Movie Review: The Smurfs

Let me get straight to the point: you can see this movie with kids, with family, and on a regular 2-D screen. It is a perfect escape for a blistering summer day or even a mildly warm summer day where the kids wants to see the movie. It covers enough nostalgia and Smurfs canon for people like myself and gives the adults chuckle at the jokes thrown in for our sake. Some violence - think Home Alone - throughout the film. No need to see it in 3-D though.

Feel free to skip the rest of the review.

Danielle and I made a way to the World Premiere* on Sunday; since the tickets were free I'm sure this disqualifies my opinion in most people's minds. That is fair. You have to consider the source in my case. One bit that we were both wondering was: do today's kids know who the Smurfs are?

The Smurfs have not been on Saturday mornings (though they can be found on assorted cartoon channels) since the 80s I was curious on whether kids in the theater had any idea who they were. Luckily there were two children - ages approximately 4 to 7 next to us and Danielle asked the mother. "From the iPad game," the mother said. Well all right then, question answered.

Story wise, the Smurfs manages to pull off actually having a point. It is about family. Hokey, yes; though this is the Smurfs and it was actually well executed (and what did you expect?). For comparisons sake it's up there with the animated movie Cars for actually having a plot and point.

Neil Patrick Harris balances the line of husband who wants to keep his career going and becoming a parent with Jayma Mays (best known for her work on Glee) who holds up her end of the bargain by actually being a three dimensional wife in the middle of a movie with little blue creatures running around. It is also going to be remembered as the movie where Hank Azaria steals the show at Gargamel. It is rather difficult to comment on the Smurfs acting - after all they pretty much play their namesakes through out the movie.

The most you can ask for from this type of movie is that you believe in the reality that Smurfs would be running around New York City being chased by Gargamel. Which you do. Your small children will also not be screaming and fleeing the theater (I think) though Danielle remarked there was some dark scenes.

Remember Smurfs canon? The movie shows some great self referential humor by actually showing Peyo's cartoons, joking about 99 guys and 1 girl, Smurfette's lack of wardrobe, Gargamel blowing up his own castle, and even how Smurfette was originally created by Gargamel.

What can I say? I grew up watching the Smurfs and remember this. It's more the a nostalgia trip, it is actually a really well done movie, and yes, you will be singing the Smurf's song at the end. Which is a good thing.

Wayne

* Free chicken McNuggets, popcorn, celebrity sightings including Katy Perry, Brooke Shields, someone from N' Sync and Tim Gunn.