With “Smurfs” (Paramount), a blend of animation and live action, director Chris Miller has given the titular blue elves, Belgian cartoonist Peyo’s trademark creatures, a big-screen reboot. Although his would-be fresh start promotes positive values and is mostly free of problematic material, it’s also numbingly uninteresting.
The bland proceedings focus on the friendship between Smurfette (voice of Rihanna), the lone female of the species, and initially directionless and disheartened No Name Smurf (voice of James Corden). Early on, No Name’s search for his distinctive vocation ends with the apparent discovery that he can work magic.
That seems like good news. Yet the burst of energy that results when No Name demonstrates his newfound powers to esteemed village elder Papa Smurf (voice of John Goodman) alerts evil wizard Razamel (voice of J.P. Karliak) to the latter’s whereabouts and enables him to abduct Papa via a long-distance portal.
In response, Smurfette and No Name set off on a quest to rescue Papa, with a band of their neighbors in tow. Their journey takes them first to Paris and later to Munich. Along the way, No Name learns the value of self-confidence, resilience and teamwork.
Too potentially frightening for some tykes, the picture also continues the franchise’s tradition of using the word smurf in various forms, sometimes as a euphemistic substitute for less acceptable vocabulary, sometimes just for fun. Be warned, then, that your eyes may smurf over from sheer tedium long before the final credits roll.
The film contains scenes of peril, a couple of instances of mature wordplay, bleeped expressions and a few mildly crass terms. The OSV News classification is A-I — general patronage. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
