Rio =3

From the creators of the hit ICE AGE series comes RIO, a 3D comedy adventure about stepping outside your comfort zone and pouring yourself out for others. Blu is a domesticated macaw who never learned to fly and enjoys a comfortable life with his owner Linda in a small Minnesota town. He and Linda think he’s the last of his kind, but when they learn about another macaw who lives in Rio de Janeiro– a female named Jewel – they head to that faraway and exotic land to find her. Not long after they arrive, Blu and Jewel are kidnapped by a group of bungling animal smugglers. Blu ultimately escapes, aided by the street-smart Jewel and a group of smooth-talking city birds. Now, with his new friends by his side, Blu will have to find the courage to learn to fly, thwart the kidnappers who are hoton their trail and return to Linda, the best friend a bird ever had.

RIO is rich with scope and grandeur and alive with character, color, music and faithbased themes. The story unfolds amidst a colorful jungle, a beach paradise and a sprawling metropolis, culminating in the great pre-Easter celebration known as Carnaval. With the iconic Corcovado Mountain “Christ the Redeemer” statue toweringover the action, RIO is bursting with excitement, fun and the traditional virtues of faith, hope and love.

A FAMILY FILM WITH A CHRISTIAN MESSAGE
RIO is a fish-out-of-water story about a highly domesticated macaw – Blu, the last male of his kind who never learned to fly. The bird’s emotional, physical and spiritual journey is the film’s heart and core. In the sheltered comfort and familiarityof his owner Linda’s home, Blu thrives. In fact, he’s become so domesticated that he’s more human than bird! He can cook breakfast, brush his teeth, make the morning coffee and serve as Linda’s alarm clock. What he can’t do is what most birds do best – fly – which serves as a great metaphor for the spiritual journey that he, and all of us, is called to undertake. Like Blu, we get swept up in thedaily habits and routines of our lives but are often blind to the Great Reality beyond what we can see or feel. We walk when we can just as easily fly, if only we had the vision, the courage and the faith to transcend our doubts and fears. As if to shake them out of their lethargy, Linda’s and Blu’s lives are turned upside-down with the arrival of Tulio, an eccentric scientist who has traveledhalfway around the world bringing news that Blu is the last male of his kind and that he wants to take Blu to Rio to meet the last female macaw, named Jewel. After much deliberation, Linda and Blu make the fateful decision to travel to Rio, where their transformational adventure unfolds. Blu’s reaction to Rio is a mix of intimidation and enchantment. Experiencing the sensory overload of its colors,sounds and environs, Blu is completely out of his Minnesota comfort zone. How he responds offers a testament to the power of faith, hope and sacrificial love. More than just a popcorn movie, RIO combines broad humor, heartfelt drama and spiritual power that will keep your spirit soaring long after you’ve left the theater.

ABOUT THE DISCUSSION GUIDE
Faith-based audiences will respond to RIObecause it highlights biblical principles that are important areas of focus within faith and family circles. The story contains direct depictions of faith, reconciliation and self-sacrifice, and reflects the importance and value of “the struggle” in life. With an array of powerful Christian themes and moral lessons in its fabric, RIO can be used as a catalyst for spirited discussion in youth groups,CCD classes and at the family dinner table. The film presents engaging characters, explosive plot lines and rollicking humor which together provide an abundant harvest of material for children’s group discussion. Though lighthearted and funny in the cherished animated film tradition, RIO concerns the serious subjects of overcoming fear and finding your Godgiven purpose in life, notions that are...