Friday’s openings: Mummies and war dogs

Sometimes it pays to be late. Thanks to my tardiness, I have a more definitive list of Friday's movie openings to offer. They include the usual mix of pop and art:

"The Mummy": How do you re-energize a familiar story? Hire a familiar star in a new role, I guess. Tom Cruise takes over as the lead in this CGI-rich study of a team that uncovers and ancient, Egyptian evil. But is it an impossible mission?

"Megan Leavey": Kate Mara stars in this based-on-a-true-story as a Marine whose work in the canine corps save lives, though the main life she wants to save is that of her beloved dog partner. This must be what they mean by a dog's purpose.

"My Cousin Rachel": A young heir suspects that his cousin (by marriage) has a nefarious side. Based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier, whose works have been most popularly adapted by Alfred Hitchcock. That should give you a clue.

"It Comes at Night": The "It" of the title involves either a strange threat that is terrorizing the world or some outsiders who seek shelter in a family's remote home. Or both.