Rio 2

Prequel: “Rio” (2011)

“Rio 2” picks up where “Rio” left off: Blu and his family are happy living life in Rio de Janeiro. All this is about to change when bird experts Tulio and Linda think they discover more Blue Spix Macaws in the Amazon. Jewel is excited and insists the family should go to the Amazon to unite with the other Macaws. Upon traveling to the Amazon and meeting the other Macaws, Blu feels very out of place and wants to return to Rio de Janeiro, but Jewel and the kids are happy there. Will the family be torn apart? Meanwhile, Tulio and Linda find themselves in the middle of an illegal logging plot. What will happen to them?

“Rio 2” can be great opportunity to teach kids about marriage, our call to protect God’s creation, and spirituality.

“Rio 2” opens with some partying involving alcohol (champagne) and suggestive dancing in front of the famous statue of Jesus, which seems a little disrespectful to me. However, parents can use this scene to tell kids that even in settings that seem hidden from Him, God is aware of what we are doing (Luke 12:3).

There is a lot of violence in the film; I think the movie should have been rated PG and only older kids should be taken to it. Creatures eat one another frequently, and there is a lot of talk about killing others by various means (poison and clawing are the most mentioned). One character implies that he wants to die. Blu’s kids try to launch their babysitter into the sky, but Blu stops them. One character gets hit by a dart and another attempts suicide.

There is some occult material in this movie, as well. One character has a job as a fortune teller, and another claims to foresee a future event. It is crucial that parents warn their children about the danger of the occult—even activities that simulate occult practices, as they can develop into actual occult practices, which is very dangerous to spiritual health (Acts 19:19; Deuteronomy 18:9-12; Galatians 5:19-21; Isaiah 8:19). God is offended when we consult other spiritual beings to find out information, such as fortunes, that He alone knows (Exodus 34:14).

There is a treasure trove of lessons about marriage in this movie; parents should teach these to their children and live them out in their own marriage. Both the human and bird couples show a devotion to each other and refusal to leave one another, even to the point they will leave behind their parent/owners. This reflects the biblical view of marriage and willing sacrifice very well (Matthew 19:5-7). Verbal communication is used to work out disagreements, which is an excellent model of a healthy marriage. One character tries to tempt Jewel with his attractiveness, but she stays faithful to Blu. This shows that marriage will not be without temptation, but God will give us the power to overcome (1 Corinthians 10:13). However, she does seem to reminisce about her childhood romance with him and enjoy herself in his company, so it is possible she committed adultery in her heart, which is a danger kids should be warned about (Matthew 5:28).

Women are respected and cherished by their husbands, as they should be (Ephesians 5:25), however one states “happy wife, happy life.” While husbands should love their wives sacrificially, we must keep in mind that God’s happiness is much more important, and it is Him we are here to serve.

There is also a good lesson in taking care of God’s creation. Tulio and Linda work very hard to protect the Macaws and the rain forest. This is a good example, because we are called to be good stewards of the Earth. God calls His creation good, and we were given the command to watch over it (Genesis 1:28).

Bad language is minor; one bird calls the humans “freaks,” one says “cheese and sprinkles” as a euphemism for using Christ’s name in vain. There is some potty humor as well.

Overall, “Rio 2” is chock full of lessons that parents can teach their kids, but I advise parents to only take children 9 and up for this film.

Violence: Moderate / Profanity: Minor / Sex/Nudity: Minor

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

• Positive
• Neutral
• Negative
• Young people