Our Vivo review is a spoiler-free discussion of the animated musical comedy/drama starring Lin-Manuel Miranda now streaming on Netflix.

Believe it or not, Vivo has been 11 years in the making. Lin-Manuel Miranda first pitched it back in 2010, following the success of In the Heights. It seems like kismet, then, that it was released not long after the In the Heights movie hit our screens.

After Sony acquired the rights to the idea in 2016, they put it under the title Vivo, based on an original idea from Peter Barsocchini. Director Kirk DeMicco and Quiara Alegría Hudes wrote the script that eventually became the Netflix Original we see today.

Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldana, Juan de Marcos González, Michael Rooker, Brian Tyree Henry, Nicole Byer, and Gloria Estefan round out the cast, with Miranda starring in the title role, having written 11 of the original songs.

At its heart, Vivo is a colorful tale about how music brings people together, no matter where they’re from or who they are—a lesson we can all get behind.

‘Vivo’ review

The premise

Vivo‘s plot is pretty straightforward—a singing, dancing kinkajou must travel to Miami to deliver a song to his deceased owner’s former flame.

Okay, it may be a bit unorthodox, but it’s not as out there as you might expect. While we can hear the kinkajou sing and rap (it is voiced by Miranda, after all), the characters in the movie only hear adorable squeaks. They do see him dance and play instruments, though, and don’t bat an eye.

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Vivo the kinkajou performed in Havana, Cuba with his owner, Andrés Hernández. Every day was the same, and he was happy! But when a letter from Andrés’ old friend Marta Sandoval arrives, inviting him to perform at her last show, Vivo’s entire world collapses.

He doesn’t want to go to Miami—he’s happy in Cuba, performing with his friend, where they’re the only two in the whole world that matter. There’s a hint of jealousy here, but when the time comes, it’s wiped away by grief.

Vivo finds Andrés in the morning, but he’s passed on during the night. The little kinkajou realizes how much seeing Marta meant to his friend, so he vows to travel to Miami in order to deliver the song Andrés would’ve sang.

This would have been an impossible task if not for the fact that Andrés’ niece(-in-law) Rosa and her daughter Gabi were in Cuba. Vivo hitches a ride in one of the suitcases, and he’s off to find Marta and fulfill Andrés’ dreams.

With that out of the way, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of this Vivo review.

The characters

Most of the characters are interesting enough. Andrés and Marta represent a timeless love that was never meant to be. Their relationship is about missed opportunities, but as bittersweet as the situation was, Marta went on to become a famous songstress and Andrés continued his song and dance in Cuba. Both happy, even without each other in their lives.

Rosa’s story is not all that dissimilar. Her husband, Andrés’ nephew, was the love of her life, but he died when Gabi was just a small child. Though they didn’t miss the opportunity to be together when they could, their story was tragically cut short.

It’s these two stories that bring Vivo and Gabi together. They have many differences—not least of which is their species—but they find a common ground in music. Where Vivo likes to plan, and rhythm comes easily to him, Gabi is a bit more of a free spirit who can’t quite get on beat.

As with most movies, opposites attract, and even though Vivo has more trouble dealing with Gabi than she does with him, they find a common ground in the mission to deliver Andrés’ song to Marta.

If I had to pick one character as my favorite for this Vivo review, it would be Gabi. Even though she’s a rebellious kid who couldn’t play a melody if her life depended on it, she’s the type of person we should all strive to be—unapologetically herself.

With purple hair, a rainbow assortment of clothes, and a louder-than-life attitude, Gabi doesn’t exactly fit in with her peers. (As an aside, I found the the Sand Dollar trio to be surprisingly delightful.) She’s used to being misunderstood, but perhaps that’s because she doesn’t give anyone a chance to get to know her without first pushing them away.

Throughout the film, Gabi’s antics get them into trouble, but both she and Vivo learn that nothing is a match for their combined determination. Their relationship propels the plot forward and provides this movie with most of its comedic and emotional moments.

