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Episode 247: The Allure of Bad Content. Plus, ‘My Penguin Friend’

LISTEN TO THE PLUGGED IN SHOW, EPISODE 247

You flip on Netflix or Prime Video or Disney+. You see what looks like a fun little cartoon in your feed. You say, “Oh, that looks fine to watch with the kids!” And then, you discover … it’s not fine. It’s not fine at all.

Sure, we’ve learned over the last several years that cartoons aren’t always made for kids. But recently, we’ve seen the release of two animated shows—Exploding Kittens and Sausage Party: Foodtopia—with issues that would cause even an R-rated movie to blush.

Exploding Kittens is filled with sex and gore, but its greatest flaw might be its sacrilegious spirituality. (That happens when you turn God into a cat.) Foodtopia—a sequel to the 2016 film Sausage Party—ratchets back its forebear’s own scathing religious attacks, but it amps up other forms of problematic content.

These shows would be on many a parental do-not-watch list. But because they’re cartoons, a 7-year-old might watch them anyway. All it takes is a click or two.

How do you protect your family? Our host, Adam Holz, talks with me, Kennedy Unthank and Jonathan McKee about that very thing. 

After we tell you about shows your kids probably shouldn’t see, Adam and Bob Hoose will talk about a movie that’s far more navigable. My Penguin Friend is a sweet, simple story about a grieving fisherman and—well, his penguin friend. Hollywood doesn’t make a lot of movies like this anymore. But maybe they should.

And speaking of friends, we’d love for our listening friends to join in the conversation. Do you have a favorite movie featuring a cute-and-lovable animal? Do you have thoughts on how you can keep really problematic shows out of your home? We’d love to hear them. Send us an email ([email protected].) Leave us a voicemail on our Plugged In Show homepage. Post a missive on Facebook or Instagram. Or just write a little something here on our blog.

And be sure to listen in again next week, when I talk with Alex and Stephen Kendrick about moviemaking, discipleship and their new film, The Forge. Should be a conversation you won’t want to miss.

paul-asay
Paul Asay

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.

One Response

  1. Good episode addressing the need to prioritize the Bible in the home with all the negative influences in the culture. It is embarrassing that even as an adult I still have to wrestle with things. Lately it has been humility in general and shock over something that happened at work. We need more examples of humility in the world today.

    I also need to read the Silmarillion as I have never actually finished it.