Plugged In Entertainment Reviews

While there’s a lot to like here, there’s also plenty that might leave you feeling a little off beat.

In the new movie The Secret Garden, now available through major streaming outlets, we meet a young orphan named Mary Lennox. It’s 1947 in India, and 10-year-old Mary’s wealthy parents have died. So Mary returns to England to live with her stern widower uncle, Lord Archibald Craven. There, she meets Lord Craven’s disabled son, Colin. Despite Lord Craven’s strict rules, headstrong Mary, Colin and another friend soon discover a magical garden that promises healing and wholeness for the broken children.

This preschool-aimed show is packed with an extensive vocabulary, bright colors and fun music.

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You might even think of this western tale as a blending of the not-so-Wild West with a Hallmark special.

In the new movie Animal Crackers, now streaming on Netflix, Owen Huntington inherits a run-down circus from his Uncle Bob. There’s a burned-up tent, discouraged performers and a few animals. Owen’s on the verge of saying goodbye to the family’s circus when a clown named Chesterfield tells him a secret: His uncle left a box of magical animal crackers, too. Eat one, and you’ll transform into the animal you just gobbled up. This could change everything! Animal Crackers delivers some nice messages about family. And a lot of toilet humor along with one mild profanity. For those reasons, we’re giving Animal Crackers a 3.5 out of 5.0 for family friendliness.

The show addresses issues faced by many a middle schooler–but not in ways that their parents might approve of.

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Kane Brown is joined by Swae Lee and Khalid on this feel good song with a handful of not-so-feel-good moments.

Think of it as a poor-man’s Minions cartoon with a lot less, well, funny stuff.

In the new Netflix sequel The Kissing Booth 2, viewers are reunited with teen lovers Elle and Noah, who first connected romantically two years ago. Now, Noah’s off to Harvard, while Elle’s navigating her senior year of high school. She misses her man desperately, and she fears he may be seduced by more experienced women at college. Soon, though, Elle’s got a new problem—a newcomer named Marco who’s providing Elle with a tempting possibility of her own. But there’s more. Elle wants to join Noah at Harvard. But her only chance is winning a dance competition with Marco as her partner. Talk about teen drama. The Kissing Booth 2 is rated TV-14. But this Netflix movie’s teen characters act more like they’re 28. Physical intimacy is a given. Consequences of that activity are nowhere in sight. And while we don’t actually see a lot of it, there’s no question what’s happening here between Elle and Noah, as well as other characters (including some same gender pairings). Profanity, underage drinking and completely clueless parents add to this movie’s many concerns, especially since it’s definitely targeting a young teen audience. For those reasons, we’re giving The Kissing Booth 2 a 1 out of 5 for family friendliness.

Sure, these high schoolers sometimes have to take down the bad guys. But they’re more about lifting up each other.

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The group detests injustice. But it doesn’t deliver a redemptive alternative in this pulverizing collection of metal tracks.

Comes with a few controversies, but it’s also a heartwarming tale.

The new movie Radioactive, now streaming online, paints a portrait of Marie Curie. As the 19th century rolled into the 20th, this Polish-born French researcher met and married fellow scientist Pierre Curie. Together, they discovered the elements radium and polonium. Their work, of course, formed the foundation for advances such as the X-ray machine and cancer treatment, as well as paving the way for the atomic bomb. That’s the stuff of textbooks. But Radioactive also takes us behind the scenes of that story. What we see is a woman whose passionate stubbornness is almost her undoing. Marie cares little for what others think of her. But Pierre quietly helps Marie channel her passion in positive ways. Together, they make a dynamic radioactive duo that will lead to not just one, but two Nobel Prizes for Marie. Speaking of passion, we see a surprising amount of the physical kind on display here for a PG-13 film, both in Marie’s relationship with Pierre and in an affair she has after Pierre is tragically killed in an accident. Some violent images of World War I get screen time, too, as do the Curies’ deteriorating health due to radiation sickness. For those reasons, we’re giving Radiation a 2.0 out of five for family friendliness.