The music

Of course, with any Lin-Manuel Miranda production, the music is going to be the heart of the film. Vivo‘s soundtrack listing is as follows:

1. Overture – Alex Lacamoire (1:12)
2. One of a Kind – Juan de Marcos González & Lin-Manuel Miranda (4:11)
3. Mambo Cabana – Juan de Marcos González, Lin-Manuel Miranda & Gloria Estefan (2:17)
4. One More Song – Lin-Manuel Miranda (2:32)
5. My Own Drum – Ynairaly Simo (2:22)
6. Keep the Beat – Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ynairaly Simo) (2:33)
7. Love’s Gonna Pick You Up – Brian Tyree Henry, Lin-Manuel Miranda & Aneesa Folds (1:30)
8. Tough Crowd – Lin-Manuel Miranda (0:28)
9. One More Song (Reprise) – Lin-Manuel Miranda (0:39)
10. Running Out of Time – Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ynairaly Simo, Chris Jackson, Veronica Jackson, Gloria Calderón Kellett, Bri Holland, Alana Da Fonseca, Jada Banks-Mace, Gloria Estefan, Zoe Saldana & Leslie David Baker (2:14)
11. Inside Your Heart – Gloria Estefan (2:41)
12. Grand Finale – Ynairaly Simo, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bryan Tyree Henry, Aneesa Folds, Bri Holland, Alana Da Fonseca, Jada Banks-Mace, Zoe Saldana & Gloria Estefan) (2:06)
13. My Own Drum (Remix) (with Missy Elliott) – Ynairaly Simo (2:57)
14. ¡Presente! – Gloria Estefan (2:23)
15. Marta’s Letter – Alex Lacamoire (0:44)
16. La Colecta/Suitcase of Memories – Alex Lacamoire (1:20)
17. Vivo Comes Around – Lin-Manuel Miranda & Alex Lacamoire (0:48)
18. Saving the Song – Alex Lacamoire & Lin-Manuel Miranda (1:26)
19. Welcome to Florida – Alex Lacamoire & Lin-Manuel Miranda (0:27)
20. Sand Dollar Animal Control – Alex Lacamoire (1:33)
21. Not On My Watch – Alex Lacamoire (0:39)
22. Lutador – Alex Lacamoire (0:52)
23. Gabi and Vivo – Alex Lacamoire) (0:53)
24. Bienvenido A La Familia – Alex Lacamoire & Lin-Manuel Miranda (1:37)
25. What Difference Can One Song Make? – Alex Lacamoire & Lin-Manuel Miranda (0:59)

Though it pains me to put it in this Vivo review, not all of the songs landed with me the way they were intended. Some of the slower ballads didn’t have the emotional resonance I’ve come to expect, and a few of the more upbeat songs weren’t quite as catchy as I wanted them to be.

“One of a Kind” is a great opener and should have anchored the film, both in terms of introductions and the message. However, “My Own Drum” did a better job on both fronts, and it was exactly what I wanted out of the song—something loud, upbeat, and damn catchy.

It’s a perfect track for any little girl to listen to, but it can still resonate with adults who may feel society’s pressure to conform. Although “One of a Kind” leads the film, you’d be better off putting on “My Own Drum” if your intent is to dance through the day.

“Keep the Beat” is a great song for Vivo and Gabi, and is a real turning point for the film. There’s a lot of heart here, not to be outdone by “Love’s Gonna Pick You Up,” performed by Dancarino and Valentina, which is also a bop.

The message

It’s not difficult to get to the heart of Vivo. Music plays an integral role in many lives, and it can bring together all kinds of people (and creatures) from every walk of life. Music is a way to remember those we’ve lost, honor those we love, and find new ways to connect with our friends and families.

This film is infused with a love for music, but it’s equally about loss and grief. When a loved one dies, it can be difficult to feel as though you’ve said enough while they were alive. Vivo feels guilty for not supporting Andrés’ dream to see Marta one more time, and Gabi feels like she never got to tell her father how much she loved him.

Even the side characters feel the sting off loss—both Marta and Rosa knows what it feels like to lose a loved one. The world is not quite as colorful without them, but Vivo reminds us that the show must go on. You can mourn the ones you’ve loved, but it’s better to honor them and the time you had together.

Whether that’s through a song, a memory, or a hug, it’s best to share that grief and love with other people.

What did you think of our ‘Vivo’ review?