BLAME IT ON RIO. Directed by Stanley Donen; written by Charlie Peters and Larry Gelbart; produced by Stanley Donen for 20th Century Fox. Starring. Michael Caine, Joseph Bologna and Michelle Johnson. Rated R (lots of mostly innocent nudity).
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Fluff can be annoying in the washer or dryer, but it's not so bad in the movie theater. Blame It On Rio is a good example of this principle. Its story is silly and predictable (for the most part). The acting is mediocre (with one definite exception). But the dialogue is generally witty and the scenery is nice. On the whole it's reasonably entertaining, if not a "must-see."
Matthew (Caine) and Victor (Bologna) are old friends and business associates who take a vacation in Rio de Janeiro with their teenage daughters. During the visit, Victor's daughter Jennifer acts on an old infatuation, and seduces Matthew. Most of the complications and extrications that follow are what you would expect from such a situation. There are one or two unexpected twists, though. So the plot isn't completely without interest.
Rio may not be above average in the romantic comedy class (sub-division: May-September affairs). But Caine is responsible for the modest success it enjoys. He is as good as always here, and that's very good indeed. Matthew is a change of pace role for him, too, lighter and more frail than usual.
In addition to the superb performance, Matthew's character adds some unexpected depth to Rio. Alongside the other characters, who are mostly cardboard cutouts, he's a piece of sculpture. He's not just a dirty old man or a simple-minded Humbert Humbert, seduced by his Lolita. He has a snappy comeback for every situation, but he can't express his true feelings. In fact, the ultimate appeal of Jennifer (beyond her gorgeous body) is that somehow he's able to confront his feelings for her. Something he can't do for his wife and daughter.
The rest of the cast doesn't offer Caine much support except by contrast. Bologna's posturing gets boring. And Johnson is at her best when she's not talking, since she looks great. But she delivers all her lines in the same breathless, petulant tone. Valerie Harper, as Matthew's wife, does a good job, but her part is pretty small.
So Rio has Michael Caine, loads of gorgeous bodies (99% female) on the beach, and some nice shots of a beautiful city. Caine is the element that comes closest to making it worth seeing.
February 29, 1984