Having mostly cut ties with his former owner Linda (Leslie Mann), he’s celebrating a traditional New Year’s Eve high above one of Rio’s beaches* where locals gather.

    When Jewel’s former guardian*, ornithologist* Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro), and Linda travel to the Amazon rain forest shortly after their marriage and discover a living group of endangered* blue macaws, Jewel decides it’s time for the family to get back to their rainforest roots with a trip to the jungle*. Bookish little bird Bia (Amandla Stenberg), hellraiser* Tiago (Pierce Gagnon) and teen Carla (Rachel Crow) are up for the trip, but Blu can only go into the jungle with his gadgets*, including a multi-tool and GPS navigation* he can use to find Linda and Tulio in the forest.

    Blu’s friends join him for the adventure, including toucan* Rafael (George Lopez) and his sidekicks*, singers Nico (Jamie Foxx) and Pedro (the Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am). Two thousand miles from Rio in the depths of the Amazon rain forest, they meet dozens of blue macaws led by proud patriarch* Eduardo (Andy Garcia), along with his sister Mimi (Rita Moreno) and Roberto (Bruno Mars), Jewel’s childhood friend.

    Eduardo is Jewel’s long-lost father, who’s leading the defense of their forest home against loggers. Blu and his family are also menaced by his former enemies, cockatoo* Nigel (Jemaine Clement), who was badly injured at the end of the first film, but returns more evil than ever.

    Blu needs to prove his worth to his new father-in-law and help offer an effective defense against the threats.

    Brazilian music, particularly bossa nova* and samba, was the feature of the first film, but in the sequel, the filmmakers branch out with a range of styles, performed by a star lineup* of musicians.

    The rainforest plants and animals in the film are vivid and beautiful, made even more attractive by the 3-D format.

    (SD-Agencies)