Fridays openings: Lots to choose from

After weeks of single-movie, blockbuster-appeal openings, the coming week expects to be comparatively busy — at least according the national movie-release schedule. The listed openings are as follows:

"The Art of Racing in the Rain": Director Simon Curtis helms this adaptation of Seattle writer Garth Stein's 2008 novel about a dog who aids a race-car driver overcome the obstacles in his life. Woof.

"Brian Banks": A promising football player, imprisoned for a rape he did not commit, fights to clear his name. Based on a real story.

"Dora and the Lost City of Gold": A live-action version of the animated series "Dora the Explorer," this family film follows Dora as she struggles to save both her parents and find a cache of gold.

"The Kitchen": After their husbands are imprisoned, a trio of women takes up their gangsterly ways. Hmmmm, where have we seen something like this before?

"Stories to Tell in the Dark": More teens, more threats of horror. Oooooooohhhh, kids. Scary.

As always, I'll update when the area theaters finalize their bookings.