THE SMURFS

In the eighties IGN Entertainment labeled the award-winning TV show The Smurfs as, “kiddie cocaine”. Thirty years on chances are children won’t be leaving the latest 3D version as wide-eyed addicts. The story follows six of the little blue men (well, five men and Smurfette (Katy Perry) who find themselves in the middle of New York chased by the evil wizard Gargamel, played by the fantastic Hank Azaria, and his ginger sidekick Azrael. While causing mayhem the smurfs also manage to help their new human friends realise their priorities, hammering home the moral, “family comes first”. This film has some funny moments (especially the few pop culture references) with some clever animation and effects but in the end … it’s just too safe. (ES) ***