PJ Masks may not inspire kiddos to go to bed on time, but at least it teaches them about being kind and helping others.

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This album isn’t what you’d expect, especially when you see it labeled as explicit.

The biggest issue with this robo-drama is the completely unnecessary foul language in its memory bank.

In new movie First Cow, now streaming online, we meet two guys who don’t fit the profile of adventurous pioneers. Otis Figowitz is a cook for a group of rough and tumble trappers in Oregon in the early 1800s. He’s a quiet, reflective type—in contrast to the boisterous hunters he serves. Otis soon meets an Chinese entrepreneur named King Lu who’s seeking his fortune on the West Coast. Together they form an unlikely friendship and business relationship baking for the group they serve. Now, about that cow in the movie’s title. There’s exactly one milk cow in the region. And Otis and King Lu must steal its milk to cook for the men who love the food they’re making. Now, that may not sound like the plot for an edge-of-your-seat action movie. And … it isn’t. There are no explosions or firefights or battling robots here—though we do see a couple of fist fights along the way. Instead, what First Cow offers viewers is a quiet reflection on the virtues of friendship. Some profanities get lobbed about in this PG-13 indie film, but that’s as bad as things ever get here. For those reasons, we’re giving First Cow a three out of five for family friendliness.

Central Park probably isn’t the show you want to be central to your family.

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Kanye West calls out to God to change us and guide us with His spirit.

Feel the Beat is a predictable-but-sweet story about the value of self-worth, the need for selflessness and the beauty of family.

The new movie Greyhound, now streaming on Apple TV+, stars Tom Hanks as the captain of a Navy destroyer in World War 2. His assignment? Escorting supply ships across the Atlantic to protect them from Germany’s lurking U-boat submarines. Captain Krause is a man of deep character whose life is marked by faith and prayer. He walks the bridge of his ship until his feet literally bleed. But speaking of blood, we don’t see too much of that in this intense-but-restrained PG-13 war movie. A lone harsh profanity is the worst of it, content-wise. So we’re giving Greyhound a three out of five for family friendliness

It’s all supposed to be funny … but it’s not.

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NEEDTOBREATHE explores our struggle to accept, embrace and trust that God’s love requires nothing in return.

This glittery sequel ultimately teaches a valuable lesson about loving and accepting people who are different.

Sure, the show has a few tiny bumps—but for the most part, Cory Carson runs smoothly.

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Mraz sings about finding the positive and looking for the silver lining.

Kids find a magical creature that can grant wishes. But will it grant you a good movie? (PG)

My Spy, starring Guardians of the Galaxy alumni Dave Bautista, certainly seems to be aiming at family audience. But there are some disappointing elements families will want to know about before streaming this comedic actioner. (PG)

Defending Jacob is based on a book written by William Landay, and Landay himself suggests that the story is as much a family drama as it is a crime novel.

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Morris sings about the strength of a relationship when the foundation is solid.

This is an agonizing tale of a pregnant young woman who never really seems to recognize any other choice but abortion. (PG-13)

The new Christian comedy Selfie Dad, starring Michael Jr., revolves around a very simple message: prioritizing Scripture and allowing it to transform your life. (PG)

13 Reasons Why may, unintentionally, romanticize suicide for some teens, even though that’s not the show’s intent.

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The pop diva returns to familiar territory with dance club melodrama alongside characteristic bizarre portrayals of emotional distress.

Whatever point The Hunt may want to make, or whatever value it might hope to have, is pretty much obliterated by its violence. (R)

This romantic drama about a down-on-his luck guy who finds out he’s a spiritual healer almost feels like your typical Hallmark movie—except for a bit more language, drinking and suggestive content. (NR)

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Dua Lipa’s second effort delivers mixed messages when it comes to emotional independence and physical intimacy.

Whannel has crafted a film that plays out more as cruel reality than science fiction. (R)

Ah, the 1950s: sock hops. Poodle skirts. Drive-ins. … UFOs? This slow-burning sci-fi thriller looks on as two intrepid teenagers seek to unravel the mystery of strange sounds being picked up over phone lines in a small New Mexico town. (PG-13)