Tangled

(Disney, 2011)
Main Point of Discussion: We must train ourselves in godliness if we are to become who we dream of being.

The Movie Clip: “I’ve Got a Dream.”

Tangled is a fun, clever Disney computer-animated take on the story of Rapunzel. The movie is about the famous fairytale princess known for her incredibly long hair, who has been held captive in a secret tower her whole life. In this movie, Rapunzel coerces Flynn Rider, a thief, to take her on an adventure in search of her destiny. The movie is very creative and funny, and is entertaining for children as well as adults.

The clip we are using for this discussion features Flynn Rider taking Rapunzel to a pub filled with roughian types of thugs and scary characters. Flynn is trying to scare Rapunzel back to the tower. However, in this scene Rapunzel ends up mentioning her dreams to these thugs, and they respond by sharing, via a hilariously written song, that like Rapunzel, they too secretly have dreams.

Introducing the Clip:
Today we’re going to watch a clip from the movie Tangled. Many of you have probably seen this movie. It is a really funny version of the fairytale princess Rapunzel, who was known for her ridiculously long hair. We’re going to watch a scene from the film, that features Rapunzel and her traveling companion, a thief named Flynn Rider, as they come across a pub filled with some scary individuals. The whole reason for coming here is so that Flynn Rider can scare Rapunzel in hopes of quitting their adventure. This is a great scene with a pretty funny song in it, but be sure to really listen to the words, because we’re going to discuss this scene afterward. Let’s watch.

Scene Script:

BEGIN CLIP AT 37 MINUTES AND 09 SECONDS (in Chapter 5).

Flynn: (opens door of pub) Garon, your finest table please! (Rapunzel gasps when she sees the clientele.) You smell that? Take a deep breath through the nose. (Inhales deeply.) Really let that seep in. What are you getting? To me, it’s part man-smell and the other part is really bad man-smell. I don’t know why, but overall it smells like the color brown. Your thoughts?

Thug: That’s a lot of hair.

Flynn: She’s growing it out. Is that blood in your mustache? Goldie, look at this! Look at all the blood in this man’s mustache! Good sir, that’s a lot of blood! You don’t look so good, Blondie. Maybe we should get you home, call it a day. Probably be better off. This is a five-star joint. If you can’t handle this place, maybe you should be back in your tower.

(They go to leave, but another thug stops them. He has a wanted poster with Flynn’s picture.)

Vladimir: Is this you?

Flynn: Now they’re just being mean.

Thug with Hook: Oh, it’s him alright. Greno, go find some guards. That reward’s gonna buy me a new hook.

(Thugs begin fighting over Flynn. As Thug with Hook is about to punch Flynn, Rapunzel strikes the thug in the head. They all stop and look at Rapunzel.)

Rapunzel: Put him down! Okay, I don’t know where I am, and I need him to take me to see the lanterns because I’ve been dreaming about them my entire life! Find your humanity! Haven’t any of you ever had a dream?

Thug with Hook: (Takes out axe and begins walking toward Rapunzel.) I had a dream once.

(Song starts.)

Thug with Hook:
I’m malicious, mean and scary
My sneer could curdle dairy
And violence-wise, my hands are not the cleanest
But despite my evil look
And my temper, and my hook
I’ve always yearned to be a concert pianist
Can’tcha see me on the stage performin’ Mozart?
Tickling the ivories ’til they gleam?
Yep, I’d rather be called deadly
For my killer show-tune medley
Thank you!
‘Cause way down deep inside
I’ve got a dream

Thug Chorus:
He’s got a dream!
He’s got a dream!

Thug with Hook:
See, I ain’t as cruel and vicious as I seem!
Though I do like breaking femurs
You can count me with the dreamers
Like everybody else
I’ve got a dream!

Big Nose Thug:
I’ve got scars and lumps and bruises
Plus something here that oozes
And let’s not even mention my complexion
But despite my extra toes
And my goiter, and my nose
I really want to make a love connection
Can’t you see me with a special little lady
Rowin’ in a rowboat down the stream?
Though I’m one disgusting blighter
I’m a lover, not a fighter —
‘Cause way down deep inside
I’ve got a dream
I’ve got a dream!

Thug Chorus:
He’s got a dream!

Big Nose Thug:
I’ve got a dream!

Thug Chorus:
He’s got a dream!

Big Nose Thug:
And I know one day romance will reign supreme!
Though my face leaves people screaming
There’s a child behind it, dreaming —
Like everybody else
I’ve got a dream

Thug Chorus:
Tor would like to quit and be a florist
Gunther does interior design
Ulf is into mime
Attila’s cupcakes are sublime
Bruiser knits
Killer sews
Fang does little puppet shows

Thug with Hook:
And Vladimir collects ceramic unicorns!

