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Plugged in reviews of movies now in theatres.

There are lots of new movies in theatres and maybe your child has mentioned one or two of them to you. But what are these movies really about and how can you find out without having to go see them yourself? 

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Take a minute to hear a family-friendly review of the hottest movie, YouTube video, streaming series, video game, or new technology to help you decide if it’s a good choice for your kids and family. Hosted by Focus on the Family’s media and culture analysts, these reviews for parents offer a fresh Christian perspective on entertainment from a Biblical worldview.

Plugged In Entertainment Reviews Focus on the Family

• Kids & Family
• 4.3 • 142 Ratings
• MAR 24, 2024

Movie Review: Freud’s Last Session

In Freud’s Last Session, both the eminent psychoanalyst and the Christian apologist C.S. Lewis land on the psychologist’s couch.   Read the Plugged In Review   If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

• MAR 21, 2024

Movie Review: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

The latest Ghostbusters movie might be more family focused, story-wise. But let’s not confuse that with being family friendly.     Read the Plugged In Review   If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

• MAR 20, 2024

TV Review: The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy

This animated, sci-fi hospital comedy on Amazon Prime mines absurd gore and suggestive themes for its laughs.   Read the Plugged In Review   If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

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Have you thought about the best ways to set boundaries for your kids that reach beyond your home?   Read the Plugged In Blog   If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

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Mike Winger dives deep into Christian theology—so, do you have a minute?   Read the Plugged In Review   If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

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This revisionist fairy tale mostly minds its manners. Still, it can be pretty violent, too—and not everyone lives happily ever after.   Read the Plugged In Review   If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

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142 Ratings

Plugged In is Trying to Protect You!!!!

I know that many viewers out there don’t care about Plugged In and think they are trying to boss you around. NEWSFLASH: They are not!! They are only trying to protect you and your family. If you see a movie that is 0 stars, I think you know that that is a movie you do NOT want to take your kids to. If you have seen one, (which I HIGHLY recommend you don’t) you probably know that is not a great movie. Plugged In has reasons to rate these badly rated movies (violence, language, nudity etc.). Yes, people curse in real life, but I believe they don’t mention it because they want you to read the review. Another possible reason is that they want to protect kids who may not know what a bad word is. But the point is, this podcast wants your family to get the best out of a film in a cinema, and generally protect your early teens, younger kids, maybe even yourself. Some movies(I will chose not to mention them) are so bad that Plugged In doesn’t even rate them!!! So I encourage you to listen to these podcasts and look at the website and PLEASE take the time to see how they rate a movie before you go see it at the cinema.

Great reviews loved

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You got to check plugged in before you watch a movie. I mean, really, who wants to watch a bad movie? You can check any new movie through a Christian lens. Plugged in will let you know if there’s any cussing or murrdering, and will give you a 1-5 star rating Example: "spider-man into the spiderverse” has 4 out of 5 stars for family friendliness. So I’ll give plugged in 5 out of 5 stars.

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But co-stars Will Smith and Margot Robbie remain consistently charismatic, even once the script for this heist caper collapses in a punishing pile of its own twists and double-crosses.

For Smith, “Focus” functions as a return to form, which admittedly sounds odd in describing a box-office titan who hasn’t really gone anywhere in the past quarter-century. But recent years haven’t treated him so kindly, between the ponderous “ Seven Pounds ,” the forgettable “Men in Black 3” and the disastrous “ After Earth .” Here, as a veteran con man, Smith seems looser—charming as ever but also broken, commanding yet vulnerable. It’s as if he’s finally shifted into the right gear as he settles into middle age—good lord, is the eternally boyish and buoyant Smith approaching 50?—and he’s comfortable there.

For Robbie, “Focus” cements her status as a major star. After a hilarious and head-turning supporting performance in 2013’s “ The Wolf of Wall Street ”—where she nearly stole the whole behemoth of a film out from underneath a larger-than-life Leonardo DiCaprio —the Australian actress proves she’s just as fierce as a leading lady. It’s not just that she’s stunningly beautiful and impossibly photogenic (which she is). She also has great instincts and a flair for comic timing, with a playfulness that’s as powerful as her sex appeal.

