Friday’s openings: Book clubs and road races

Above : “”Book Club: The Next Chapter” opens on Friday. (Photo/Focus Features)

What with “Guardian of the Galaxy Vol. 3” hogging all the available screens, it’s not surprising that so few movies are scheduled to open on Friday.

But it doesn’t look like a total loss. At least two movies are set to open wide, and each is aimed at a specific part of the moviegoing public.

“Book Club: The Next Chapter” : A sequel to 2018’s “Book Club,” both being directed and co-written by Bill Holderman (with Erin Simms), “The Next Chapter” returns stars Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Mary Steenburgen and Candice Bergen. This time the quartet heads to Italy to enjoy the trip they never had a chance to enjoy.

Owen Gleiberman of Variety wrote, “(T)he first rule of ‘Book Club’ is: Never underestimate the cheeky sentimental old-girl-power irresistibility of ‘Book Club.’ ”

“Rally Road Racers” : Bearing the logo of “from the producers of ‘Shrek,’” this animated feature follows a former driver-turned-machanic who competes against the best the rally-car circuit has to offer. Featuring the voices of Jimmy O. Yang, J.K. Simmons, Clue Bennett and Catherine Tate.

No review available. Seldom a good sign.

I’ll update as the week progresses.