Smurfs: The Lost Village

La La La La La La, sing a happy song! It's an intro will never forget for not only its ability to get stuck in my head, but also for the show it represents. The Smurfs' legacy has extended over the decades into a plethora of forms primarily in the TV shows and movies of the 80s. After a six-year hiatus from the live action movies, the blue creatures return to the silver screen to try to regain footing. Will the new style work, or does it fall much like the character Clumsy Smurf? Robbie K here with a review on the Smurfs: The Lost Village. Let's get started.

LIKES: • Animation style works • Feels like a Smurfs Adventure • Surprisingly emotions • Soundtrack

Summary: When I saw the trailers for this film, I had my doubts after seeing the definition the live action movies did. Fortunately, the animation works and feels more Smurf like than the previous movies. Our cast of blue minis has fluid movement and style that is representative of the classic series, as the colorful world and all its creatures pop in the same happy, righteous style they capture all those years ago. However, the animation is not the only thing that represents the classic style. The adventure of Lost Village is representative of the classic Smurfs cartoon, filled with epic silliness and kid friendly action for all to enjoy. Much of the audience targeted by this film, will enjoy all the quirky jokes and simplistic scenes, sure to feel their hearts fill with joy at all the happiness packed in this movie. This movie isn't all sunshine and rainbows though, as the film has a little more emotional punch than I expected, with a few sequences well-crafted to derail the ecstasy this movie elates. And if all that isn't enough to convince you the movie is fun, then the soundtrack will certainly bring this point home. You will certainly find the musical numbers full of energy and may find yourself dancing in your seat… like me. Not the most unique, but the tracks picked for this film are quite perfect for the scene and would be one CD to pick up.

DISLIKES • Rushed at times • Lost Potential • Anticlimactic Ending • Gargamel not as funny

Summary: Smurfs adventures have never been long, but when in cartoon series form you had plenty of episodes to tell a complete story. Not the case for this film. Sure, they wrap up a lot of the ties, but many times the film seems rushed, leaving things underdeveloped in an attempt to cram everything into the short run time. While I give the editing props, I also sigh at the lost potential of this movie. Lost Village does a nice job showing off the Forbidden Forest and giving us some unique flora and fauna to the world. Yet, the trek could have had a few more obstacles for the heroes to challenge before getting to their goal. Not that big a deal, okay how about the fact that some of your favorite Smurfs have been tossed to the secondary bin including Papa Smurf the legendary leader. If that still isn't enough, then how about the fact the new tribes of Smurf girls are very underdeveloped. After a cool introduction and sweet styled montage, the girl Smurfs are almost as useless as Gargamel's jokes. No cool moves, no special magic, and almost very little importance to the plot, the girl Smurfs tribe really could have been taken further to make it worth all the casting they did for voices and the money they spent. And because of their minor involvement, and a predictable story line, the exciting climax at the end… was so climactic as it was an animated light show. Had I not had to struggle through the forced comedy of Gargamel, that often devolved into mindless, one directional banter, that few above the age of seven will enjoy. Really missed Hank Azaria's delivery and writing on this one.

The Verdict:

The Smurfs Lost Village is a nice reintroduction of the gang back into the modern world with the feel, design, and energy the show always had. However, the lost potential, rushed development, and anticlimactic moments certainly took away from all the potential the movie could have brought. Perhaps instead of a movie, the Smurfs should have been picked up by Netflix and the show restarted for the new generation of streamers. Needless to say, this movie isn't so much theater worthy (outside of music and animation) and would recommend waiting for this one to hit home.

My scores are:

Animation/Adventure/Comedy: 6.5 Movie Overall: 5.0

Britons of a certain age will remember the Smurfs via a very annoyingly memorable song by Father Abraham which once heard is never forgotten no matter how hard you try. In other words I'm not a fan of the blue ones but since I want to expand my film watching experience I thought I'd see what the mainstream audience are watching at the multiplex. On top of that II did read the synopsis on this site:

In this fully animated, all-new take on the Smurfs, a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting race through the Forbidden Forest leading to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history

Reading that I was instantly reminded of Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS . a film trilogy that I didn't expect much from but was totally blown away by this cinematic masterwork. Again I should guard my back by saying I wasn't expecting all that much from the Smurfs but went in with an open mind If I have a problem with SMURFS THE LOST VILLAGE it's that I found it totally forgettable. Of course it's difficult to empathise with blue dwarfs but even so I found myself wishing I had a better connection with the characters. It's also not helped by much of the story not taking part within the forbiddingly named "The Forbidden Forest" and wished the story elements had been much darker . That said the film is made as family friendly fare and that's the target audience rather than me

Smurfs: The Lost Village tells the story of the tiny blue creatures, known as Smurfs. Some of the Smurfs are, Smurfette(Demi Lovato), Hefty Smurf(Joe Manganiello), Clumsy Smurf(Jack McBrayer), Brainy Smurf(Danny Pudi) & the Smurfs' leader, Papa Smurf(Mandy Patinkin). The Smurfs are always running away from the evil wizard, Gargamel(Rainn Wilson). Smurfette discovers something strange. Smurfette takes Hefty, Clumsy & Brainy on an adventure, to find out what exactly she thinks she discovered.

Smurfs: The Lost Village is a good film. However, director Kelly Asbury has made this movie only keeping in mind its target audience, children. There is nothing in the film, that the adults can take away. The animation is beautiful. The highlight of the movie is the 3D effects. Every other scene in the film, is duck-worthy in 3D. The humor in the movie, is mainly slapstick & very childish. The soundtrack of the film is memorable. The voice-over work is great. Demi Lovato is spectacular as Smurfette. Rainn Wilson is outstanding as Gargamel. Joe Manganiello is brilliant as Hefty Smurf. Jack McBrayer is hilarious as Clumsy Smurf. Danny Pudi is superb as Brainy Smurf. Mandy Patinkin is impressive as Papa Smurf. Dee Bradley Baker & Frank Welker are amazing as Monty & Azrael, respectively. Michelle Rodriguez, Ellie Kemper, Julia Roberts, Ariel Winter & Meghan Trainor are excellent as SmurfStorm, SmurfBlossom, SmurfWillow, SmurfLily & SmurfMelody, respectively. Smurfs: The Lost Village is not a must watch. However, watch it with your little ones, who I can guarantee will love every minute of the movie.

I went to see this movie over the holidays and i absolutely loved it there were plenty of new friends to make and it was super fun my only gripe is that it took so long to get to the girl Smurfs when the previews made it seem like they were gonna be in the entire movie but aside from that it was good and i definitely recommend that you go see it take the family and have a good smurfiing time

I don't know what people are expecting from a kids movie. Its the smurfs. Its not like they were going to come out and make a new take on a classic. My son, who just turned six, said he loved it. The animation was beautiful. There were parts that did seem truly original. I enjoyed it and Frank Welker did an awesome job as always. I don't want to spoil anything, but the end credits scene was really funny to me. None of the recent kids movies I've seen have been all that original except Kubo and it was special in its blend of traditional and CG animation. See the Smurfs, or rent it, your kids will love it.