‘50/50′

Rating: R for language throughout, sexual content and some drug use. What it’s about : A young man is diagnosed with cancer and his friends, family and medical professionals don’t know quite how to talk about it with him. The kid attractor factor: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen and Anna Kendrick are the stars. Good lessons/bad lessons : Cancer is no reason to stop treating a friend like a friend. Violence: None Language: Profanity; Rogen would be speechless without it. Sex: Yes, not terribly explicit. Drugs: Alcohol, pot. Parents’ advisory: The adult themes, sex and profanity make this best left to those 15 and older.

‘Courageous’

Rating: PG-13 for some violence and drug content. What it’s about: Four Georgia cops face the consequences of both good and absentee fatherhood in this faith-based drama. The kid attractor factor: Teenage problems are addressed from an adult perspective. Good lessons/bad lessons: “If (your date) shows no respect for us, he won’t respect you.” Violence: A beating, rough arrests. Language: Disney clean. Sex: None Drugs: Discussed, shown. Parents’ advisory: This sermon from the folks who made “Fireproof” has an easy-to-embrace message about fathers in children’s lives. Suitable for all ages.

‘Dolphin Tale’

Rating: PG for some mild thematic elements. What it’s about: Kids help take care of an injured dolphin at a marine hospital and watch as it inspires everyone it meets. The kid attractor factor: Cute kids and a very cute dolphin, which happens to need a prosthetic tale. Good lessons/bad lessons: “Just because you’re hurt, doesn’t mean you’re broken.” Violence: Soldiers injured in war meet an injured dolphin. Language: Disney clean. Sex: Not a hint. Drugs: None Parents’ advisory: Uplifting, maybe a little too precious for anybody older than 15, but perfectly OK for all ages.

‘The Lion King 3-D’

Rating: G What it’s about: A young lion prince grows up in exile, only to learn how much his kingdom needs him. The kid attractor factor: This is an animated classic, in 3-D, on the big screen. Good lessons/bad lessons: “Being brave doesn’t mean you go around looking for trouble.” Violence: Yes, animated Language: Disney clean Sex: None Drugs: None Parents’ advisory: Suitable for all ages.

‘Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World’

Rating: PG for mild action and rude humor What it’s about: Kids are called on to spy when their secret-agent mom gets into a fix. The kid attractor factor: Spying kids experienced in “4D,” aka 3-D plus “Aroma-Scope” scratch-and-sniff cards. Good lessons/bad lessons: Wasting time is a major crime — to some. Violence: Slapstick Language: Pretty clean, aside from jokes about bowel movements and vomit Sex: Nary a hint Drugs: None Parents’ advisory: Harmless enough to be suitable for all ages, though the gimmicky 3-D and scratch-and-sniff cards aren’t worth the extra admission costs.

The Family Movie Guide should be used along with the Motion Picture Association of America rating system for selecting movies suitable for children. Only films rated G, PG or PG-13 are included in this weekly listing, along with occasional R-rated films that may have entertainment value or educational value for older children with parental guidance.