The film from the writing-directing duo of Glenn Ficarra and John Requa gives these actors plenty of brisk and snappy material to work with, both individually and as a team in various forms. But, like Ficarra and Requa’s 2011 comedy “Crazy Stupid Love,” “Focus” begins promisingly and bops along enjoyably for a while, only to run out of steam in the third act.

At the start, though, Smith’s Nicky and Robbie’s Jess enjoy crackling chemistry as strangers trying to outsmart each other over wine and candlelight at an upscale Manhattan restaurant. (The way cinematographer Xavier Perez Grobet often shoots them—sitting opposite each other at a table in an opulent setting, bathed in sultry light—is reminiscent of the Steven Soderbergh classic “ Out of Sight ” in ways that surely can’t be a coincidence.) She’s a small-time hustler trying to weasel her way into more lucrative gigs. He’s been at this game his whole life and has major operations down to a science.

Once each of them realizes the truth about the other—if such a thing as truth is possible in a movie about con artists—she begs him to teach her everything he knows. This leads to a scene that’s one of the film’s highlights as they flirtatiously dance around each other in a snowy Lincoln Center, with Nicky preaching the importance of taking away a mark’s focus while pocketing every last one of Jess’ belongings.

Then it’s off to New Orleans, where Nicky reluctantly lets Jess join the massive team he’s assembled to snatch watches and wallets from the unsuspecting revelers who’ve gathered for a Major Professional Football Championship. (Whatever you do, don’t call it the Super Bowl.) Turns out, she’s a natural—a massive distraction in a tight dress with a light touch—as revealed in a beautifully edited sequence amid the crowds of Bourbon Street. And Jess distracts Nicky, too, as the thrill of the wrongness of it all gives way to (not-entirely convincing) romance.

The Superdome itself provides the setting for the film’s tour de force sequence in which Nicky’s gambling habits put him in serious peril with a high roller (an amusing BD Wong) in a luxury suite. This section of the movie could function as its own freestanding short film, it has such a strong arc and it provides such a heady mix of tension and laughs. I wouldn’t dream of giving away its many surprises, but I will say this: You will never listen to the Rolling Stones’ overused “Sympathy for the Devil” in a film the same way ever again.

If “Focus” could have ended there, it would have been a dazzling little gem. But it keeps going, traveling to Buenos Aires three years later. There, Nicky is running another scheme for wealthy race-team owner Garriga ( Rodrigo Santoro ) involving duping his competitors with some high-tech thingy that makes cars go faster. What the device does isn’t important, but the way Nicky uses it to manipulate everyone around him is what sets up the film’s climax, albeit in rather flimsy fashion.

( Gerald McRaney does get to enjoy some truly lacerating language as Garriga’s gruff and mistrustful right-hand man, though. Similarly, Adrian Martinez supplies his share of laugh-out-loud lines as Nicky’s lewd longtime sidekick.)

More importantly, Buenos Aires is where Nicky reunites with Jess, who’s now enjoying a life of wealth and comfort as Garriga’s girlfriend. Of all the gin joints in all the world, right? But while Jess insists she’s left her life of crime behind, nothing in “Focus” is ever that easy.

As vibrant as these characters are, there’s not much to them beneath their glossy surfaces, which makes it difficult to become emotionally invested in whether they end up together—or whether that sort of ordinary human connection is even possible in this extraordinary world. Nicky at least has a backstory about a cold-hearted father, which is intended to explain his inherent cynicism. Jess isn’t even afforded that much characterization.

We know in a movie like this that we in the audience are being played just as much as the poor fools on screen. In theory, that’s part of the fun—trying to stay a step ahead of the action, and often failing. But “Focus” is all surface, all artifice, to the point where we can’t help but expect the duplicity. And the twists come so fast and furious toward the end, they feel more like overkill than a shock. The trick that makes Robbie’s character such an expert thief—her light touch—is the very thing the movie loses toward the end.

Christy Lemire

Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who has written for RogerEbert.com since 2013. Before that, she was the film critic for The Associated Press for nearly 15 years and co-hosted the public television series "Ebert Presents At the Movies" opposite Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, with Roger Ebert serving as managing editor. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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Focus (2015)

Rated R for language, some sexual content and brief violence

104 minutes

Will Smith as Nicky

Margot Robbie as Jess Barrett

Rodrigo Santoro as Gárriga

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Gerald McRaney as Ownes

• Glenn Ficarra

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Focus may have a few too many twists and turns, but it nearly skates by on its glamorous setting and the charm of its stars. Read critic reviews

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Focus videos, focus   photos.

