Contributor: Bob Hoose

After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.

Two female lovers walk arm in arm.

Happiest Season

Happiest Season delivers a holiday-themed lesbian romance that predictably appropriates the genre’s formula and feel-good vibe.

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Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch

This version of the Grinch’s tale is well made, as clean as a crisp snow on a Sunday morning.

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An ominous Viking stands between two enormous wolves.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

The newest Assassin’s Creed lives in the world of 9th-century Vikings, a world of bloody, brutal conquests.

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A sad little girl holds a stuffed animal rabbit.

Come Away

Come Away isn’t always as “magical” as one might expect or hope at first glance.

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Screen shot of the PAW Patrol video game.

PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay

This gentle, fun adaptation of a popular Nick Jr. show invites young gamers into a puppy-driven, problem-solving adventure.

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What’s New and Streaming for Families for November 2020

It’s November already. The holidays are soon upon us and I, for one, have already ordered my holiday-friendly, candy cane-lined masks, with tinsel fringe and a jingle-bell tie-string. And with all my extra time at home, I’ve already purchased all my gi …

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This Watch Dogs: Legion still features characters in masks, including a man in a pig mask.

Watch Dogs: Legion

This open-world game starts out with an interesting gameplay premise, but devolves into profanity, torture, torment and death.

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Kevin Costner and Diane Lane are pictured as a farming couple talking to each other against the backdrop of clouds and sky.

Let Him Go

Sometimes in our fearful, sorrowful moments, we make hard-nosed, emotional choices that can cause even more loss.

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The Impossible

In 2004 a raging tsunami slashed across nine countries killing 230,000 people. The Bennetts were in their resort hotel’s pool when the wave came crashing down. (The movie is based on a real family’s fight for survival.)

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Does Hollywood Want the Theater Industry to Fail?

You know how the symbiotic relationship between movie studios and U.S. theater chains work, right? To boil it down to its simplest terms, the studios spend big tubs of cash to cast and create a great (or many times, blah) film. Then they pay for junket …

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A ninja cyborg with a sword prepares for battle.

Ghostrunner

Punishing bloodletting and screeched profanities make Ghostrunner a haunting nightmare for discerning families.

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Borat (Sasha Baron Cohen) gives a thumb's up while driving.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Sasha Baron Cohen’s latest Borat film is more a collection of abhorrent and asinine cringiness than acerbic comedy.

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Screen shot of the game Among Us.

Among Us

This deceptively simple murder-mystery in space has quietly become a monster hit among myriad players.

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Video game hero Crash Bandicoot runs from a bad guy chasing him.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

Crash Bandicoot returns for another platforming adventure … including some unexpected obstacles for families.

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roblox porn is a problem

The War on Roblox Porn

There’s a war going on. And some of the battlefronts can appear to be the most unlikely places. You’ve heard of Roblox, right? If you have kids you probably have. It’s an online game creation system—a digital playground, if you will. In this space, and …

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