Director – Kelly Asbury
Cast – Demi Lovato, Rainn Wilson, Joe Manganiello, Jack McBrayer, Danny Pudi, Mandy Patinkin
Rating – 2.5/5
The problem with large animated franchises that span across media is that they refuse to call it a day. The main reason behind this need to come up with more and more material, no matter how mediocre, is purely financial; even the bad fare ends up making money.
Smurfs: The Lost Village is the third animated full-length feature to be made on the ever-popular blue brigade. Not a continuation of the other two films in the franchise, this reboot takes its cue from the original comics the series is based on.
While there is no doubt about the quality of animation on display, this instalment makes for a rather average viewing. Though the kids may well love it for all the action and shenanigans, even your die-hard fan will agree that the plot is nothing but a pile on of ordinary sequences stitched together to create a somewhat disappointing story. But for some genuinely hilarious scenes involving the evil wizard, Gargamel along with his trusted cat Azrael and loyal yet dimwitted bird/henchman Monty, the laughs involving the central characters feel a little too contrived.
Smurfette is the only female in Smurf Village. Having been created by the evil wizard Gargamel to further his own devious plans, she is rescued by Papa Smurf and is accepted as one of their own. In spite of this, she feels like an outsider in the all-boys club.
An attempt to follow a strange Smurf in a white hat leads Smurfette, Hefty, Brainy, and Clumsy into the forbidden forest. They are soon captured by Gargamel and his two aides. Gargamel is bent on enslaving the whole Smurf population and utilising their energy to become the most powerful wizard in the world.
When he retrieves the hidden white hat in Smurfette’s possession, he chances upon a clue that will lead him to the elusive lost village. Managing to escape by the skin of their teeth, the four Smurfs must get to the mysterious village before the evil wizard beats them to it.
The film does contain some riotously funny moments, but these are sadly few and far between. A sequel, as it seems, is already underway. It is better to leave a popular series be without having to bring out one unwanted feature after another just for the sake of filling those coffers. Disrespecting your large fan base with mediocre creations must not be the way to go, surely!