Nicky (Will Smith), a veteran con artist, takes a novice named Jess (Margot Robbie) under his wing. While Nicky teaches Jess the tricks of the trade, the pair become romantically involved; but, when Jess gets uncomfortably close, Nicky ends their relationship. Three years later, Nicky is in Buenos Aires working a very dangerous scheme when Jess -- now an accomplished femme fatale -- unexpectedly shows up. Her appearance throws Nicky for a loop at a time when he cannot afford to be off his game.

Rating: R (Language|Brief Violence|Some Sexual Content)

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery & thriller, Romance

Original Language: English

Director: Glenn Ficarra , John Requa

Producer: Denise Di Novi

Writer: Glenn Ficarra , John Requa

Release Date (Theaters): Feb 27, 2015  wide

Release Date (Streaming): May 3, 2016

Box Office (Gross USA): $53.9M

Runtime: 1h 45m

Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures

Production Co: DiNovi Pictures, Zaftig Films

Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Digital

Cast & Crew

Margot Robbie

Adrian Martinez

Gerald McRaney

Rodrigo Santoro

Brennan Brown

Robert Taylor

Dotan Bonen

Griff Furst

Stephanie Honore

David Stanford

Drunken Stranger

Dominic Fumusa

Liyuan's Bodyguard

Glenn Ficarra

Screenwriter

Charlie Gogolak

Executive Producer

Stan Wlodkowski

Steven Mnuchin

Denise Di Novi

Xavier Grobet

Cinematographer

Beth Mickle

Production Design

Film Editing

Costume Design

Original Music

Bernard Telsey

Tiffany Little Canfield

Kelly Curley

Art Director

Lisa K. Sessions

Set Decoration

News & Interviews for Focus

Now Streaming: Kingsman: The Secret Service , Focus , and More

Box Office Guru Wrapup: Focus Tops Lackluster Weekend

Critics Consensus: Focus is Sleek and Slick But Too Twisty

Critic Reviews for Focus

Audience reviews for focus.

Will Smith and Margot Robbie do more than enough to keep your attention throughout focus, but it doesn't help an overall underwhelming movie.

Very interesting. Good story and plot. The ending is kind of meh, but either way, this is a cool film.

http://cinephilecrocodile.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/focus-dir-ficarra-john-requa-2015-there.html

fun and easy to watch but it really isn't grand in any sense. Will Smith should really dial the charisma down and try an indie film. I haven't seen him stretch and this film required someone with a little more depth. The ending was okay but nothing really special.

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Focus on the Family Movie Reviews

Michael has spent years as a freelance writer and editor submitting works to several accomplished magazines as well as publishing his own works about freelancing as a business.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

There are many people who are interested in Focus on the Family movie reviews, because they can provide some guidance as to what is appropriate for their children to watch and what isn't. The organization isn't just about Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, and other family-friendly fare; they review just about every flick that comes through Hollywood.

What Is Focus on the Family?

In case you are not familiar with the non-profit organization, Focus on the Family is an evangelical group based out of the United States. It was founded in 1977, and they say that they are dedicated to nurturing and defending families worldwide. More specifically, Focus on the Family -- which is aligned with the American Christian right -- aims to protect family values.

• 6 Reasons Family Communication Really Matters & Real-World Tips

Focus on the Family has several arms, to speak, which work toward this common goal. The Adventures in Odyssey radio show is perhaps one of their best known projects, but they also have all sorts of other Radio Theatre and political endeavors. One such endeavor is the reviewing movies.

As with any organization aligned with the Christian right, Focus on the Family has come under fire and into controversy from several groups. In 2006, for example, FOTF founder James Dobson was accused of manipulating research data that said gays and lesbians are not good parents. They naturally denied this allegation. Focus on the Family also fully supported Mel Gibson when the latter was accused of anti-Semitic content in relation to The Passion of the Christ .

Plugged In is a website of Focus on the Family and they offer reviews of just about any kind of mass market entertainment, including movies in theaters, video/DVD releases, music, television, and more. By and large, their reviews take on the same structure.

