Before the internet, before late-night cable TV shows, before the VCR brought entertainment of all types into the privacy of American homes, there were movies like "10", "The Blue Lagoon", and "Blame it on Rio", whose chief attraction was the opportunity to glimpse beautiful women parade around in nothing or next to it. Nowadays, of course, much more explicit material can be found with the click of a mouse. But given that I had seen the first two of those three movies when they were initially released, but not the third, I decided to use the wonders of the internet to go back in time to see how "Blame it on Rio" would come across in the year 2011.
The short answer: "Blame it on Rio" is slightly deeper (and longer) than an episode of "The Love Boat"; it's about on par, as far as psychologically based comedies go, with the Chicago-based version of "The Bob Newhart Show". So there are no insightful commentaries on the human condition contained within the storyline: the basic message, I would say, is that it is awfully hard to remain monogamous for the entire lifetime of a marriage. The storyline never quite degenerates into a farce, which would probably be an improvement, nor is it dramatic; it is sort of in between. Thus, the chief attraction, twenty-seven years later, remains the eye candy.
There won't be enough eye candy to satisfy 21st century viewers seeking visual thrills; as I said there is much more explicit content on the internet which is more easily accessible. But for those who were of age in the 1980s, watching "Blame it in Rio" does offer some highlights, while bringing back memories of how entertainment used to be. The main highlights are Michelle Johnson, who gives what turns out to be the best performance of her career while at the peak of physical perfection of her young nubile self; and the gorgeous portrayal of the city of Rio de Janeiro in a more carefree, innocent time, before it became known more for crime and slums.
The lines that Michelle Johnson has to utter are usually cringe-inducing, or that is they would be if the viewer was paying any attention at all to them, but fortunately she provides ample visual distraction, and for that her performance is to be applauded. She does a great job shedding her inhibitions. But surprisingly, in retrospect, the young female actress who went on to much more fame and fortune, and who is even now still on the cover of celebrity magazines, is Demi Moore. In "Blame it on Rio", Demi can't hold a candle next to Michelle Johnson's performance.
"Blame it on Rio" is recommended only for folks such as myself, who remember the impact it made at the time but didn't see it then. It is not a classic, or even as good a movie as Blake Edwards' "10".
The short answer: "Blame it on Rio" is slightly deeper (and longer) than an episode of "The Love Boat"; it's about on par, as far as psychologically based comedies go, with the Chicago-based version of "The Bob Newhart Show". So there are no insightful commentaries on the human condition contained within the storyline: the basic message, I would say, is that it is awfully hard to remain monogamous for the entire lifetime of a marriage. The storyline never quite degenerates into a farce, which would probably be an improvement, nor is it dramatic; it is sort of in between. Thus, the chief attraction, twenty-seven years later, remains the eye candy.
There won't be enough eye candy to satisfy 21st century viewers seeking visual thrills; as I said there is much more explicit content on the internet which is more easily accessible. But for those who were of age in the 1980s, watching "Blame it in Rio" does offer some highlights, while bringing back memories of how entertainment used to be. The main highlights are Michelle Johnson, who gives what turns out to be the best performance of her career while at the peak of physical perfection of her young nubile self; and the gorgeous portrayal of the city of Rio de Janeiro in a more carefree, innocent time, before it became known more for crime and slums.
The lines that Michelle Johnson has to utter are usually cringe-inducing, or that is they would be if the viewer was paying any attention at all to them, but fortunately she provides ample visual distraction, and for that her performance is to be applauded. She does a great job shedding her inhibitions. But surprisingly, in retrospect, the young female actress who went on to much more fame and fortune, and who is even now still on the cover of celebrity magazines, is Demi Moore. In "Blame it on Rio", Demi can't hold a candle next to Michelle Johnson's performance.
"Blame it on Rio" is recommended only for folks such as myself, who remember the impact it made at the time but didn't see it then. It is not a classic, or even as good a movie as Blake Edwards' "10".