Nostalgic? New ‘Smurfs’ movie leaves us feeling blue
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"Smurfs" has been one of the most nostalgic memories as those iconic little blue forest-dwellers filled our childhood with fun and happiness.
Papa Smurf is known for his philosophical and insightful quotes. In a cartoon or movie, the wise leader of the Smurfs once said, "There are no mistakes, only learning opportunities."
Perhaps, Papa should learn from the latest "Smurfs" movie. When it comes to this film, which tanked on its opening weekend to the tune of $11 million, it's so bad and boring that critics are having a field day. It's such a snooze.
I'm going to power through this video and not waste too much of your time because the movie already wasted enough of mine. This new "Smurfs" movie is animated for the most part, but it oddly does have live-action scenes woven into it at times -- when it feels like it.
It's directed by people, who will be mostly omitted from this review. Director Chris Miller who wanted "to honor the DNA of the original comics, the Belgian artist Peyo designs -- that was vitally important to me," he said about the animated feature by Paramount. Sorry, folks.
Peyo first created the Smurfs in the late 1950s, and they've been popular around the world ever since, appearing in many TV series and feature films. This is not one of the
memorable ones.
Basically, as all Smurfs have their thing, just one Smurf is like No Name Smurf (James Corden). He doesn't have a thing when he becomes a magical Smurf.
The film centers around Papa Smurf (voiced by John Goodman), who is kidnapped -- or Smurf-napped -- by the evil wizard Razamel, Gargamel's brother (both voiced by JP Karliak). Now the Smurfs, led by Smurfette (Rihanna) and a new character named No Name, embark on a rescue mission. They have to go through a portal to go on the adventure, meet up with Papa Smurf's brother, Ken (Nick Offerman), and rescue Papa Smurf.
It's a whole boring thing. This movie is the epitome of the phrase, "Try hard." You can tell when the move is trying to be funny, but it just never is. Sometimes the jokes fall flat all by themselves, and sometimes the characters' reactions to the joke in the movie compromises it entirely.
If someone's dream version of what a Smurf movie should be or would be, it wouldn't be this. "Smurfs" has an energy to it, which is clearly made for young kids absolutely. But having an energy to it doesn't make it entertaining. You have to have more than that.
Look, I don't want to sound too old (I'm 56), but we had it made with the kids' movies ... they were entertaining, they had heart, they had a message and they had substance. They also had memorable characters.
The script to this "Smurfs" movie feels like it was three pages long. It seems like this movie was made by people who are too young to remember the Smurfs, but too old to actually know what kids want.
"Smurfs" also has out of place musical numbers, which are certainly considered time-honored traditions in this type of film.
A couple musicals in "Smurfs" feel like they were just thrown in here because someone said it has to have music because Rihanna is the voice of Smurfette. But, it all feels oddly out of place.
The cast in this movie is oddly impressive. It just comes across as they're cashing the easiest paycheck they've ever gotten. Well, while the story is simple with social messages, the narrative somehow hampers it because of its slow pace, as even a crisp runtime of 90 minutes looks stretched.
The promo promises this movie will "blue" you away. It didn't come close.
Rating: PG
Runtime: 92 minutes
Grade: C-
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Greg Williams is a reporter and Weekend Editor for The Sentinel. A Mifflin County native, he has been writing for The Sentinel since 1991.