Release Date : August 4th, 2011 (Malaysia)
Director : Raja Gosnell
Starring : Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Hank Azaria, Sofia Vergara
Smurfs Voice Cast : Jonathan Winters, Katy Perry, Jeff Foxworthy, Paul Reubens, Alan Cumming, George Lopez
It's a little bizarre take on the source material, but they're actually making it. I suppose it's only a matter of time after the success of other CGI/live-action films like Alvin and The Chipmunks [2007], its 2009 sequel and to a certain extent, the two Garfield movies. Now it's time for another childhood favourites to make a film adaptation, the cartoon series of Belgian origin, The Smurfs.
They're not fooling anyone with this. Even for someone who's only vaguely familiar with The Smurfs would recall that the story takes place in a very fairy tale-like forest. So what drove the decision to take them into the city we'll never know, the people on YouTube are especially vocal about this, hilariously dubbing it as Smurfs in the City.
I can only assume that they had a decent idea going, employing well-loved actors like Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Jays and Hank Azaria to provide the live-action acting. Of course, it helps that they also hired a director whose work mostly dwells in family-friendly movies, with movies like Home Alone 3 [1997], Big Momma's House [2000] and the Scooby-Doo film adaptations.
My verdict? Well, it's gonna be a family movie after all. Good laughs and funny moments, but nothing less and nothing more.
My verdict? Well, it's gonna be a family movie after all. Good laughs and funny moments, but nothing less and nothing more.
