cs100 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".

James Hitchcock Why blame it on Rio? Blame it on the scriptwriters, who should have realised that a storyline about a teenage girl who goes on holiday to Rio de Janeiro and ends up having an affair with her father's best friend, a married man more then twice her age, would need to be handled sensitively if it were not to end up as little more than barely legal kiddie porn. Sensitivity, however, is a commodity in short supply in this silly sex comedy, which is just as trashy and exploitative as it sounds. Although it is ostensibly a comedy, wit and humour are nowhere in evidence either.Blame it on Stanley Donen. Donen was perhaps a director who hit his peak too soon, directing his greatest film "Singin' in the Rain" while still in his twenties. Although he made some other good musicals and comedies in the fifties and early sixties, he was left looking like a figure from the past by the decline of the Hollywood musical and the cinematic revolution of the late sixties and seventies. There were other directors around this time who were also left looking like dinosaurs, but most of them were a generation older than Donen who was only in his early forties when that revolution began. Although he is still alive more than a quarter of a century later, "Blame It on Rio" was to be his last film as both director and producer, and I doubt if it is the one he wants to be remembered by. (His penultimate offering, "Saturn Three", was pretty awful too).Blame it on Michael Caine. He has always had the ability, infuriating to those like me who admire for his best work, to move effortlessly from the sublime to the ridiculous and back again. Every film star, however eminent or talented, has at the back of their wardrobe what I think of as a "silver chalice" (after Paul Newman's disastrous screen debut, which he later publicly disowned). Sir Michael has a whole shelf full of silver chalices on public display. Which explains why he is the star not only of fine movies like "Alfie", "Get Carter" and "Hannah and her Sisters" but also of "The Swarm" and "Blame It on Rio". Here he plays Matthew, the middle-aged businessman who ends up being seduced by the amorous and hormonally overactive Jennifer. The only explanation for this bizarre choice of role is that, after all the hard work he had put in on "Educating Rita" and "The Honorary Consul" (two more of his best films), he felt that he was in need of some rest and relaxation, and could think of nothing more restful and relaxing than spending time with a beautiful near-naked teenage starlet in the tropical sunshine. Donen borrows the device used by Lewis Gilbert in "Alfie" of having Caine speak direct to camera, but that is about all the two films have in common. In terms of quality they are miles apart.Blame it on Joseph Bologna, who plays Jennifer's father Victor. Certainly, any character who takes as obsessive an interest in his daughter's love life as Victor does in Jennifer's is bound to seem somewhat creepy, but Bologna makes Victor creepier than he need be. His fury on discovering that Jennifer has an older lover seems less like parental over-protectiveness than like jealousy.Blame it on the lovely Michelle Johnson as Jennifer. Blessed with the angelic looks of a Brooke Shields (albeit with a more voluptuous figure than Brooke's slim, boyish one), Michelle was, before the film came out, hotly tipped for stardom. After it came out, she wasn't. Although she was happy to display her charms to the world, modesty obviously compelled her to keep her acting talents well hidden. The film also introduced another lovely young actress, Demi Moore who plays Nikki, Matthew's daughter and Jennifer's best friend. Demi, however, survived the wreck of this film much better than Michelle, probably because hers was only a minor role, and did indeed go on to become a major star.Blame it on the director, the producer, the scriptwriters, the actors. Blame it on whoever wrote that irritating theme song. Blame it on anyone who had anything to do with this lousy movie. But don't blame it on Rio. Why should the blameless citizens of that fair city be held responsible for the crimes against art and good taste which are committed in their name? 3/10

elcoat To heck with self-important critics and carping prudes, this is one of the best adult comedies ever made, and I think the best and fairest review here is by John Edward O'Brien. All the actors seemed well picked for their parts, especially radiant Michelle Johnson.The only reasons I can think of for the hostility toward the film are the prejudice against older men together with younger women and Michelle Johnson's striking and uninhibited beauty, which must make every woman or girl who sees it green with envy. Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn certainly acted like that when they saw her in the scene in Death Becomes Her.And it is very cute the way Demi Moore tried to hide herself under her long tresses in the topless beach scene.I have been disappointed not to see more of Michelle Johnson in movies, and I hope she is happy. This film certainly lifted my spirits.It certainly should be out on DVD, unedited.

ivko It's funny how much time changes your perspective on life. I first saw this movie when I was 12 or 13. The VCR had just come out and my family rented one as part of a New Years treat. I think my dad may have intended this one to be just for the adults (or just for him :) ) but of course I stayed up late and watched it. I was absolutely convinced that I was in love with Michelle Johnson. I had never seen a more beautiful angel in my life, and I honestly couldn't blame Caine's character for his actions. Heck, I even hoped the romance would work out.In case you are unfamiliar with the plot, the basic idea is that Matthew Hollins (Caine) is going thru a mid-life crises. His best friend suggests they rent a nice house in Rio and head down for vacation with their teenage daughters. Once there, Matthew begins an affair with his best friends daughter and, I guess, hilarity ensues.Anyway, flash forward a few years and I decided to rent the movie for nostalgia's sake. Big mistake. It's like re-reading your favorite novel from when you were a kid; as an adult you see all the shortcomings you missed as a child. Apart from Caine the acting is mostly dreadful, especially the very photogenic Johnson. The plot is ridiculous, and, as I discovered 45 minutes or so into the movie, really really creepy. There is a scene where Caine and Johnson are lying in a hammock and he recalls kissing her bottom at her Christening. Directly after this little stroll down memory lane, they have sex. OMG! Is it possible to get any more twisted? I had to stop the movie at this point.Anywho, apart from just how wrong the central plot is, I will say a couple of nice things about the movie. First, Rio has never looked more beautiful. Made me want to plan my next vacation there. Second, you can see a young Demi Moore in one of her first roles. And third, although the movie itself doesn't match up to my childhood memories, Michelle Johnson does look gorgeous in this. So, all in all, I give it a 6 out of 10.