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Smurfs, The (3D )

3/10

Stars: Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Hank Azaria, Sofia Vergara, Tim Gunn. Voices: Jonathan Winters, Katy Perry, Alan Cumming, George Lopez, Anton Yelchin, Jeff Foxworthy, Paul Reubens, Gary Basaraba

Director: Raja Gosnell

The Smurfs take Manhattan! Pursued by their evil adversary Gargamel (Azaria, too far over the top) and his ginger cat (the best thing in the film), the little blue men - not forgetting Smurfette (Perry), their village's only girl (don't ask) - take the wrong route out of their home territory and end up (well, six of them at least) in New York City.

Here they help an ad designer (Harris) and his pregnant wife (Mays). while trying to stay out of the clutches of Gargamel and his evil wand.

'Smurf' is substituted for all dubious words (as in 'Where the Smurf are we?') as the blue luvvies look for a way home via a blue moon and a blue portal. On this this form, it may be a blue moon before we see them again. Some fun for the very young; charmless torture for adults; under sixes may very well giggle happily throughout. The 3D seems added on as an afterthought, dulling the impact of Phil Meheux's wonderful New York photography.

David Quinlan

USA 2011. UK Distributor: Sony (Columbia). Colour by deluxe.
101 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: U.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 06 Aug 2011