Lin-Manuel Miranda Returns in a Tale of Friendship and Love
By Tom Soares
A kinkajou, a girl with purple hair and a secret love song tucked away for decades. For many, these would be the perfect ingredients for a disaster, but in the creative and celebrated mind of Tony Award-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, it is just the beginning of a vibrant musical adventure.
Directed by Kirk DeMicco, best known for his work on The Croods, and co-directed by Brandon Jeffords, who recently served as a storyboard artist for The Mitchells vs. the Machine, Vivo arrived on Netflix this weekend, another fruit of the successful partnership between the streaming giant and Sony Pictures Animation. With screenplay by Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegria Hudes (In the Heights) and eight brand-new songs composed and produced by Broadway sweetheart Lin-Manuel Miranda, Vivo follows the musically talented yellow kinkajou named Vivo, as he embarks on an international journey to honor his late owner’s wish.
When the locally famous street artist Andrés Hernández (Juan de Marcos González) receives a surprising invitation to reunite with the love of his life, the Cuban singer Marta Sandoval (Gloria Estefan) for a final onstage performance, but suddenly passes away, Vivo is forced to team up with the spunky 10-year-old Gabi (Ynairaly Simo), Andrés’ great-niece, in order to make his owner’s last dream come true.
Replete with the most hilarious situations, some very touching heartfelt moments and the most addicting songs on an animated movie this entire summer, Vivo is a blast from beginning to end. Running at ninety-nine minutes, the movie never seems long enough for how much fun viewers are certain to have, as they watch Vivo and Gabi travel from Havana to Miami, sometimes facing challenges bigger than themselves but always coming up stronger on the other end – both characters perfectly balancing out each other.
Always uptight and highly suspicious of Gabi and her seemingly reckless ways, Vivo struggles to accept her as a good caretaker or even someone worthy of the legacy left behind by Andrés. Meanwhile, Gabi constantly gets into trouble with her mother – and Vivo – for refusing responsibility and avoiding social life. At first, the only thing they have in common is their ties to the late musician and music itself.
And speaking about music, Vivo is Lin-Manuel Miranda at his best. The actor-singer-songwriter not only voices the little kinkajou but composed and produced every single one of the eight musical numbers performed throughout the movie, pouring so much of himself into this work that it wouldn’t be surprising if he receives another Academy Awards nomination for Best Original Song.
Correspondingly, the voice cast also did a very good job, even though not as memorable or strong as the word done in recent animated movies such as Raya and the Last Dragon or The Boss Baby: Family Business. The greatest highlight, of course, is the legendary Latin singer and dancer Gloria Estefan, who voices Marta Sandoval and lends her iconic voice to his already unforgettable character.
Vivo is available on Netflix and is certain to be a great hit this summer. Fast paced, funny, and vibrant, it never forgets to deliver beautiful and heartfelt moments that talk about loss, friendship, and love. With stunning visuals and catchy songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Vivo marks a return to form for him, and will undoubtedly provide high entertainment for everyone.