DIRECTOR: Kelly Asburi
VOICE CAST: Demi Lovato, Joe Manganiello, Jack McBrayer, Danny
Pudi, Mandy Patinkin, Rainn Wilson SCREENWRITER:
Stacey Harman & Pamela Ribon PRODUCER:
Mary Ellen Bauder, Raja Gosnell, Jordan Kerner & Ben Waisbren EDITOR: Bret Marnell MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Christopher
Lennertz GENRE: Fantasy/Adventure/comedy DISTRIBUTOR: Sony Pictures LOCATION: USA
RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes
Technical assessment:
3
Moral Assessment: 3
CINEMA Rating: V13
MTRCB Rating: GA
The film starts with Papa Smurf (Mandy Patinkin), the fatherly and
protective leader, describing the Smurf Village as a caring, happy
and peaceful community of extremely small creatures. Among them are Clumsy
(Jack McBrayer), Brainy (Danny Pudi), and Hefty (Joe Manganiello). The
only girl Smurfette (Demi Lovato) is not a real Smurf, but a creation of
Gargamel (Rainn Wilson), a vicious human magician who wants to capture all the
Smurfs and take their essence to become the most powerful wizard. Instead of spying on the Smurfs, Smurfette is
transformed by Papa Smurf to be one of them. She will soon be joined by Clumsy, Brainy and
Hefty on a mission to find the Lost Village and to warn them against Gargamel.
The problem is, Gargamel’s bird and cat friends see the Smurf quartet, thus this
villain moves to beat them to the Lost Village.
Smurfs: The Lost Village, the third offering of the animation
film series, focuses on the character of Smurfette. Despite the twist, the plot
is predictable and some of the scenes are recurring and can be
boring. The movie tries to highlight woman power through a character
capable of calling the shots, conscientisizing, and bravely engaging in heroic
acts. The computerized production design is no better than other animated
films, but some impressive visual effects help up things a bit, like the entertaining
multi-function Bee-machine. Voicing is likewise good, dialogues are
meaningfully delivered thus easily defining the good and the bad characters.
The musical score, sounds, and lighting are fine and somehow contribute as
the saving grace of a mediocre storyline.
The search for self-identity can be a meaningful journey if you
choose it to be so. While others’ sensitivity and acceptance of what you are
going through are instrumental to your success, more important is your
acceptance of your very own existence—you must have the awareness and proper
motivation to do what you can for yourself and for others. Smurfs: The
Lost Village is a very positive film that highlights the successful
search for self-worth as the main theme and the triumph of good over evil as a
sub-theme. In the course of fighting evil the qualities of kindness,
strength, sacrifices, and prayers prevail. Greed has no place if
there is unity, truth and determination. The film may be intended for child
viewers, but there are messages that need guidance of adults to explain. An
example is the scene when Smurfette pretends to submit to the reprimands of
Papa Smurf but obviously deceives the elder together with fellow
violators. Woman power is another
sub-theme of the film but considering the origin of Smurfette, an adult companion
may explain to young viewers that regardless of characterization, women’s
capabilities depicted in the film reflect real life situations.