Flynn:
I have dreams, like you — no, really!
Just much less touchy-feely
They mainly happen somewhere
warm and sunny
On an island that I own
Tanned and rested and alone
Surrounded by enormous piles of money

Rapunzel:
I’ve got a dream!

Thug Chorus:
She’s got a dream!

Rapunzel:
I’ve got a dream!

Thug Chorus:
She’s got a dream!

Rapunzel:
I just want to see the floating
lanterns gleam!

Thug Chorus:
Yeahh!

Rapunzel:
And with every passing hour
I’m so glad I left my tower —
Like all you lovely folks
I’ve got a dream!

Thug Chorus:
She’s got a dream!
He’s got a dream!
They’ve got a dream!
We’ve got a dream!
So our diff ‘rences ain’t
really that extreme!
We’re one big team…!
Call us brutal —
Sick —

Thug with Hook:
Sadistic —

Big Nose Thug:
And grotesquely optimistic

Thug Chorus:
‘Cause way down deep inside
We’ve got a dream!

I’ve got a dream!

All:
Yes way down deep
inside, I’ve got a dream!
Yeahh!

END CLIP AT 42 MINUTES AND 27 SECONDS.

Transitional Statement:
I love this scene. Although it’s totally silly and absurd, it does bring up an interesting thought. Everyone in the scene has a dream. Some have pursued their dreams, and sadly others haven’t. It can be a powerful thing when someone really goes for their dreams, but few people do. Today we’re going to be discussing our own dreams, and more specifically, rather than dreams of what we’d like to do when we grow up, dreams of who we want to be.

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

1. AROUND THE CIRCLE: Before we begin, tell everyone your name and if you got to be somebody else for a day, either fiction or real, past or present, who would it be and why?


2. ASK A FEW: Think back to when you were much younger. How did you imagine you’d be when you got to the age you are now?


3. ASK A FEW: How do you compare to who you thought you’d be?


4. ASK A FEW: When you think of yourself ten years from now, how do you picture yourself? Think about school or your job, relationships, where you’d live, etc.


5. ASK A FEW: Now think about your character. What kind of person do you want to be? Think about your attitudes, how people remember you, the way you treat your family, etc.


6. AROUND THE CIRCLE: How do you compare now to who you want to be later?


7. ASK A FEW: All the characters in the video we saw had dreams, but not many of them were truly living out their dreams. If these were real characters, what do you think kept them from becoming who they dreamed of being?


8. ASK A FEW: How do you think someone becomes who they dream of being, instead of the characters in the clip we saw?

Read the following passage:

1 Timothy 4:7,8 (NIV)
[7] Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. [8] For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.


9. ASK A FEW: This passage talks about becoming godly. When you dream of the kind of person you want to be, does your dream match God’s dream of godliness for you?


10. ASK SOMEONE: According to verse 7, if our dream is to be a godly person, what do we have to do?


11. ASK A FEW: Verse 8 explains that training ourselves to be godly is valuable, and will pay off throughout our life and even in eternity. How does that make you feel? Is that inspiring at all?


12. ASK A FEW: In what ways do you think training yourself in godliness would help you become the person you dream of being?

Read the following passage:

First introduce this passage: We’re going to read a passage from Ephesians that talks about how to train yourself in godliness. As we read, listen carefully to the kind of man (or woman) that this describes. Be ready to share a “golden nugget” from this passage, one thing you think God would want you to start training in.

Ephesians 4:22-32, (NIV)
[22] You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; [23] to be made new in the attitude of your minds; [24] and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
[25] Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. [26] “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] and do not give the devil a foothold. [28] He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with is own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
[29] Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. [30] And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. [31] Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. [32] Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.



13. ASK A FEW: What are a couple things in this passage that stand out to you?


14. AROUND THE CIRCLE: What is one thing you need to work on this week to begin training yourself to become the person you dream of being? What will you actually do differently this week?

Wrap Up:
Tonight we’ve discussed our dreams and the need to work and train at becoming who we desire to be. It’s a shame when someone has a dream of who they could be, but never gets there. Many people talk of what they need to start doing and how they need to change, but very few actually follow through. The passage we read tonight in 1 Timothy is very true; godliness is something that needs to be trained. It’s not something we just decide one day and have instant results. Just like a lot of people talk about their dreams of being in shape and looking fit, if they don’t actually train and work out and make changes in their lives, they’ll never realize their dreams. The same is true about our character. Many people dream of becoming loving, godly people, who are known for their wisdom and kindness to others. But if they never spend time training themselves in those areas, they’ll just disappoint themselves.

Tonight we’ve talked about what needs to change, and what we’re willing to do in order to become godly men and women. Let’s commit together to not just talk about our dreams, but to actually work and train to become who we dream of being. Let’s be part of the small number of people in the world who actually reach their dreams.

Close in Prayer

Written by Matt Furby