Written by Logan J. Fowler and Justin Matchick
Release Date: April 7th, 2017
Starring (the voices of): Ariel Winter, Jack McBrayer, Ellie Kemper, Julia Roberts, Rainn Wilson, Michelle Rodriguez, Joe Manganiello, Jake Johnson, Danny Pudi, Demi Lovato, Tituss Burgess, Gabriel Iglesias, Gordon Ramsay, Jeff Dunham, Mandy Patinkin
Director: Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2, Gnomeo and Juliet)
Pre-Trailer Thoughts: I watched some of the Smurfs cartoons when I was younger, had some toys, but that was about it. I didn’t latch onto the franchise like other 80’s properties, but I’m aware of its existence. I never watched the live action/CGI movies but I’ve heard they are awful. The attempt to go fully animated is a nice choice, but can Smurfs: The Lost Village finally do the old school cartoon justice? -LJF
Pre-Trailer Thoughts: I was surprised to find out that this was not the third installment of the live action/animated hybrid Smurfs films starring Neil Patrick Harris from a few years ago, but instead a reboot of the whole franchise. Those two previous films were dreadful in every sense of the word, so it’s going to take a lot for this one to not just impress, but simply to get the sour taste of the previous attempts at Smurfs movies out of my mouth. – JTM
Rate the Trailer: 3 out of 5. This trailer makes this movie look cute, and damn, I’m mightily impressed by the cast. This seems to be pure kid fare, as I laughed at nothing I saw, but all the crazy colors and zaniness did draw me into the proceedings. It’s nice to see a cartoon feature film of an actual cartoon, and it looks like they are trying to please the fans. -LJF
Rate the Trailer: 3 out of 5. I was decently surprised that I didn’t outright hate this. Even when jokes didn’t land for me they at least weren’t egregiously annoying, as recent animated kids movies like The Angry Birds Movie have tended to stray towards a more grating style of comedy. Plus it’s always great to hear the voice of Jack McBrayer, who plays Clumsy Smurf and did an excellent job in Wreck-It Ralph a few years ago. Sony Pictures Animation has had a good track record so far with films that play to all ages including Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Hotel Transylvania, and this hopefully will be in the same vein. – JTM
Theater, Rent, No Thanks, Undecided? Undecided. If Smurfs: The Lost Village happens to come to be viewed one way or another by indirect means, I won’t turn away from it. However, it definitely is not going to be sought out for “top of the pile” viewing once it hits home video. -LJF
Theater, Rent, No Thanks, Undecided? Rent. Not something I’ll go out an see right now, but it looks like it might make for a fun night of viewing a few months down the line when it comes to streaming services. – JTM
