I was never really into The Smurfs and so had very low expectations about this movie, but my 7 year old daughter wanted to see it, so off we went to a vacation trip to the theatre in Norfolk, Virginia. All I can say is that I was pleasantly surprised. It's a movie that will appeal to kids most of all obviously, but still I found it an amusing fantasy with likable characters - both Smurfs and humans. On the human side, Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays were likable enough as Patrick and Grace - the couple who take in a group of Smurfs who are transported to New York City in a strange vortex that opens during a blue moon as they sought to escape from the evil wizard Gargamel (a pretty funny performance from Hank Azaria.) While likable, it's fair to say that Harris and Mays had little of what might be called "chemistry" - but that really isn't all that important in a movie directed to kids. On the Smurf side, everybody was fun and there were several pretty well known voices involved, including Jonathon Winters as Papa Smurf and Katy Perry as Smurfette, and it's fair to say that Anton Yelchin was successful in turning Clumsy Smurf into a truly lovable little character.
I would say that the "Battle of Belvedere" which was the final conflict between the Smurfs and Gargamel (with Patrick also involved) went on perhaps a bit too long, and there were maybe a few too many scenes in which Gargamel and his cats chased the Smurfs around, but overall this is a kids movie, and to me it seemed as if it was pretty well done. The 3-D effects were also pretty impressive. Going in with low expectations let me experience a pleasant surprise. (7/10)
I would say that the "Battle of Belvedere" which was the final conflict between the Smurfs and Gargamel (with Patrick also involved) went on perhaps a bit too long, and there were maybe a few too many scenes in which Gargamel and his cats chased the Smurfs around, but overall this is a kids movie, and to me it seemed as if it was pretty well done. The 3-D effects were also pretty impressive. Going in with low expectations let me experience a pleasant surprise. (7/10)