a sorrowful loss. Her shout-pop anthem "My Own Drum" is a kid's bop any adult can enjoy. Like all the tunes in Vivo , "My Own Drum" is an original Miranda composition. It's the most obvious lark. With the other songs, you feel the mind behind In the Heights and Hamilton working hard to integrate the legacy of Cuban music. Juan de Marcos is well-known internationally for his work with the Buena Vista Social Club. Estefan is, well, Estefan. Vivo digs deep into Cuban cultures across two countries. And this was originally a Sony production, which means nobody in this version of Florida even talks about theme parks.

Still, if you're at all skeptical of the lately controversial Miranda... well, the rapping kinkajou in a fedora won't change your mind. Vivo doesn't do its main character any favors by setting itself in a neither-here-nor-there version of a talking animal adventure. We hear Vivo's voice, but humans don't, but Gabi always seems to understand him, so weirdly Vivo doesn't even need Vivo to talk. And then, at the midway point, a bunch of other talking animals suddenly show up in the Everglades, possibly just so Miranda isn't voice-acting into a vacuum. The sudden-onset supporting cast includes Brian Tyree Henry and Nicole Byer as lovelorn spoonbills. Their way-too-brief appearance seems to come from a much zanier tropical-species ensemble film. Meanwhile, Gabi lives in Key West, but although there are a couple extensive sequences on the island, there's no sign of any drag shows: Missed opportunity!

I assume the youth will find fuzzy Vivo himself very cute, if a bit plastic-looking. Throughout, Miranda makes a valid attempt to merge mambo, hip-hop, and a bit of EDM with his trademark leafblower-of-lyricism flow. That sums up the movie's melting-pot clash of Cuban traditionalism and American-born Gen-Post-Z anarchy. Have tissues ready, and thank Vivo for teaching the little ones a valuable lesson: Do not go into a swamp alone, or you will meet a tree-size python who sounds just like Michael Rooker . B

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Vivo movie review: Vibrant and wonderful Netflix musical continues Lin-Manuel Miranda's domination

Vivo movie review: boasting stellar visuals, a moving story, and trademark lin-manuel miranda earnestness, the new netflix film is a musical adventure that continues his cultural domination..

In its attempt to match the intensity of the third act devastation that usually defines Pixar movies , Sony’s Vivo drops a plot development so heartbreaking within the first 15 minutes that it basically spends the rest of its run time trying to sustain that level of emotion. It nearly succeeds.

It was only a matter of time before juggernauts Netflix and Lin-Manuel Miranda collided, so it makes sense for them to have chosen to collaborate instead. Vivo is the third film to have been offloaded by Sony Pictures Animation to the streaming giant, following The Mitchells vs the Machines and Wish Dragon.

Watch the Vivo trailer here:

Boasting stellar visuals, a moving story, and trademark Lin-Manuel Miranda earnestness, Vivo is a musical adventure that continues his cultural domination. He is the voice of a generation, and this is his year. Vivo is sandwiched between the equally resonant In the Heights , his directorial debut, Tick, Tick… Boom!, and Disney’s Encanto -- a packed calendar by anybody's standards. But if Lin-Manuel Miranda fatigue were a thing, we’d have experienced it already.

The Tony, Grammy, Emmy and Pulitzer Prize-winner in 2021 makes his strongest bid for an EGOT yet. In Vivo, he plays a kinkajou who goes on an adventure to fulfil the final wish of his owner, Andrés. He must relay a musical message to Andrés’ long-lost beloved, a famous singer named Marta Sandoval.

Andrés and Marta were lovers back in the day, but when destiny came calling, they parted ways. Andrés, in a grand sacrificial gesture, stayed back while she went away to follow her dreams. As Marta became a star, he spent his days playing music on the streets of Havana, Cuba, with Vivo, whom he rescued when the little critter was a baby.

Vivo is joined on his mission by Andrés’ grand-niece, Gabi, a 10-year-old misfit who lives in Miami with her mother. A version of Never Have I Ever unfolds in this subplot, but Vivo taps into Gabi’s personal loss only occasionally. It is never heavy-handed with the emotional manipulation. Whatever melancholy there is is woven organically into the fabric of the film.

Vivo and Gabi realise that though they might be very different on the surface — Vivo is a rational-minded monkey who measures his every move, while Gabi is unafraid of failure — they serve as foils to each other. But after a vibrant opening act in Cuba, the film spends a solid half hour in a Miami-adjacent swamp, the kind where Dexter Morgan would dump the bodies of his victims.

