Contributor: Adam R. 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 as the site’s director. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. In their free time, the Holzes enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming and … watching movies.

Burnt

A great message, but one that’s ultimately, um, OK, burnt by the crass content baked into this R-rated recipe.

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Rock the Kasbah

Bill Murray has the comedically cantankerous genius-in-his-own mind shtick down pat. He unleashes it again in Rock the Kasbah, to markedly mixed effect.

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Sounds Good Feels Good

This stuff is at least less spotty than the Mrs. Robinson-like fantasies 5 Seconds of Summer was indulging just a year ago.

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Sorry

“I don’t do too well with apologies,” Justin Bieber sings on “Sorry.” And the song’s video puts a randy exclamation point on that confession.

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Storyteller

Why is this happily married wife, mother and country icon telling tales of crime, murder and rebellious renegades? Read on.

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Hello

Adele returns after a four-year absence, again riding an emotional freight train of heartbreak, the very kind that made her famous in the first place.

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Used to Love You

Gwen Stefani unleashes a completely understandable—and inversely inspirational—lament.

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Goosebumps

I’m not as sanguine as the film’s star regarding the appropriate age to see a movie like Goosebumps.

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Confident

Demi Lovato is brimming with self-confidence these days. Sometimes that’s a good thing … and sometimes it’s not.

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Pentatonix

The first original album from the popular a cappella act Pentatonix blends inspirational messages with … less than inspirational ones.

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Irresistible

Demi Lovato joins Fall Out Boy on a song “inspired” by one of the most toxic and volatile romances in rock ‘n’ roll history.

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Fallen

Three decades after launching its yellow-and-black attack, Stryper returns with another faith-fueled assault on spiritual darkness.

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Woodlawn

Though the context of this movie—which is based on a true story—is football, its lessons apply to so much more than gridiron grappling.

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My House

The champagne cork pops off quickly in this Flo Rida hit. And, yes, things flow downhill fast from there.

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Revival

Selena Gomez “felt it was time to transition to a more adult artist,” says Interscope Records. Which is, of course, code for …

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