* Suitable for families

”The Ant Bully,” grade B-

(PG) – A mean child (voice of Zach Tyler) is shrunk to the size of an insect, then gets what he deserves for treating bugs cruelly. Rude humor punctuates the animated comedy’s positive lessons.

”Barnyard”

(PG) – More animated animals, this time causing a ruckus on a farm. The MPAA rating results from ”mild peril and rude humor.”

”Cars,” grade B+

(G) -Disney and Pixar animators turn their imaginations loose on NASCAR culture, resulting in dazzling images and humor a notch below ”Over the Hedge.” A few lightly crude jokes.

* Suitable, with reservations

”An Inconvenient Truth,” grade A-

(PG) – Former Vice President Al Gore warns viewers against the dangers of global warming. Nothing objectionable, unless your political views are really working to find something. However, children probably won’t be entertained.

”Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” grade A-

(PG-13) – Scary sea creatures and intense action sequences could induce nightmares in some children. Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Capt. Jack Sparrow has sobered a bit, but there’s still plenty of rum abuse.

”Monster House,” grade B-

(PG) – Beware of this animated film’s scary images and sounds, which could cause nightmares. Crude humor and mild violence are typical of the PG rating.

”A Prairie Home Companion,” grade A

(PG-13) – A few naughty jokes from singing cowboys and a handful of rude words won’t offend. However, the old-fashioned music and values of Garrison Keillor’s homespun radio-show-turned-movie may not interest young viewers.

”Superman Returns,” grade B-

(PG-13) – Just try keeping children away from this one. The Man of Steel still espouses positive values, even in the midst of the action violence that earned the MPAA rating. A few mature themes pass faster than a speeding bullet.

* Not suitable

”Click,” grade A-

(PG-13) – Adam Sandler’s supernatural comedy contains the crude humor, profanity, sexually charged jokes and drug references that made him a star.

”John Tucker Must Die”

(PG-13) – High school girls get revenge on the campus playboy (Jesse Metcalfe) who cheated on them. No violence as the title suggests, but sexual content and profanity that parents may not wish their children to see and hear.

”Lady in the Water,” grade C-

(PG-13) M. Night Shyamalan’s movie is touted as a ”bedtime story,” but the frightening images and monster-riddled plot may keep children awake all night.

”Scoop,” grade C+

(PG-13) Woody Allen’s humor typically doesn’t appeal to children. But those who try Scoop will find sexual content and profanity in his tale of a journalism student (Scarlett Johansson) investigating a cold-case murder.

”Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby,” grade B+

(PG-13) – Will Ferrell is very popular among children and teenagers, so any caution to parents about his new comedy is probably meaningless. Just to be safe, we’ll note that the film contains crude and sexual humor, moderate profanity, drug references and brief violence played for laughs.