Contributor: Kristin Smith

kristin-smith

Kristin Smith joined the Plugged In team in 2017. Formerly a Spanish and English teacher, Kristin loves reading literature and eating authentic Mexican tacos. She and her husband, Eddy, love raising their children Judah and Selah. Kristin also has a deep affection for coffee, music, her dog (Cali) and cat (Aslan).

You Need to Calm Down

Taylor Swift’s latest offers a synth-fueled embrace of LGBTQ culture and scathing patronization of anyone who disagrees.

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Murder Mystery

What if you suddenly found yourself plopped into the middle of an Agatha Christie-wannabe scenario?

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The Dead Don’t Die

I get that this zombie satire’s supposed to be funny. But it isn’t. And I get that it’s supposed to have a message. But it doesn’t.

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Shaft (2019)

Shaft has all the problems of its predecessors and more.

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Late Night

This dramedy’s commitment to its R-rated content will push it out of bounds for many who might otherwise have enjoyed it.

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Happiness Begins

Six years after breaking up, the Jonas Brothers return with an album that’s more mature in every sense of that word.

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Chasing Happiness

Happiness isn’t found in fame and fortune.

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She Is Coming

After offering some positive signs in Younger Now, Miley returns to form.

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The Search

NF’s latest single begins in a pretty dark place but journeys toward a much brighter, more hopeful one by the end.

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Always Be My Maybe

Even with compelling actors who know how to score a laugh, there’s still plenty of content to work through here.

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Booksmart

Booksmart makes some solid points about friendship and acceptance. But it does so by making the most of its R rating.

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The Sun Is Also a Star

This angst-filled story’s positive themes are drowned out by some harsh profanity, racial slurs and suggestive conversations.

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Good Sam

Unlike some original content on Netflix, this PG-rated story avoids the nasty stuff and centers on themes of hope and love.

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I Don’t Care

Sheeran and Bieber sing about two things they have in common: love for their wives and social anxiety.

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The Hustle

While trying to make a statement of sorts about exploited women, this remake mostly exploits crude humor itself in search of a cheap laugh.

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