Smurfs: The Lost Village Movie Review

Smurfs: The Lost Village is like the 2011 and 2013 live-action/animation movies based on the beloved blue cartoon characters. But unlike the previous Smurfs movies, this one is completely animated and aimed at slightly younger kids (in other words, there's less potty humor and iffy content this time around, though definitely still some slapstick moments). But you can expect scenes of peril/Smurfs in danger, as well as one genuinely scary, sad sequence in which a character has (sort of) died. Despite the occasional violence, no lasting harm comes to any of the main characters, and the movie has a clear girl-power message, as well as themes of courage and teamwork

The film is directed by Kelly Asbury, veteran film director specializing in animation films. In the early 80's he began his film career at Walt Disney, participating in the storyboarding of the television series "The Littles" (1984). The following year also collaborated in the animation department of the cartoon film "The Balck Cauldron" (1985) and two years later he became part of the team that created the television special "Sport Goofy in Soccermania" (1987) . At the end of the 80 was part of the visual equipment of the film "The Little Mermaid" (1989). The film inspired by the classic story of Hans Christian Andersen, tells the story of a siren who falls in love with a human, sacrifices his voice to be able to go to the surface and know. Later, he also participated in the tapes "The Rescuers Down Under" (1990) film of the mice Bernardo and Bianca; and "Roller Coaster Rabbit" (1990), with Rabbit Roger Rabbit as the protagonist. Asbury also collaborated in the creation of the history and visual development of the film "Beauty and the Beast" (1991), that got to be nominated to the Oscar prizes. Two years later, he worked as art assistant to director Tim Burton in the film "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993). He also collaborated on the films "Toy Story" (1995) and "James and the Giant Peach" (1996). In the mid-1990s, he left Disney and began working on Dreamworks, where he collaborated with the films "The Prince of Egypt" (1998), "Chicken Run" (2000) and "Sherk" (2001). The following year it debuted like director in the film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002), tape that was nominated to oscar like better film of animation. Given the success he had with that work, he is chosen to direct the sequel Sherk 2 (2004), a film that follows the adventures of the famous ogre on this occasion focusing on his married life. Several years later he directed Gnomeo and Juliet (2011), a version of Romeo and Juliet's classic love story. Later collaborated in the realization of the film "Wreck-It Ralph" (2012) successful film about a video game villain, tired of his life; and in "Frozen" (2013) one of the greatest animation successes of recent times adapting the work of Hans Christian Andersen, "The Snow Queen" ..

WHAT'S THE STORY?
SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE focuses on Smurfette (voiced by Demi Lovato), who, unlike every other Smurf in Smurf Village, isn't male or identified by a descriptive personality trait (e.g. Handy, Brainy, Grouchy, Clumsy, Jokey, etc.). She was originally created by evil wizard Gargamel (Rainn Wilson), and even though later she was magically transformed by Papa Smurf (Mandy Patinkin), Smurfette still wonders how she fits in. One day while adventuring with Hefty (Joe Manganiello), Clumsy (Jack McBrayer), and Brainy (Danny Pudi) near the Forbidden Forest, they're captured by Gargamel, who reveals that he plans to trap all the Smurfs, boil them in a potion, and steal their power. Aiding Gargamel in this endeavor is a map he claims shows where there's another "lost" Smurf village. Smurfette frees her friends and, defying Papa Smurf's orders, they travel beyond the borders of the Forbidden Forest and discover the other group of Smurfs, who all happen to be fierce females. Smurfette must convince the newly found Smurfs, who are led by Smurfwillow (Julia Roberts), that Gargamel may be on his way to kidnap and destroy them all.

MOVIE INFO
Rating: PG (for some mild action and rude humor)
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Kids & Family
Directed By: Kelly Asbury
Written By: Stacey Harman, Pamela Ribon
In theaters: April 7, 2017
Runtime: 89 minutes
Music by: Christopher Lennertz
Studio: Sony Pictures Releasing
Cast: Demi Lovato, Rainn Wilson, Mandy Patinkin, Joe Manganiello, Jack McBrayer, Danny Pudi