The swamp interlude in Vivo isn’t without its charms — Bryan Tyree Henry and Nicole Byer cameo as star-crossed spoonbills — but it feels strangely menacing in an otherwise upbeat movie. This is the stretch in which a villainous python voiced by Michael Rooker puts another roadblock in Vivo’s mission — an unnecessary diversion, if you ask me, considering the many obstacles that Vivo and Gabi already had in their path.

Director Kirk DeMicco, best known for having co-directed the Dreamworks hit The Croods, flirts with different animation styles here. While most of the movie relies on the sort of hyper-stylised CG animation that we’ve come to expect these days, certain scenes — the flashbacks — revert to a charming 2D aesthetic.

It is also worth noting that Andrés’ song for the girl that got away, which the movie builds towards for over an hour and has none other than Gloria Estefan perform, isn’t a patch on the show-stopping opening number. But DeMicco and co-writer Quiara Alegría Hudes, perhaps knowingly, circle back to a reprise of One of a Kind in the film’s final moments, thereby ensuring that you’re left with a sense of satisfaction, at least on a superficial level.

Also read: In the Heights movie review: Lin-Manuel Miranda's summer sensation arrives in India in time for monsoon

Vivo works because it’s earnest; and it doesn’t alienate adults in the manner that so many other animated films targeted at kids seem to. It might not be tuned to your tastes, and its tempo might fluctuate, but there are worse things to shrug at.

Director - Kirk DeMicco

Cast - Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldana, Juan de Marcos González, Bryan Tyree Henry, Gloria Estefan

Follow @htshowbiz for more

The author tweets @RohanNaahar

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Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Vivo can’t escape the shadow of Hamilton, even with astounding animation

Miranda stars as a singing kinkajou in the Netflix animated musical

by Petrana Radulovic

Netflix’s animated adventure Vivo has a weird origin story. Lin-Manuel Miranda originally pitched the movie to DreamWorks in 2010, before his Hamilton days. The project ended up at Sony Animation, where it was fast-tracked and fine-tuned with High School Musical screenwriter Peter Barsocchini . Slated for a 2020 theatrical release, Vivo was eventually shifted to 2021, then sold off to Netflix, where it’s finally available to stream.

Vivo comes from director Kirk DeMicco ( The Croods ), with music by Miranda and longtime collaborator Alex Lacamorien ( Hamilton and In the Heights ). And when the movie leans into the music and the love story at its core, it shines, evoking poignant emotions. But when the filmmakers try to smoosh in wildlife hijinks, it falls into the all-too-familiar trappings of the most cliché animated kids movies.

[ Ed. note: this review contains spoilers for Vivo. ]

The film follows a kinkajou named Vivo (voiced by Lin-Manuel Miranda) who plays with musician Andrés (Juan de Marcos González) every day in a plaza in Cuba. When Andres’ lost love Marta (Gloria Estefan), who left Cuba many years ago to become a famous musician, sends him a letter asking him to come to her last concert, he’s determined to give her the song he wrote many years ago on her departure. But there’s a significant plot reason Andrés cannot make the journey himself, or call or email to explain that. So Vivo must journey to Miami with the song, even if that means partnering up with Andrés’ great-niece, quirky Gabi (Ynairaly Simo), who much to Vivo’s despair, is an aspiring musician who isn’t very good at music.

The movie’s biggest selling point is Lin-Manuel Miranda, both as songwriter and as a vocal presence. But that creates a weird experience where Vivo raps about being hungry and scrappy on the streets, and it really just feels like an animated version of a Hamilton outtake. While the music is gorgeous, and definitely one of the film’s highlights, hearing Miranda’s nasal voice come out of the adorable kinkajou is jarring. (It doesn’t help that Miranda has become a meme on TikTok , and for the very plugged-in, he’s been associated with a certain stigma since many of the memes make fun of him.)

Miranda’s songwriting skills are still stellar, but the best part of Vivo happens when the music and animation work in tandem to elevate the story, playing with the visual style to highlight the music, so it all meshes together in a beautiful symphony. Andrés sings about his memories with Marta, and the movie shifts into a retro concert-poster style, with bright blocks of color and soft edges. When Gabi sings an anthem to being unapologetically weird, it becomes a neon techscape. These moments are transcendent, a testament to both the strength of the music and the creativity of the animation production design.