Parental Guidance Suggested

As a movie review site, Plugged In has an extensive library of films for you to consider. Each of the reviews is composed of seven key sections.

• Introduction : Although not labeled as such, the first paragraph or two outlines the plot summary to the film in question. You get an idea of what the movie is all about, perhaps with mention of where the film ties in to the world at large.
• Positive Elements : This is where FOTF describes what positive morals or ideas are expressed in the movie. These may include things like love for your fellow man.
• Sexual Content : They'll warn against things like scantily-clad women and sexual innuendo. Even verbal mentions of condoms and other sexual content will be described in this section.
• Violent Content : You are given a perspective on how brutal or gruesome the violence is. For horror and action films, this is probably more of a concern for parents. Chair-throwing in dramas may be mentioned here.
• Crude or Profane Language : In addition to coarse language, this section also reveals if "Jesus" or "God" are used inappropriately.
• Other Negative Elements : This serves as a catch-all for other undesirable content, like the consumption of alcohol and drugs.
• Summary : A final verdict on whether the film promotes good family values or not, citing both the good and the bad.

Example Movie Reviews

To get a sense of how the organization approaches movies, read these sample reviews.

• Cloverfield : The Focus on the Family movie review applauds Rob's dedication to Beth and his willingness to risk life and limb to save her. However, they are not pleased with the level of violence, the mild sexual content (pre-marital), and excessive use of "my God".
• Alien vs. Predator : The biggest complaint in this particular Focus on the Family movie review is that the PG-13 rating given to this classic alien movie is deemed inappropriate, given the extreme level of violence. AVP gets quite gruesome, even if the camera cuts away just in the nick of time.

Take Advantage of the Pre-Screening

If Focus on the Family seems to have the same views on movies and other media as you do, this may prove to be quite the time saver. If you trust their guidance, you'll no longer have to screen everything your kids want to watch (and in turn, you don't have to see or hear things you would prefer not to).

Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate, and impact the culture in which they live.

Through our reviews, articles and discussions, we hope to spark intellectual thought, spiritual growth and a desire to follow the command of Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”

Each month, Plugged In is visited more than 1 million times by people looking for detailed information about what’s really in popular movies, videos, television episodes, songs and games. Entertainment industry ratings only tell you so much. We go deeper, diving into specific content and the meaning behind it. Our award-winning website also offers news and blogs.

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Adam holz, paul asay and johnathan mckee, movie review: freud’s last session.

In Freud’s Last Session, both the eminent psychoanalyst and the Christian apologist C.S. Lewis land on the psychologist’s couch.

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About Plugged In Entertainment Reviews

Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate and impact the culture in which they live. Through our reviews, articles and discussions, we hope to spark intellectual thought, spiritual growth and a desire to follow the command of Colossians 2:8: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."

About Adam Holz, Paul Asay and Johnathan McKee

Adam Holz  After serving as an associate editor at NavPress' Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In's reviews along with hosting The Plugged In Show and the Plugged In Entertainment Review radio feature.   Paul Asay has been part of the  Plugged In  staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including  Time,   The Washington Post  and  Christianity Today . The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter  @AsayPaul . Jonathan McKee  is the author of over twenty books. He has over 20 years youth ministry experience and  speaks  to parents and leaders worldwide, He can be heard each week on the Plugged In Entertainment Review radio feature and The Plugged In Show. You can follow Jonathan on  his blog , getting a regular dose of youth culture and parenting help. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.

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Family camp, common sense media reviewers.

Hilarious faith-based comedy is aimed squarely at parents.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

The only message kids are likely to take away is t

Two dads are set up as contrasts: One is preoccupi

Racial diversity among supporting characters, incl

Fathers who are angry with each other fight and ki

Focus on marital problems. Subplot involves teen r

Insulting words "dummy" and "idiot."

Brands shown or mentioned, often for comedy, inclu

Parents need to know that Family Camp is a faith-based family comedy starring YouTube's The Skit Guys, aka Tommy Woodard and Eddie James. While iffy content is mild, the story and messages are really directed at parents, so much so that kids may lose interest. Two dads let their frustration boil into fighting…

Positive Messages

The only message kids are likely to take away is that going to church camp as a family could be fun. But messages directed at parents, specifically dads, are about not just living your life next to your family but engaging with, listening to, and being present for them. Faith-based messages throughout, including that the patriarch's role is to lead his family in Christ.

