REVIEW: Uneven 'Smurfs' still a blast for kids

I went into the “Smurfs” movie hoping for the best, expecting something less and ending up with an experience smack dab in the middle.

It’s not that it wasn’t fun — at times my daughter and I were dancing in our seats — it just wasn’t fun enough. It’s never a good sign when you start checking your watch during any movie.

Let’s be honest, this movie wasn’t made for me. It was for my kids, and they largely enjoyed it, as their short reviews (see sidebar) confirm. However, as a parent who’s been through countless animated features, I know there are plenty of films where my enjoyment mirrors theirs. “Smurfs” didn’t quite reach that level.

Not that it didn’t have its moments. Despite its overall unevenness, the movie boasts first-rate animation with vibrant, eye-catching colors. There were also some genuinely funny bits, like the antics of Sound Effects Smurf and a clever, relatable joke about being muted on Zoom during Razamel’s (JP Karliak) conference call.

The film’s biggest weakness is its disjointed narrative. It often felt like a series of vignettes, causing me to lose sight of the central story arc: No Name’s (James Corden) quest to find his talent and place within the Smurf world.

That storyline was very appealing to my 9-year-old son, who connected with No Name’s quest. Early on, as No Name humorously tries to discover his true calling with the support of Smurfette (Rihanna), there are plenty of laughs.

No Name discovers a flair for magic, and an explosion from that magic leads to Papa Smurf (John Goodman) being mysteriously taken by evil wizards. Papa Smurf’s abduction propels the Smurfs on a wild, albeit uneven, chase that is punctuated with humor before it’s predictable conclusion.

The Evil Alliance of Wizards, including Razamel and Gargamel, are after Papa Smurf’s hidden fourth book, which will help them rule the world.

As the Smurfs attempt to rescue their leader we find out that Papa Smurf might not have a new bag but he does have some never-before-seen siblings — Ken (voiced by Nick Offerman) and Ron (voiced by Kurt Russell).

The casting is a stroke of genius, with both actors bringing extra levity and a fresh dynamic to the film. Ron’s flowing locks and action-hero persona were particularly amusing to my son and the other kids, while I appreciated his distinct voice and presence. It’s also worth noting that Ken and Ron are the first Smurfs to have conventional human names, which was a fun detail.

While Ken and Ron were highlights for me, Rhianna’s potrayal of Smurfette fell a bit flat. My wife and I agreed her voice didn’t quite fit the character, and my son shared this sentiment, though my daughter was fully on board. Girl power, indeed!

Despite one new song, “Friend of Mine,” among 14 originals, Rihanna’s talent seemed largely underutilized, as No Name frequently took the lead both thematically and vocally.

While Ken helps the Smurfs try to save Papa from Razamel and Gargamel (also voiced by Karliak), the Smurfs’ adventures take them to Paris (which explains the scooter on the movie poster), the Australian Outback (not sure why) and Munich — home of Razamel’s castle.

A definite highlight was a stop to see the Snooterpoots. These hilarious, Koosh-ball-like characters, with their penchant for cake and stealing valuables, were an absolute riot. Their leader — Mama Poot (Natasha Lyonne) — is a hoot and a half. Judging by the rollicking reaction of my kids and the rest of the kids in the crowd, the Snooterpoots should be a prime candidate for a spin-off.

Through a longer-than-necessary ending that includes travel through multiple dimensions (some pretty clever), No Name completes his quest and the old “Smurfs” theme plays the movie out.

While it didn’t do the trick for me (I personally gave it 2.5 stars), “Smurfs” and its vibrant animation and humor did succeed in its primary mission — entertaining my kids, with Conley giving it 4 stars and Crosby giving it 3.5 for a family average of 3.