The Smurfs Movie Review

Based on the comics by Belgian Artist Peyo, ‘ The Smurfs Click to look into! >> Read More... ’ is a 3D animated/live action comedy. The plot revolves around a group of blue dwarfish Gnome-like creatures and their archenemy Gargamel, who after being sucked into a portal, end up in New York Click to look into! >> Read More... City.

Plot It’s time for Blue Moon Festival in the land of the Smurfs when Papa Smurf (Voiced by Jonathan Winters) has a vision of the Smurfs being in danger. A series of unfortunate events later, the evil Wizard Gargamel ( Hank Azaria Hank Azaria was born in Queens, in the city of New >> Read More... ) and his Cat, Azrael ( Frank Welker Frank Wendell Walker was born on March 12, 1946, i >> Read More... ) who want to use the Smurfs to make his magic more potent and powerful, discover the Smurfs Village. Trying to escape, Papa Smurf, Clumsy Smurf ( Anton Yelchin Anton Yelchin was a young American actor. He has d >> Read More... ), Smurfette ( Katy Perry Katy Perry was born to pastor parents Maurice Huds >> Read More... ), Grouchy Smurf ( George Lopez American stand-up comedy actor and a famous host G >> Read More... ), Brainy Smurf ( Fred Armisen Fred Armisen, also known as Fereydun Robert Armise >> Read More... ) and Gutsy Smurf (Alan Cummings) unintentionally run off towards the ‘Forbidden Falls’.

When Clumsy slips off the edge, the other Smurfs run to help him but are sucked into a vortex and transported to present-day New York City. Gargamel and his Cat are desperate to catch them and thus follow suit and land in New York as well. The Smurfs end up with Patrick and Grace, who befriend them. How will the Smurfs go back without getting captured by the evil wizard? Watch and find out.

Analysis: With such a skilled cast, it’s a shame that the movie is just recycled bits and pieces of story from ‘Enchanted’ and ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks.’ The writing is uninspired, and the humor is not humorous. Getting the Smurfs out of their village and into a real place could’ve been used in genuinely funny scenarios, but the attention seems to be more focused at this one advertisement that Neil Patrick Harris Neil Patrick Harris is a brilliant actor, producer >> Read More... ’ character has to make. A few scenes are quite funny, thanks to Hank Azaria’s superlative performance. Kids will enjoy this movie, the adults, not so much.

Star Performances: The cast does a great job- both the live action cast and the voice actors. Hank Azaria, in particular, owns the film every time he’s on screen. Sitcom stars Neil Patrick Harris, and Jayma Mays Jayma Suzette Mays was born on 16th July 1979 in B >> Read More... are both charming and do a good job at playing a young couple with issues of their own (His job is stressful, she is pregnant), who give the Smurfs, a home and more importantly their friendship. Katy Perry, Anton Yelchin, and Alan Cummings are all equally delightful in the voice department.

What’s there?

1. Hank Azaria does a phenomenal job playing the goofy bad guy. His antics are comical, and he is what keeps this otherwise dull movie running.

2. The voice acting is equally satisfying. Special mention to Alan Cummings for making Gutsy the funniest Smurf.

What’s not there?

1. The lack of creative writing. The jokes are shallow and try hard sometimes. Like the constant use of the word ‘Smurf’ instead of an expletive. (The tagline of the movie is: Where the Smurf are we?)

2. The story is clichéd and unoriginal.

Verdict: Kids can certainly enjoy ‘The Smurfs’ and the movie is pretty watchable for an adult. But in a time when animated movies are giving big-budget, live-action cinema a run for their money with their skillful writing and deep, impactful story-telling, ‘The Smurfs’ never rises above its clichéd script influenced by many other movies like this. Parents can, instead, make their kids watch the much better Smurfs cartoon show which ran for 256 episodes.