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Just yesterday I read that, after several years of decline, smoking among teens has leveled off to 1 in 4 being regular smokers. Then today I see this article from the UK’s Times claiming that smoking in Hollywood movies is on the upswing after being nearly taboo for a decade. Is there a connection? Smoking has always been a director’s shorthand for rebelliousness, self-destruction or worse, psychopathy, but it’s been a long time since movies have depicted smoking as glamorous. Author Hugo Rifkind argues that smoking is coming back like a bad habit. What do you think? Have you noticed more leads smoking in recent films?

Remember 10 or 12 years ago when everybody was talking about electric cars? Ever wonder what happened with that? Check out the trailer for Who Killed The Electric Car?, the astounding new documentary from Chris Paine, who in 2003 brought us one of the most intense, action-packed documentaries of all-time, Faster, an inside look at professional motorcycle racing.

In future flop news, production of the Dallas movie is headed to Shreveport, making Louisiana the official capital of crappy remakes. And always there to kick us when we’re down is Jessica Simpson, who has lobbied producers for a role in the movie. Jennifer Lopez, set to play lovable lush Sue Ellen, is said to be furious about the move. “She doesn’t want a diva on the set,” a close friend told reporters this week. Wow. J.Lo calling Jessica a diva is like Hitler calling Stalin moody. It’s just a tad on the hypocritical side.

Opening this weekend is Napoleon Dynamite creator Jared Hess’ new comedy, the Jack Black-in-Spandex wrestling flick Nacho Libre. I’ve said it before, but Napoleon Dynamite, the catch phrase cult hit that it was, is exhaustively painful to actually sit through. Every scene tries so hard to be funny. And some of it is. But that kind of brazen pursuit for cheap laughs above all else just comes off as pathetic and, frankly, amateur. If you’re thinking about renting it, don’t. Just ask your funniest friend to quote some lines to you, and you’ll have a much better time.

With that said, I hope Nacho Libre is funnier. With the brilliant Jack Black on board, chances are it will be. And, this weekend is a poor one at the multiplex. Nacho Libre, the gamble that it is, looks more promising than Bow Wow retread vehicle The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift and the Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock snoozer The Lake House. What a downer of a week for movies.

But if you want thrills, you might get your fix with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, new on DVD this week. The film stars the always captivating Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer and break-out star Michelle Monaghan in a witty murder mystery with the flare of Pulp Fiction and the cheesy charm of director Shane Black’s ‘80s hit Lethal Weapon.

And finally, I’m not losing sleep waiting for the release of Superman Returns, and incidentally enough, Bryan Singer’s reboot of the franchise is getting some decent but mixed reviews from advance screenings. Most are saying it’s good, but not great. But some are calling it a chick flick with not enough action and a weak villain. I’ve always thought the villains were weak in Superman. I mean, come on, he’s Superman! That’s the problem with these movies. And Lex Luthor, a power-hungry businessman is going to take him down? I don’t think so. Here’s the latest trailer for the movie out June 28.