Chico & Rita 2010

A.O. Scott, New York Times: Sexy, sweet and laced with a sadness at once specific to its place and time and accessible to anyone with a breakable heart, "Chico & Rita" is an animated valentine to Cuba and its music. Read more

Stephen Garrett, Time Out: An animated film that could actually open up audiences to the world, instead of giving them an escape from it. Read more

John Hartl, Seattle Times: Remarkably sexy for its genre (it's not for kids at all), it's nostalgic about a time and place that rarely gets treated on film ("Godfather II" touched on it), and it has an emotional pull that may catch you by surprise. Read more

Tasha Robinson, AV Club: A heady wonder for fans of the music, the era, or visual creative art in general. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: When a soundtrack this fluidly elegant is married to trite dialogue, thin characterizations, and chockablock animation, it has to go down as a missed opportunity. Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: Presented in a wash of animated colors, this story of a hot-headed sexy Latina songstress and her jazz piano player takes on new life. Read more

Stephen Farber, Hollywood Reporter: A visually hypnotic, musically electric film. Read more

Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: A buttery rich animated tale of love, jazz, showbiz, fame and politics in the late '40s and early '50s that is as catchy as its tunes. Read more

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: The film melds dazzling visuals and a wildly infectious score into a simple yet affecting love story. Read more

John Anderson, Newsday: "Chico & Rita" is that rare thing, a cartoon for adults, with a bittersweet take on love and fate and a romantic's view of the night. Read more

Bob Mondello, NPR: It's so passionate about the Latin and big-band music of the '40s, '50s and '60s that it'll make anyone who grew up listening to those vibrant rhythms feel like a kid again. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: The real romance here is between the filmmakers and the cultural moment they hope to document. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: "Chico and Rita'' beguiles first and foremost as a bebop romance that evokes a bygone era as well as, or maybe even better than, "The Artist." Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: It's entertaining to watch, and I enjoyed the way they slipped in such real-life figures as Dizzy Gillespie beside the fictional leads. Read more

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com: A dazzling and delightful work of modernist animation, a classic movie romance and a hip-swinging, finger-popping tale of musical revolution... Read more

Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle: By virtue of its simple, stylized look - bold lines and color blocks - and effervescent Cuban jazz score, the Spanish animated feature "Chico & Rita" rises above its routine story of a troubled love affair between talented musicians. Read more

Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: When a place and its people are this stylish, we can't help but be drawn to them. Read more

Fiona Morrow, Globe and Mail: This sexy, pulpy, very grown-up film is not your usual best animated feature material. Read more

Alonso Duralde, TheWrap: There's an outline of an epic love story here, but the screenwriters never bother to fill it in all the way. Read more

Michelle Orange, Village Voice: A dazzling thing to behold. Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: A pure delight, a keenly affecting, visually ravishing tale. Read more