Smurfs: The Lost Village

GENRE:

Family, Animation

RELEASE DATE:

04/07/17

RUNTIME:

90 Minutes

PERFORMERS:

Demi Lovato, Mandy Patinkin, Julia Roberts

DIRECTOR:

Kelly Asbury

MPAA:

PG

I personally never saw the first two smurfs films that came out most recently. I never had any interest. The smurfs were not something I grew up on and thus their stories were not something i needed to see. the need to make smurfs films seems a little odd to me as most kids nowadays have no inkling that smurfs have existed for a long time. still it seems that the franchise is succeeding. the smurfs are back and in this completely animated film. no live action in this one.

 This film follows smurfette (Demi lovato) as she tries to figure out her place in smurf village. created by gargamel years before to reveal the location of the smurfs, she was made good by papa smurf. this is the first children's film i have seen aimed solely for children that i have seen in a long time.  there are no adult jokes (or intentional ones at least) and there is a lot of slapstick humor that kids will get a kick out of.

i appreciate the overall message of the film. smurfette crosses into the forbidden part of the forest with some friends even after being grounded by papa smurf (mandy patinkin). Smurfette needs to know what she has to offer to the village she loves so much. anytime she tries to help she makes things worth. Smurfette and her friends come across a the lost village of smurfs. these smurfs are all female and for once smurfette feels as though she finally fits in. trouble ensues, smurfette blames herself, but is clever enough to figure out a solution on her own and ends up saving the day.  

Smurfette learns valuable lessons along the way. As do her friends Hefty (Joe Mangianello), Clumsy (Jack McBrayer) and Genius (Chris Pudi). Smurf Willow (Julia Roberts) offers a lot of wisdom as the equivalent to Papa Smurf. This film was not meant for me and for this I respect it. Sure many animated films are aimed to please children and parents a like and I feel as though this has spoiled us. We expect every film we take our kids to engage us as well and why should it? Let kids enjoy what is theirs for it does not belong to them for very long. 3.5 stars.