Positive Role Models

Two dads are set up as contrasts: One is preoccupied with work, the other is comically super involved with every element of his family. Both grow from knowing each other. Women are conscientious mothers. Church leaders and camp directors offer positive guidance.

Diverse Representations

Racial diversity among supporting characters, including a mixed-race family, Black church pastors and congregation members, a Latino church camp director, and a successful Indian businessman. But female characters are seen in stereotypical roles and speak only about their spouses and kids. The teen daughter's storyline is about her interest in a boy.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Fathers who are angry with each other fight and kick, albeit comically. Villains threaten injury or death with a crossbow and by preventing hikers from getting to safety. A child is alone in the woods and hears scary noises, including wild animals.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Focus on marital problems. Subplot involves teen romance. Discussion about kissing. Boy calls a girl "a tease."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Brands shown or mentioned, often for comedy, include Chick-fil-A, Fun Dip, Ace Hardware, Dodge Grand Caravan.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Family Camp is a faith-based family comedy starring YouTube's The Skit Guys, aka Tommy Woodard and Eddie James. While iffy content is mild, the story and messages are really directed at parents, so much so that kids may lose interest. Two dads let their frustration boil into fighting (pushing and shoving), and a person is threatened with a crossbow. A child who's alone in the woods hears scary noises, including wild animals. Iffy language is limited to insults like "dummy" and "idiot"; characters also talk about kissing, and a boy calls a girl "a tease." There's racial diversity among supporting characters, but female characters are depicted stereotypically, only speaking about men, children, and marriage problems. While the story's focus is heavily on grown-up stuff, the activities at Camp Katokwah may get kids excited to go to church camp -- and for many families of faith, that will be a win. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (9)
• Kids say (4)

Based on 9 parent reviews

Funny, Fun, Family Movie!! It’s about time! Loved it!

Don’t waste money on tickets - not funny, what's the story.

To get some quality family time together, the Ackermans sign up for their church's FAMILY CAMP. But when they end up bunking with the overachieving Sanders family, the Ackermans decide to go all in to win the camp's coveted championship trophy.

Is It Any Good?

The Skit Guys have answered faith-based movie lovers' prayers: This is easily the best Christian comedy made to date. With excellent production values, solid direction, and fantastic comedy chops from the cast, Family Camp is a winner. Its laugh-out-loud humor may help it cross into the mainstream, as could the way it depicts the Ackermans, who positively represent many families of faith in "the secular community": They go to church and believe in God, but they don't talk about it all the time. Writer-director Brian Cates smartly contrasts the Ackermans with their bunkmates, the smugly pious Sanders family. This allows Christian families to laugh knowingly at two extremes they may recognize.

Woodard and James' dynamic is reminiscent of Steve Martin and John Cand y in Planes, Trains and Automobiles , right down to the "I Like Me" speech. Their energy is also reminiscent of Martin and Eugene Levy -- and the more you realize that, the more it becomes obvious that Family Camp is very similar to Cheaper by the Dozen 2 . The plots are almost identical. And the movie's super-fake (but fun!) beaver is most definitely a nod to the Caddyshack gopher. Even the characters' marital issues are generically unoriginal: Tommy Ackerman (Tommy Woodard) spends too much time at work, and his wife, Grace (Leigh-Allyn Baker), rides him for it. The bigger problem, though, is that when the dads get lost in the woods, the film as a whole gets lost with them. Better plan some second-act s'mores or you might lose the kids' interest. Bottom line? Family Camp isn't perfect, but its issues are forgivable, and it's lots of fun.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how comedy can be used to break down barriers and find common ground. How does that idea serve Family Camp 's purpose?

What makes something a faith-based film? How does this one compare to other faith-based films you've seen?

Why is camp a popular setting for comedies? What elements of the camp experience create different circumstances for the characters?

