THE SMURFS 2 DVD (2013)

SYNOPSIS: Evil wizard Gargamel creates a couple of mischievous Smurf-like creatures called the Naughties hoping they will let him harness the magical Smurf-essence. However, he soon discovers that he needs the help of Smurfette, who knows the secret to turning the Naughties into real Smurfs. When Gargamel and his Naughties kidnap Smurfette from Smurf Village and bring her to Paris, it's up to Papa, Clumsy, Grouchy and Vanity to reunite with their human friends, Patrick and Grace Winslow, and rescue her!

MOVIE REVIEW:

Taking place in Paris rather than the Big Apple, there’s nothing drastically different from the first in this hybrid of CG animation and live-action comedy. To start with, it’s not really that terrible (for the younger crowd to be precise); The Smurfs 2 rides on the same formulaic journey for the sequel even though the script went through a rigorous team of five writers.  

Captured by one of Gargamel’s (Hank Azaria) naughty creations, Vexy (Christina Ricci), Smurfette (Katy Perry) is extorted by Gargamel to release the secret formula for creating smurfs to him. Enlisting the help of their human allies, Patrick (Neil Patrick Harris), Grace (Jayma Mays) and Patrick’s stepdad Victor (Brendan Gleeson), Papa Smurf (the late Jonathan Winters), Vanity (John Oliver), Grouchy (George Lopez) and Clumsy Smurf (Anton Yelchin) must travel to Paris to rescue Smurfette before the entire Smurfs and human race is conquered by Gargamel.

Obviously aimed at the kiddy market whose attention span can be quite a challenge. Helmer Raja Gosnell keep things moving briskly with characters and backdrop shifting in less than 20 seconds. It’s like everyone is high on sugar and the smurfs just can’t wait to get out of the village for some unnecessary adventure in sophisticated Paris. From a kid’s point of view, there are enough activities to keep them engaged liked Victor turning into a duck and a wonderful aerial tour of Paris midway. And of course Gargamel and his sidekick, Azreal the cat entertains with their countless silly antics including obligatory picturesque shots of the Eiffel Tower and the Notre Dame Cathedral.

The adults meanwhile just have to make do with clichéd dialogue peppered with Smurfs pun and keeping up with exhausting hyper-energetic sequences. I can’t commend anything on the 3D effects (since the DVD does not come with 3D) but technically speaking, the artistry alone is amazing in plain 2D. The human cast especially Neil Patrick Harris continues his thankless task of going on yet another adventure with the smurfs. Frankly speaking when you are in a kiddy movie opposite Hank Azaria hamming it up as a cartoony fumbling wizard, you don’t stand a chance even if you are great at hosting the Tonys.   

The Smurfs seriously need more than mere Smurf essence to keep things going. By the end of the movie where everyone ends up happily ever after in Smurf village, you can sense a huge amount of lethargic creeping up your back. And it’s not just Grouchy smurf who is getting grouchy. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Five short Deleted Scenes are included here.

The director, screenwriters and producer talks about the origin and the character of Smurfette in Daddy’s Little Girl: The Journey of Smurfette.

A quick look at using VFX to recreate a digital cat in Animating Azreal. 

AUDIO/VISUAL:

The Smurfs 2 DVD has an immersive, robust soundtrack and the images are superb, sharp looking. A high quality disc for an average movie.

MOVIE RATING:

 DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee