[rating: 3.5]
As a parent you are sometimes asked to do things you normally would not dream of. Such as going to see the Smurfs in 3D at the local theater. My initial reaction to being asked to see this film was, what kind of mind altering , eye gouging , piece of %^&$ am I getting myself into. But its my son and he gave his best pouty face with those big old eyes. So naturally I swallowed my pride and words and agreed. Hey its in 3D right ? No one will recognize that I closed my eyes with my glasses on . So off to the theater we went with my own idea of what this experience would be like and it was not pretty. When we arrived I could feel myself getting nauseous in anticipation of being tortured. So we sat down and watched some trailers . Ummm many trailers about 20 minutes of trailers then the lights dimmed and the movie started.I gripped my overly priced coke and lean back to close my eyes. But something happened.
Don’t know if the soda was spiked or not but to my shock and amazement I found myself liking the movie. There was just enough humor aimed right at the adults that it made it enjoyable. Watching the kids laugh at computer generated Smurfs and cat was worth the admission . Coming out of the theater without a dribble glass and a wheel chair because I thought the film would of gave me seizures. Priceless.
Some of the highlights for me was the gag routines they did with Gargamel played by Hank Azaria and Azreal the cat , hearing Jonathan Winters as Pappa Surf, and seeing Doogie Howser (Neil Patrick Harris) rocking out on Guitar Hero. So because my eyes did not bleed and I came out of the theater with my head held up I will give this film a 3 1/2 out of 5 star rating. Add another 1/2 if you are under 10, happen to be overly possessed or obsessed (either way works) with the Smurfs, or grew up watching that show such as my wife and wanting to feel like that kid once more.
In all seriousness it was an enjoyable film that the whole family can go to. Though I had to do some explaining to my 5 year old like it is not acceptable for any one to pee in a champagne bucket at a resteraunt like Gargamel did. No that would not be a good thing to do at all.
Plot ( From Wikipedia)
In the beginning of the film, Narrator Smurf tells the audience about the Blue Moon Festival, where every Smurf prepares to sing the Smurf theme song, almost every Smurf. Gutsy Smurf and Grouchy Smurf tell Clumsy Smurf he’s on the “Don’t Not Let In” list because he is too accident prone.
Meanwhile, Papa Smurf sees a vision, showing Clumsy with a dragon wand, the Smurfs in cages, and Gargamel having ultimate power. Worried that this may happen, Papa does not let Clumsy pick Smurf Roots. Refusing to listen, Clumsy does so anyway.
Gargamel soon finds Clumsy and chases after him. Clumsy leads Gargamel into the hidden Smurf village, and Gargamel destroys it. Running from Gargamel, Clumsy accidentally goes the wrong way, and some of the other Smurfs go after him and leap into a magic portal and finally discover New York City.
They take shelter with a young married couple (Patrick and Grace Winslow), who are expecting a baby. The Smurfs have to return to the Middle Ages and stop Gargamel. With the help of Patrick and Grace, the Smurfs eventually defeat Gargamel.
