The Nut Job 2 and other movies to watch with your kids -

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature (PG)

Age 6+

Animated comedy is forgettable but promotes teamwork.

"The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature" is the sequel to 2014's "The Nut Job." It continues the story of a squad of park animals who must find a new food source when their beloved nut shop burns down. As in the original, there are a few scatological (i.e., fart) jokes, as well as physical-comedy gags in which a character is electrocuted, bonked on the head or otherwise injured in a way that's played for laughs. But some of the human characters use weapons, particularly the gun-toting mayor. A father and daughter are almost sadistic in the way they treat animals, and a child (albeit a violent, unlikable one) is shot with a dart gun. But there's a clear message about the idea of creating your family by choice — in this case, a community of animals that protect and take care of one another. (95 minutes)

The Dark Tower (PG-13)

Age 14+

Awful, violent, revenge-filled Stephen King adaptation.

"The Dark Tower" is a sci-fi/fantasy adventure based on epic novels by Stephen King. The main issue is the movie's strong, frequent violence. Expect to see guns and shooting, killing, knives and stabbing, some blood/bloody wounds (including glass going through someone's hand), explosions and scary images. Boys fight at school, a boy learns to shoot a gun, and there are children in peril/pain. Language is sparse but includes uses of "s---" and "hell." An adult takes a fistful of pain pills, and a boy comments that they're "the good stuff." Although the content isn't inappropriate for teens and up, it's a big disappointment creatively. Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey co-star. (93 minutes)

The Glass Castle (PG-13)

Age 14+

Strong acting, intense themes in emotional book-based drama.

"The Glass Castle" is an intense drama based on Jeannette Walls's best-selling memoir. It tells the story of a very dysfunctional family. There's a frequent underlying threat of violence, and children are portrayed as seriously hungry and occasionally in peril: A young girl burns herself with boiling water and children are thrown into the deep end of a pool. Their parents also shout, argue and throw things. Language isn't frequent, but includes such words as "s---," "ass" and "damn." There are sexual situations (a man tries and fails to seduce a woman) and couples being intimately comfortable with one another. A key character has a drinking problem. He's shown staggering drunk and abusive, and goes through painful detox while quitting. Another character smokes. Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson, and Naomi Watts co-star. (127 minutes)

Annabelle: Creation (R)

Age 16+

Gory scenes, lots of scares in skillfully made sequel.

"Annabelle: Creation" is a horror movie that's part of the "Conjuring" franchise. It takes place before the events of "Annabelle" and "The Conjuring." Expect lots of scary stuff, including a creepy doll, demons, ghosts, scary sounds, and objects and people suddenly moving. Characters die, and there are gory wounds and/or bodily injuries: A woman's body is torn in half, and she's hung on a wall. A little girl is hit by a car. Language is very minor, with use of "damn," as well as faith-based uses of "Jesus," "Jesus Christ," and "hell." Sex and substance use aren't issues. Overall, this sequel seems slightly milder than its predecessors, though it's still plenty scary, and horror hounds who flocked to the other movies in the series will most certainly want to see it. (109 minutes)

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