Chico & Rita is a film about a tumultuous relationship between a Cuban piano player and a singer. My appreciation for this film kind of starts and ends with the music. I like the style of the songs, and they certainly increased my enjoyment of the movie. I appreciate the way the passion for music brought these two people together, and how it played an integral part in the ups-and-downs of their relationship. I do wish that the big song that is so vital to the climax were more of a show-stopper. It didn't stand out to me as being particularly memorable or all that much more impressive than the other songs sprinkled throughout the film. Still, the music was all solid and in a genre I appreciate. I would gladly listen to a soundtrack any day. Sadly, when I say my appreciation begins and ends with the music, that's not much of an exaggeration. I did not enjoy the animation in Chico & Rita. I'm good with 2-D animation, it holds a warm nostalgic quality for me, but I like the art to look better than what I could draw (and believe me, I'm no artist.)
The plot, likewise, was a slog for me. This could get a bit spoiler-filled, so you might want to stop reading here if you haven't seen the film... Chico isn't a charming protagonist, and I found myself wishing Rita could find a better man. Yet her decisions of who to romance (when things didn't work out with Chico) felt quite mercenary which made her tough to sympathize with as well. It's one of those on-again-off-again romances that ends up frustrating me more than enchanting me. As things continue to come between them, I can't help thinking that is a good thing, and they should remain apart. The ending lacked any redemption or catharsis in my opinion, because each time they get together they just hurt one another and go their separate ways, so why would I assume a reunion after decades would be any different. All in all, I simply wasn't invested in the romance which was the central driving force of the plot. Chico & Rita had moments that I was hoping would redeem it for me, but most of the way through I was just enjoying the tunes and trying to tune out the rest.
The plot, likewise, was a slog for me. This could get a bit spoiler-filled, so you might want to stop reading here if you haven't seen the film... Chico isn't a charming protagonist, and I found myself wishing Rita could find a better man. Yet her decisions of who to romance (when things didn't work out with Chico) felt quite mercenary which made her tough to sympathize with as well. It's one of those on-again-off-again romances that ends up frustrating me more than enchanting me. As things continue to come between them, I can't help thinking that is a good thing, and they should remain apart. The ending lacked any redemption or catharsis in my opinion, because each time they get together they just hurt one another and go their separate ways, so why would I assume a reunion after decades would be any different. All in all, I simply wasn't invested in the romance which was the central driving force of the plot. Chico & Rita had moments that I was hoping would redeem it for me, but most of the way through I was just enjoying the tunes and trying to tune out the rest.