A 'smurfing' good show
Nostalgic fans of the blue cartoon characters will be 'smurfed' to know that the adorable creatures have finally made their 3-D cinema debut in The Smurfs.
On the run from evil wizard Gargamel (Hank Azaria), Clumsy Smurf (voiced by Anton Yelchin) stumbles upon a magical portal that whisks him, Smurfette (Katy Perry), Papa Smurf (Jonathan Winters) and Grouchy (George Lopez) from Smurf Village to New York.
With the help of Patrick (Neil Patrick Harris) and Grace Winslow (Jayma Mays), who are expecting their first child, the Smurfs must outfox Gargamel as they race through the Big Apple to find their way back home.
Children will be entertained by the movie's wacky humour as Smurfs emerge from toilet bowls, tumble off balconies and shoot out of Nerf guns. Their parents can in turn relate to Patrick's fear of becoming a father and his struggles at work. The movie is accessible to all age groups.
Harris's heartfelt performance as the stressed father-to-be stands out. Although his co-star Mays's performance is no great shakes, the Glee star's presence, with the Smurfs belting out the Smurf song at every imaginable moment, adds a bubbly atmosphere to the film.
Unfortunately, save for the opening scenes, the extra dimension is not crucial, and at times the 3-D effects become blurry and may induce dizziness. They are probably not worth the premium price.