But while those sequences shine at the beginning, the middle of the movie turns into a romp through the Everglades, with a shoehorned-in subplot about Gabi trying to avoid the in-universe Girl Scouts because she thinks they’re lame rule-followers. (Also, they’re threatening to report Vivo to animal control.) There are a lot of talking-animal hijinks, as Vivo and Gabi meander through the wetlands. They get separated early in their adventure, which only escalates the problem of how disjointed this escapade feels from the overall story about music and long-lost would-be lovers. The middle of the movie feels like two entirely separate plotlines: one about a lost kinkajou encountering wild animals, and another about a weird little girl who doesn’t want to fit in with others. Some emotional threads do boost the overall story — like Gabi and her mother struggling to understand each other after the death of Gabi’s father — but a random love story between two birds, for instance, doesn’t add much.

Thankfully, by the time the film ends, the story shifts back to Marta and Andrés, and the final musical sequence is poignant. If more of the story focused on that romance and the power of music, Vivo would be a memorable experience, one similar to the emotional power of Pixar’s Coco , which also focuses on music, long-lost lovers, and the next generation carrying on the torch. Even with gorgeous animated sequences and wonderful music, the film juggles too many shenanigans, detracting from the more powerful story at hand. Still, the ending harkens back to what made the movie shine in the first place, tying it all together in a beautifully bittersweet finale.

Vivo is available on Netflix on Aug. 6.

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THE BELLS OF ST. MARY'S

Reviewed by: Samuel A. Torcasio CONTRIBUTOR

Story of a 19 year old boy who lives for basketball and video games

A year out of high school, he still has no job, no plans, and no idea how to be a man.

A mother futilely tries to call out THE MAN in her son

How does a boy become a man, especially when his father has abandoned him?

Learning to make better life decisions

The importance of becoming a true follower of Jesus Christ

Christian DISCIPLESHIP MATTERS / mentoring

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit , and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” — Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

We all need someone who believes in us.

Importance of giving up our selfishness and foolish pride

For a follower of Christ, what is love —a feeling, an emotion, or an action?

When we follow Jesus , He bears fruit through us.

What advice do you have for new and growing Christians ?

Importance of prayer support

Are you willing to go the extra mile?

What are goodness and righteousness ?

What are good works and what is their reward?

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him (Lam. 3:25)

What is holiness and why are we to pursue it? Answer

A broken and unforgiving relationship with one’s father

“Don’t be a drain, be a fountain.”

T he latest entry from the Kendrick Brothers is one of the best to date. This film develops the theme of discipleship and what that looks like in the life of a new believer . Matters such as responsibility, authority, prayer , and giving things up for the sake of the Lord are addressed in this movie and presented well and with conviction.

All of the cast does an excellent job, and there were appreciated moments of humor.

This review won’t give away much as regards to the plot, but we do want to note that this is a spin-off of the movie “ War Room ,” so those who have seen that film will be delighted to see the return of some beloved characters. The “ War Room ” characters do not dominate this film—it is not after all a direct sequel. The writers gave them just enough of a presence, but not enough to overshadow the main characters of this film.

The story follows a young man named Isaiah who is angry, lost, hurt, and confused. He meets a man named Joshua who takes him under his wing, leads him to faith in Christ , and disciples him. This film presents the gospel at various points, including Isaiah reading the Romans Road on screen.

Then the film really focuses in on what the Christian life looks like after one has come to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation . Joshua mentions to Isaiah that discipleship has a cost, and that very few want it. There is definitely a particular challenge that Isaiah has to overcome after he becomes a believer, and it has to do with forgiveness. It is handled really well.

The discipleship focus centers in on a men’s fellowship called The Forge, from which the movie gets its name. It’s a group committed to discipleship. The movie makes clear that all the men of this fellowship have someone they are discipling, and though Joshua is Isaiah’s main discipler, all the men play a role in encouraging him to grow in the Lord. “The Forge” highlights the importance of men discipling men. Joshua and the other men are invested in Isaiah’s spiritual growth, and we need to see more of that in our churches.

I was also happy to see that the theme of discipleship is developed within the context of the local church. Isaiah, at the beginning of the film, before he is a believer, says that he doesn’t have a need for church . Joshua, the character doing the discipling, belongs to a church. Early in the film we see Joshua bringing Isaiah to a church outreach event, and after Isaiah gets saved, we see him get baptized. It is important to highlight this because the discipleship process must involve connection to a local church.

We also see how Isaiah’s discipleship makes a difference in his work ethic. There are many practical lessons in this film including one on the importance of being on time. Joshua tells Isaiah that he needs to be a fountain and not a drain. The idea being to give more to others, rather than taking. Along those lines, he encourages him to treat others the way he wants to be treated (Matthew 7:12).

Another important theme is prayer , which picks up on the main theme of “ War Room .” One of the characters at one point says, “You can’t treat prayer like it’s some spare tire.” She also encourages the other characters to start prayer by “praising the Lord for who He is.”