Movie Details

• In theaters : May 13, 2022
• On DVD or streaming : June 28, 2022
• Cast : Tommy Woodard , Eddie James , Leigh-Allyn Baker
• Director : Brian Cates
• Studio : Roadside Attractions
• Genre : Comedy
• Run time : 111 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : some action and thematic elements
• Last updated : October 13, 2022

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

Camp Cool Kids

Heavyweights

A Week Away

The best summer camp movies for kids, best family comedy movies.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

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I have subscribed to ScreenIt for more than a decade. I check in every week to take advantage of their amazing services. Not only does their site provide a glimpse of exactly what content a movie offers, I've found the “Our Take” reviews and ratings for each movie to be right on the money every single time. I've referred dozens of friends to this service because my #1 resource for deciding whether or not to show a movie to my kids, or to see one myself, is ScreenIt.com! Josh Nisbet Director, State of CA Public Sector

I signed up to get Screen It weekly reviews a long time ago, when my kids were young and I wanted to know more about movies before we went to a theater or rented. Now one child is in law school, other in undergraduate, and I still read the weekly Screen Its! It helps me know what my husband and I want to see or rent, and what to have waiting at home that we all will enjoy when my "kids" come home. I depend on Screen It reviews. They usually just present the facts and let me decide if the movie is appropriate or of interest for my family and me. Thank you for providing that service, Screen It! Patti Petree Winston Salem, NC

I have 4 children who are now in college. I signed up for Screen It when my children were pre-teenagers. Often my children would ask to see a movie with a friend and I wished I could preview the movie prior to giving permission. A friend told me about ScreenIt.com and I found it to be the next best thing to previewing a movie. The amount of violence, sexual content, or language were always concerns for me and my husband as we raised innocent kids with morals. We constantly fought the peer pressure our kids received to see films that in our opinion were questionable. With the evidence we received at Screen It, our kids couldn't even fight us when we felt a film may have been inappropriate for them to watch. Thank you, Screen It. Continue to make this helpful service available to everyone, but especially the young parents. Christine Doherty Machesney Park, IL

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I love screen It! I don't know what I would do without it. It is well worth the membership. Before we take our son to the movies we check it out on screen it first. Thank you SO much for making it. Keep up the good work & keep 'em coming!!! Patrina Streety Moreno Valley California

Arthur the King

Reviewed by: Vicki A. Snell CONTRIBUTOR

Setting: Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea

Captain of an adventure racing team

Close bond, love and support of teammates

Befriending a wounded stray dog

Close man and dog relationships

Grueling 435-mile (700-km) endurance race through the Dominican Republic

Story based on the 2016 non-fiction book Arthur - The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home by Mikael Lindnord

Dogs in the Bible

“An unexpected encounter. An unlikely bond. An unforgettable adventure.”

T his movie is based on a true story of Michael, a team leader for a team in the Adventure Racing World Championships held in the Dominican Republic in 2018. This is a grueling race of 3—10 days that brings together the top endurance athletes in adventure racing from around the world. The race covers over 435 miles of trekking, biking, running, climbing and kayaking.

The photography from Colorado, Michael’s home, and the island of the Dominican Republic is breath taking. The weather is part of the challenge, as the teams find the fastest route.

A scene early in the film shows Michael ( Mark Wahlberg ) in a race 3 years earlier making terrible decisions that appeared to take the team out of the competition.

Michael has issues with his Dad which seem to affect his self esteem and judgment. I saw a theme throughout the film of the importance of family. Michael is married and has a family consisting of his wife and young daughter. He puts together a team, a family, to compete for his final competition. All the teams in the competition are a family of endurance athletes.

Michael seems desperate and has challenges with raising money to fund his team for the competition. He has to admit mistakes from previous decisions in a race. Seeing his struggle with humility reminds me of experiences I have had. I felt empathy for the character played by Mark Wahlberg .

What does the Bible say about HUMILITY ?

What is biblical WISDOM ?

The interaction between characters kept me engaged through the low action parts of the film. His relationship with his wife shows her support and love for her husband . His fast talking, at surface value, shows his desperation.

While we see Michael scrambling to gather his team, we see glimpses of a grungy dog in the streets of a South American city. He appears to be barely surviving on scraps and attacks from other street dogs. A few kind people try to help him, as he looks out for himself with determination.

The dog somehow appears at an early Transition Area in the race and interacts with Michael. The race is well planned by international Adventure Racing organizers with advance transition areas that are supplied with food and aid. The ARWS organization monitors the racers as they check in at the transition areas along the route.

