OPINION:
Thanksgiving weekend is traditionally a big one for the theaters. Studios traditionally try and provide family-friendly entertainment that can break up a week of feasting and shopping. Are the new installments in the “Trolls” and “Hunger Games” franchises worth the ticket price?
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Trolls Band Together – In Theaters
The “Trolls” are back in theaters. They bring lots of color and splash as Poppy and Branch not only dive into Branch’s boy-band backstory, but also “Backstreet Stomp” their way through lots of well-choreographed musical mashups.
It’s bouncy. It’s fast paced. “Band Together” even kinda sorta praises marriage and family while declaring that you’ve gotta work for your fame.
The biggest problem with this pic is that most of the jokes are aimed at the grownups in the audience rather than the kids. (Especially if Mom and Dad are boy-band fans.) That’s not a terrible thing overall, I suppose. But many of these mildly suggestive quips will float over kids heads like a Timberlake high note. (In my screening I noted a number of adult chuckles, but not a single kiddy giggle.) And a few jokes carry a very adult vibe.
Can “Trolls Band Together” still be a good family outing? Maybe. Just make sure you’re *NSYNC about who’s holding the popcorn.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
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Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – In Theaters
At its core, “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” is a commentary on humanity. Are people born good or evil? What drives a person toward one or the other moral trajectory? The story also asks what is the real purpose of the Hunger Games? And why should they continue?
Throughout the film, several characters, namely Lucy Gray and Sejanus, try to convince those around them of the immorality of the Hunger Games. They’re unwilling to give up hope. And they try in earnest to do good.
Unfortunately, most are unwilling to take action. Capitol citizens justify the Games’ existence. District citizens are too frightened to start another rebellion. And others have flat out given up.
So what happens?
Well, children are forced into an arena to fight to the death. Families are ripped apart. People starve. And the Capitol continues to reap the benefits.
We see most of those deaths occur onscreen. And it’s brutal. What’s worse is that some characters even seem to enjoy killing. And all the while, Capitol citizens place bets and make predictions, only caring whether a tribute’s death works for their own personal gains.
Language and sensuality are kept to a minimum in this PG-13 film, but we do see the effects of drug addiction and alcohol on a few occasions.
“The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” asks and attempts to answer some important questions about good and evil. But as Christians, we need to make sure we have a solid, biblical understanding of human nature—i.e. that while we’re all born sinners, we’re redeemed only by the love and sacrifice of Christ, not our own actions—before exploring this film.
That said, the grim storyline here also offers families plenty of reasons to pass on this painful prequel’s brutality and bloodshed.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
Next Goal Wins – In Theaters
A season of losses can be discouraging. A decade of losses is devastating.
But that’s part of what makes the American Samoa soccer team so inspiring. Despite experiencing nothing but loss after loss, the team never gave up. They enjoyed simply playing soccer, while winning was optional.
At the same time, “Next Goal Wins” doesn’t tell a story you haven’t heard before. It’s still the standard sports movie about a jaded coach who is forced to train a team of underdogs and who eventually comes to appreciate the team for its people rather than its performance. Overall, it’s mediocre at best.
But what does merit mentioning are a couple of concerns that you’ll want to be aware before viewing. The film’s secondary plot centers on a transgender character who plays on the team (which, in fairness, is true to the actual history the film upon which it is based). And the frequent, sometimes surprisingly strong foul language in this would-be inspirational sports flick is really disappointing, too.
Taika Waititi’s newest release seems like a perfect vehicle for his style of comedy. But while some jokes will land with the audience, the film doesn’t fully deliver in ways that previous Waititi (or even just sports comedies) have.
Would it be too much to call that another loss for this team?
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
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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.”
Reviews written by Bob Hoose, Emily Tsaio, Kennedy Unthank.
