Weekend movie preview: It's all about the deuces

Guess what? The summer doldrums are real. Because I have to say, this weekend's new movie offerings seem like complete snooze fests to me. Between yet another Smurfs movie and a shoot-em-up action film, I'm left out in the cold as a movie goer.

I don't even know why we need The Smurfs 2, because the first Smurfs movie flat-out reeked. Oh, wait, it also generated nearly $143 million in U.S. theaters! Well, there you go. Give the people what they want (and what they want, apparently, is Smurftastical junk). Either way, The Smurfs 2 is out now, and the animated family movie is looking to open at number one. I think this goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway: I'm not going to see this one in the theater. Heck, I may not see it on DVD, either. After a glance at the official movie critics' reviews, I don't think I'm missing out on anything.

Our other big blockbuster debut this weekend is the Denzel Washington/Mark Wahlberg action drama 2 Guns, and this one looks only slightly better than Smurfs 2 to me. Reviews for 2 Guns are in the mid to low range at last check, so proceed with caution and don't let your expectations get the best of you. For all his brilliance, Denzel Washington is allowed to star in a stinker every now and then.

So, movie goers, what other options do you have this weekend? In a word: plenty. You've got The Wolverine still going strong, heading into its second week in theaters. You've also got a great horror movie, The Conjuring, if that's your thing. Truth be told, it really seems like nearly everything else that's out right now will be better than the two debuts. Okay, maybe not Sharknado...but almost everything else.

Hopefully some of you will find something you enjoy at the local cineplex this weekend. If you do, please, let's hear about it in the comments. At least we have one really big, halfway decent looking summer blockbuster to look forward to next week: Elysium opens on August 9, 2013.

Photo courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter