The Smurfs: Movie Review

By tvnz.co.nz's Darren Bevan

Published: 4:23PM Monday October 03, 2011

• Email this article
• Print this article
• Text size + -
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

The Smurfs

Rating: 6/10

Cast: Neil Patrick Harris, Sofia Vergara, Hank Azaria, The Smurfs, Gargamel

Director: Raja Gosnell

The Smurfs are somewhat of an institution - so the idea of seeing them redone for a big screen release is one that may give some fans of Peyo's original cartoons a bit of a nervous shudder.
Small creatures of blue with white pointy hats, they live in an enchanted forest away from human contact - but always with the threat of evil wizard Gargamel (a brilliant Hank Azaria) trying to track them down.

So one day, after a series of mishaps when Clumsy Smurf accidentally reveals the location of their perfect village to Gargamel, a handful of them are forced to flee through a portal to New York - and into the life of uptight father to be Patrick (Neil Patrick Harris).

And while Patrick's pregnant other half Grace (Jayma Mays) is happy to embrace them, Patrick isn't too pleased to welcome Smurfette, Poppa Smurf, Clumsy et al into his life.

Things get even more complicated when Gargamel heads through the portal too trying to track them down...

Will they ever be able to return home? Will they be able to fight off the wizard? And will Patrick avoid being fired from his job by Cruella de Vil like boss Odile (Modern Family's Sofia Vergara.)

The Smurfs is a lot of family fun - and much more bearable than you'd believe of a computer animated film about small blue people.

There's a cartoony feel to it in places - but not one which makes it feel childish and silly; it's more of a joyous self knowing celebration. Katy Perry's Smurfette even reveals at one point, that she kissed a Smurf and she liked it.

There's a playfulness to the script and while Gargamel veers dangerously close to pantomime territory, thanks to Azaria's great acting and some clever laugh out loud oneliners, he's more fun than complete caricature.

Sure, there's a schmaltzy message for Patrick's father to be and some extremely gratuitous product placement, but The Smurfs is a solid family outing and proffers up a lot more fun than you'd ever expect from a group of blue people.

• Email this article
• Print this article
• Text size + -
• more...
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

Entertainment News Video

• The brains behind Shortland Street (10:40) 
• Video: Behind the scenes of Shortland Street (3:34) 
• A short history of Shortland Street (2:29) 

Entertainment News

• One Direction fan sneaks into dressing room
• Gisele Bundchen expecting second child - reports
• Will Smith says his children are 'savvy about fame'
• Kylie Minogue carries cancer scars
• Kelly Preston reportedly walks out on John Travolta
• Sir Elton John hospitalised
• Ronan Keating hits the bottle after marriage split

Most Popular

1. One Direction fan sneaks into dressing room
2. Kelly Preston reportedly walks out on John Travolta
3. Strong quake hits Christchurch watch
4. Two men arrested after protest outside Auckland hotel watch
5. Kylie Minogue carries cancer scars

rssLatest News

• 22:07 Gritty Chiefs edge out Bulls in thriller watch
• 21:57 McDonald's investors reject obesity report
• 21:45 Car bomb hits Turkish police
• 21:20 As it happened: Chiefs v Bulls watch
• 21:16 One Direction fan sneaks into dressing room