A whole new world awaits the smurfs as a a puzzling map sets Smurfette and her companions Brainy, Clumsy, and Hefty on an energizing race through the Forbidden Forest, prompting the revelation of the greatest mystery in Smurf history.
Smurfs: The Lost Village resets the film franchise, but the movie -- despite some nice insight about Smurfette -- feels more made-for-TV than worthy of a 3D upcharge.
There are plenty of ambitious set pieces boasting visual ingenuity, and the witty, perceptive script includes well-constructed subtext and lessons about breaking free from patriarchal norms and the benefits of learning about different cultures.
Asbury sticks to the basics, with obvious Saturday morning-style fare based on groaners and pratfalls about the earnest little creatures with self-defining names like Nosey, Grouchy and Jokey.
The decision to do Smurfs: The Lost Village without any live-action sequences was a smart one. Solely utilizing computer animation feels like a much better fit for the material.
It's a candy-coated sugar rush, though its mind-numbing repetitiveness (and haphazardly-written screenplay) will likely test even the most patient parent.
