In Theaters: July 28, 2017

There are TWO wide releases this weekend.

Atomic Blonde

Evidently the sole cover for a female spy that is of any use whatsoever is that of a hooker, if Atomic Blonde is to be believed.

Atomic Blonde is not to be believed.  Or watched, in my opinion.  What this movie does right (original female character for a female lead) is so hopelessly overshadowed by what it does wrong.  Let me talk a little bit about that.

There have been three successful spy movie franchises: James Bond, Mission: Impossible, and the Bourne series.  I think all three succeed because James Bond, Ethan Hunt, and Jason Bourne - as characters - are so overwhelmingly devoted to doing what's right.  They will stop at nothing to save others, or prevent disaster.  The introduction to this Atomic Blonde character in the first trailer is her killing three men to save herself, and the remainder of her motivations seem to be rounded out by revenge, looking awesome, and hooking up.

Bottom line, I think this character will fail to launch a franchise because she has no apparent noble qualities.

Atomic Blonde is rated R for sequences of strong violence, language throughout, and some sexuality/nudity.

The Emoji Movie

No need to adjust your screen, America.  You saw that right, and you read that right.

You have no one to blame but yourself.  I certainly didn't go to see Minions or Trolls in the theater.

This is painful, but I'm going to tell you the basic premise.  The "meh" emoji (top center in the poster) has more emotions and feelings to give to the world than just "meh".  So he sets out to discover himself.  The emoji pictured left center in the poster is some sort of love interest.  Emojis discovering themselves and falling in love.  Hollywood hasn't scraped this low for the basest dregs of ideas since Hot Tub Time Machine 2, which was an actual movie in case you forgot.

The Emoji movie is rated PG for rude humor.

I'm afraid the time has come and summer movie season is winding down once more.  But there is at least one more coming out this summer I'm looking forward to seeing.  Stay tuned!

      Big Shot Critic