The Smurfs in 3-D

Our little blue friends the Smurfs are back and taking on the Big Apple! Only 3 apples high themselves, the Smurfs need to figure out a way to get back to their mushroom village after being chased out by the evil wizard Gargamel. Transported through a magic portal they find themselves on the busy streets of New York City. Join Papa Smurf, Smurfette ( voiced by Katy Perry), Clumsy, Grouchy, Brainy, and Gutsy Smurf as they meet new friends Patrick & Grace ( Neil Patrick Harris & Jayma Mays), expectant parents whose lives are turned upside down by the arrival of these tiny blue beings. With Gargamel ( Hank Azaria) in pursuit they have to find their way home before they end up in his clutches. 

I had the opportunity to preview The Smurfs 3-D with my family in tow and we all enjoyed it. The movie had many of the familiar elements of the Smurfs TV cartoon that was on while I was growing up; the Smurfs theme song ( remember "la-la la, la, la la sing a happy song"?), the cute little mushroom village & teamwork of all the Smurfs together, and, of course, Gargamel and his sidekick Azreal the Cat, still trying to capture the Smurfs! Watching the Smurfs as they navigated their way around famous NYC landmarks ( Central Park, FAO Schwarz,Times Square, etc.) was very entertaining!  It's hard enough to make your way through the City as a "human" let alone as a Smurf and the director, Raja Gosnell,  had us laughing all the way through the "smurfy" dialogue as we get to experience the Smurfs in modern day. We had so much fun following the Smurfs on their journey back to Smurf Village. It was wonderful to share something that I grew up watching with my own children. ( I confess, I still have my Smurfette doll tucked away in a keepsake box). Clever with just the right amount silliness mixed in, The Smurfs 3-D is a great movie for the whole family! And at just under just under an hour and a half, the movie is the perfect length to keep the attention of  little ones. 

A heart warming story about Family and sticking together, the Smurfs 3-D, will charm parents and a whole new generation of children! Welcome back Smurfs! The Smurfs 3-D opens this Friday 7/29. ( Be sure to stay tuned through the credits to see how the Smurfs NYC experience influences the rebuilding of their Village :) )

Some Fun Smurf Facts:

• The Smufs have been around since 1958 and were originally called the "Schtroumpfs"
• Hank Azaria, who played Gargamel, shaved his head for the role. He spent over a 130 hours in a make up chair during the process of making the movie.
• Smurfette is the only female Smurf (see the movie to find out why)
• Three new Smurfs are introduced in the movie: Crazy, Gutsy, & Panicky.
• Smurfs are vegetarians
• For many years the Smurfs were part of the Ice Capades shows
• It took 3 years to develop the script to the Smurfs movie