There is a scene of Isaiah having personal prayer time in his room, and it is one of the most realistic and moving prayer scenes I have viewed on screen.

At some points it may seem like Isaiah is yelling at the Lord. This could have been his passion in the moment. And while we must always approach the Lord our God with reverence and respect, we can also be honest and know He understands our passions and struggles. Many of the Psalms model this for us. So, while I can’t know exactly what was intended to be going through the character’s minds, we understand that like all of us he is a flawed and fragile human being.

What was most certainly conveyed was his brokenness in the moment. Isaiah’s prayer is heartfelt and his love for the Lord is apparent.

Answered prayer in particular is a theme in this film, and indeed answers to prayer are a reality in the believer’s life. Some may argue that the film could give the impression that prayers are always answered the way we expect. I don’t know that this is necessarily a fault in the movie, simply because of the fact that this is a movie, and it cannot portray everything in a perfectly corresponding way to real life. I believe that the Bible teaches God answers prayer (John 15:16), and I have also have personally experienced it.

Further, it is certainly good to encourage believers to pray by pointing to answered requests, but at the same time it is worth noting there is much more to learn about prayer. Some prayers are not answered immediately, and we must wait for extended periods on the Lord (Psalm 13). Sometimes our prayers are not aligned with God’s will, and the answer is no. Sometimes the answer is different than what we expected. We also have to allow for misunderstandings on our own part. The more we know God’s will in His Word , the more we will know what to pray and will see answers (John 15:7). But even then, it is always subject to God’s timing, not ours. These are all important things to keep in mind about prayer .

Another matter to note is that the film talks about the “ sinful-nature ” which is a translation of a Greek word which literally means “ flesh .” There is debate over whether sinful nature is an accurate translation. “Flesh” can be used in many senses, but one of those senses refers to the sinful part of believer. It is used this way in Galatians 5:13. More literal translations simply translate this as flesh . The flesh is that sinful part of the believer that fights against the Holy Spirit working in the believer (Galatians 5:16-26). Every believer has this battle, and victory comes only through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 7:24-25; Galatians 2:20).

There was one possible misuse of the Lord’s name noticed.

Overall, this is a highly enjoyable and impactful film. My wife and I found ourselves thinking about it for days after. Personally, I was both challenged and motivated by this movie. The Gospel is presented, discipleship is emphasized, and there are many important life lessons. This is a great film for a family or church group to see and talk about after.

• Violence: Minor
• Drugs/Alcohol: Minor
• Profane language: None
• Vulgar/Crude language: None
• Nudity: None
• Occult: None
• Wokeism: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers .

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Christian Movie ‘The Forge’ Soars into Top 5, Earns Perfect A+ CinemaScore

• Michael Foust Crosswalk Headlines Contributor
• Updated Aug 26, 2024

A Christian movie cracked the Top 5 over the weekend and edged a new big-budget film as fans gave it a perfect A+ CinemaScore grade. The Forge (PG), the latest movie from filmmaking brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick, opened the weekend at No. 5 with an estimated gross of $6.6 million even though it played in only 1,818 theaters—a significantly lower count than the four films above it that showed in at least 3,000 theaters. Made for only $5 million, The Forge beat the new $50 million budget movie The Crow , which grossed $4.6 million and finished No. 8, according to estimates.  

The $3,630 per-theater average for The Forge was No. 3 among all movies . 

Meanwhile, the A+ CinemaScore grade made director Alex Kendrick only the fourth director in film history to earn a perfect score, joining fellow faith -based filmmaker Jon Erwin, who also has four movies with A+ CinemaScores. The other Kendrick movies that scored an A+ were Overcomer  (2019), War Room (2015) and Courageous (2011). 

CinemaScore is a polling service that asks fans to rate movies they've seen on opening weekend. Perfect scores are rare. The other two new movies this weekend, The Crow and Blink Twice , earned B grades.  

The movie tells the story of an irresponsible young man who transforms into a responsible individual under the mentorship of a wise older mentor.

Stephen Kendrick, the producer of The Forge , said he and his brother judge a film's success not on box office numbers but on its impact on souls.

"Big picture, though, we're hoping and praying that the church will be strengthened, the lost will be saved, the gospel will go forth," he added. "It's hard to kind of calculate and measure that, but when you hear from people around the world sharing how the movies have changed their lives, it gives us a little foretaste of maybe what's to come."

WATCH: The Forge - Official Trailer (HD)

Photo Credit: ©Sony

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

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