Neil Patrick Harris and "the smurfs" in "The Smurfs"
 photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures

“The Smurfs” (Columbia Pictures)

The Smurfs Will Have You Smiling

Who would have thought those blue creatures called “The Smurfs” could be so much fun. Well the little kids in the audience with me when I watched this new film thought they were hilarious. They laughed at every antic and howled at every physical misstep. Based on their reaction “The Smurfs” is a hit.

The movie starts with the Smurfs living the good life in their little Smurf village. The only negative is a wizard named Gargamel (Hank Azaria) who wants to capture some Smurfs and drain their bodies of their magical enzymes. As he chasing them, six of the Smurfs escape through a vortex in a waterfall. They end up in Central Park in New York City. The six who escaped are Smurfette, Clumsy, Grumpy, Brainy, Poppa and Gutsy.

Through a series of events they end up in the apartment of Patrick (Neil Patrick Harris) and Grace (Jayma Mayes). They are a young couple who are expecting a baby. Initially they don’t know what to make of the Smurfs but eventually the sweetness of these creatures wins them over. Patrick and Grace even agree to help the Smurfs fight Gargamel and find their way back to Smurfville.

Neil Patrick Harris is very low key in this movie, not at all the dynamic personality he is on television and in his real life appearances. Mayes is much more interesting as a character in the film. She plays the fastidious teacher on “Glee” but this movie role is light years removed from that character.

Sofia Veraga of “Modern Family” fame plays Patrick’s boss and I couldn’t understand a word she said. She did look great. Azaria has a field day playing the evil wizard and chewing up the scenery right and left.

The movie is rated PG for rude humor.

I learned that Smurfs are named for their character traits, thus Grumpy, Clumsy, Brainy, etc. Knowing that, my Smurf name should be Smiley because I was smiling all the way through this movie.

I scored “The Smurfs” a blue 6 out of 10.

            JKC