Smurfs

Every time I say the word Smurfs I always attach a great big exclamation point on the end of it.  I just can't help turning that one word into an exclamation.  Smurfs!  SMURFS!  SMUUUUURRRFFFS!!

Well anyway this is one movie I was loathe to see.  I'm not a big Neil Patrick Harris fan.  I know he's a big star now, and super funny to boot, but I just don't think he's a great actor.  Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to put down NPH, because let's be honest he is cool.  In fact he's not a bad actor either.  But his limitations seemed to shine a little easier in this CG and live action flick.  For instance there's a couple scenes where he doesn't focus on any of the smurfs or any where near anything that's going on.  Not really a failure, cause I wouldn't be able to act next to nothing, but it did take me out of the moment for a split second. There's a large amount of humour just built into the Smurfs themselves, and since they aren't above making fun of themselves, they draw attention to the fact that it's 100 male smurfs and one female smurfette right at the beginning of the film.  Also Hank Azaria plays the perfect Gargamel in live action, and Frank Welker as the voice of Azarel really could not have been better. (Who else played?  Go check out the IMDB entry: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472181/)

Now down to the important part: Is it worth seeing?  Yes it passed mustard.   I had a lot of fun watching this film, despite the ridiculousness of have 5 Smurfs who are 3 apples tall (but look only 2 apples tall) running around NYC.