The Smurfs 2 Reviews

TOI RATINGS

Critic's Rating: 

Cast: Neil Patrick Harris, Brendan Gleeson, Jayma Mays, Hank Azaria, Katy Perry, Jonathan Winters, Christina Ricci, JB Smoove, George Lopez, Anton Yelchin, John Oliver

Direction: Raja Gosnell

Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

While the initial Smurfs flick was set in New York, this one takes a continental turn and shifts the scene to Paris, where the irrepressible Gargamel (a very eager Hank Azaria) needs something called 'Smurf Essence', which he uses as part of his magician's act. So, he sends out one of his Naughties called Vexy ( Christina Ricci) to kidnap Smurfette ( Katy Perry, who fits the role pretty nicely) via an inter-dimensional portal he has opened. He believes that Smurfette is a key ingredient in his quest for world domination. The fact that Smurfette is herself feeling a little blue, so to speak, because the whole village has forgotten her birthday (or so she thinks) doesn't help matters.

HT REVIEW

* 1/2 Adreary sequel to the 2011 live-action/animation hybrid, The Smurfs 2 is as inert and unfunny as the original. Based on the comic-strip characters created by the Belgian artist known as Peyo (the nom de plume of Pierre Culliford) the pint-sized critters venture outside their forest dwelling to rescue their sister (voiced by pop-singer Perry) from the clutches of a scheming sorcerer (Hank Azaria, insufferable as ever).

Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays reprise their roles as the friendly human couple who come to the aid of the eponymous blue-skinned punsters.  In his final film role, veteran character actor Jonathan Winters returns to voice the patriarch of the creature clan.

Of course, there is a pair of wannabe new smurfs (dubbed in appropriately rascally tones by Ricci and JB Smoove).  A sub plot involving the conflict with the do-gooder granddad (Brendan Gleeson) is devoid of tension.