I learned a great deal about Adventure Racing in the movie. The racers progress through each phase of the race dealing with physical issues only an endurance athlete would find acceptable.

The dog appears several times and becomes part of the team—the family. All the racers and the dog have incredible challenges. Michael produces inventive solutions to problems, and the team becomes tightly knit—depending on each other

The human interest factor in the second half of the film make it worth viewing, in my estimation. This true story drew national attention for good reason .

The language became more rough during the high drama. I was sad that they had to use one “F” bomb. I do not recall any characters taking the Lord’s name in vain, which I appreciated. There were too many uses of “sh**” during high action scenes.

I also did not hear any character praising the Lord for His grace in many situations. The characters had good health in strong bodies. “We are fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). They were in areas of breathtaking examples of the Lord’s creation. God’s provision and great grace was evident as their needs were met.

What should we thank God for, and how should we praise Him? Answer

THANKFULNESS —Tips for New and Growing Christians— GO

Are you thankful to God?

The love and compassion shown by the team family, as well as the competition family, are engaging and evident to the viewer.

“Let us love one another for love is from God…” — 1 John 4:7

For a follower of Christ, what is LOVE —a feeling, an emotion, or an action?

All that the team goes through together is a testimony to our need for other people, and animals, in our lives.

• Vulgar/Crude language: Moderately Heavy
• Profane language: Mild
• Violence: Minor
• Drugs/Alcohol: Minor
• Nudity: None
• Occult: None
• Wokeism: None

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

PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.

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• Movie Review: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

The latest Ghostbusters movie might be more family focused, story-wise. But let’s not confuse that with being family friendly.  

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New Ghostbusters movie sets a new record with its early review scores

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire looks set to arrive amidst a frosty reception as the movie has earned the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score of any of the films in the franchise.

Following 2021’s Afterlife, a bright and breezy sequel that resurrected the plot from the original Ghostbusters, Frozen Empire sees the Spengler family head to New York to team up with the original members of the ghost-busting team. Matters take a chilly turn when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes a new threat on the city that could bring about a new Ice Age.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire sets unwanted Rotten Tomatoes record

Despite there being high hopes for the movie, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire has earned a review score of just 45% on Rotten Tomatoes after 62 reviews have been collated.

The score, which could change as more reviews come in, sets an unwanted record for the horror-comedy franchise as it’s the lowest-rated film of any of the five Ghostbusters movies .

・Ghostbusters (1984) | 95%

・Ghostbusters II (1989) | 55%

・Ghostbusters (2016) | 74%

・Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) | 64%

・Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) | 45%

Something that may prove a saving grace for Frozen Empire is its audience score, which will only become clear after the movie’s release. For example, while 2021’s Afterlife earned a middling 64% from critics, its audience score of 94% suggests viewers found it more enjoyable. In contrast, 2016’s Ghostbusters reboot earned a 74% critics rating, but its audience score was just 49%.

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What the critics are saying

Reviews for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire don’t point towards the movie being a total disaster but rather that it squanders the potential setup in Afterlife and that it relies too heavily on the nostalgia of having the original cast return.

Tim Grierson of Screen International wrote: “The clumsy mixture of nostalgia, scares, set pieces, sincerity and wisecracks never gels, tempting a conclusion that it is perhaps time for Sony to give up this particular ghost.”

USA Today’s Brian Truitt said: “Although Frozen Empire improves upon the previous film and there’s plenty to dig especially for young fans, it falls short of the 1984 classic’s high bar.”

Empire Magazine’s Alex Godfrey wrote in their two-star review: “There was potential here, but Frozen Empire is an overpopulated mish-mash, with too many heroes to wrangle. What’s left is a bit of a gooey mess. We’ve been slimed.”

James Mottram of Total Film said: “Too many characters and callbacks plus a formulaic plot means Frozen Empire doesn’t touch the original movies, but it’s a likeable-enough brand extension.”

Not everyone disliked the movie, however, as Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire doesn’t mess with the well-honed formula, carefully balancing its laughs and scares in the breezy manner that makes for pleasurable, if lightweight, viewing.”

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will be sliding into theaters in the US on Thursday, March 21, 2024.

・ OPINION: Why I loved Dune: Part Two even more on a second viewing