‘Reminiscence’ heads Friday’s full movie slate

Above : “Reminiscence” will screen in theaters and on HBO Max beginning Friday. (Photo/Warner Bros.)

Even given the recent uprise in COVID-19 variant infections, the film industry hasn’t stopped releasing films.

You may go to the theater and be sitting amid maybe a dozen other moviegoers, all of you sharing a theater with maybe 150 total seats, but you’ll still be watching something new.

And that applies to this Friday’s release schedule, which feature at least four fresh openings:

“Reminiscence” : Hugh Jackman plays a “private investigator of the mind” – pause here and let out with a “whoa!” – who becomes obsessed with finding a client who intrigues him before, uh, she ends up disappearing. Again, “whoa!”

OK, but don’t expect a whole lot. One of the best reviews comes from critic Olly Richards , who writes for Empire Magazine: “For all its lovely looks, flashes of inspiration and splendid cast, ‘Reminiscence’ mostly serves to remind you of other films – ‘Minority Report,’ ‘Blade Runner’ – that did similar future-noir much, much better.” ( Note : “Reminiscence” will play on HBO Max as well, so you don’t even have to leave your house to see it, which I guess is some consolation for those already paying for the service. )

“Paw Patrol: The Movie” : Based on the Canadian children’s television series, this animated film follows the human Ryder (voiced by Will Brisbin) and his band of super puppies who, in this case, are called to stop Mayor Humdinger who is bent on destroying Adventure City. Note: Humdinger is a cat lover!

Courtney Howard of Variety wrote, “Any crass consumerism is eclipsed by disarming, demonstrable themes and meaningful sentiments woven throughout the film’s textured fabric.”

“The Night House” : Rebecca Hall stars as a woman who, following the death of her husband, begins to experience strange happenings in the house that he built with his own hands.

Michael O’Sullivan of the Washington Post wrote, “Calling it intriguing is actually selling it short. Warts and all, ‘The Night House’ is, in the truest sense of the word, kind of haunting.”

“The Protégé” : Maggie Q stars as the title character who goes on a quest of vengeance after her mentor is … well, you know how such stories go, right? No advance reviews are available, which is never a good sign, despite the fact that Samuel L. Jackson is included in the cast.

Lots to choose from this week. So go, see a movie. And be careful out there.