Hopes are not high for Journey to the Center of the Earth, the newest Brendan Fraser action romp to be planted in the middle of the summer (as opposed to The Mummy 3, which got planted in the fall). It opens on the same day as Hellboy 2, which has been increasing in buzz as superheroes begin to show signs of dominance at the summer box office.

If Journey somehow manages to stay afloat through the Guillermo Del Toro action flick, it still has The Dark Knight hot on its trail the next weekend.

Journey will be screened in Real-D in select theaters, a format the B&U staff is in support of ever since we happened to catch a screening of the 3-D Monster House. But, it feels more like a gimmick in this case.

The new trailer, which we suggest you view in HD Quicktime here, doesn’t seem to have any qualms about the niche Journey needs to tap into.

That niche is summed up by children too young to care about Hellboy and Dave’s mother.

Dave’s mother loves Brendan Fraser, loves action, but somehow doesn’t go for comic book movies unless they have Hugh Jackman in them.

Does Journey have a chance in July?