The Smurfs Blu-ray delivers truly amazing video and audio in this exceptional Blu-ray release
When the evil wizard Gargamel chases the tiny blue Smurfs out of their village, they tumble from their magical world and into ours -- in fact, smack dab in the middle of Central Park. Just three apples high and stuck in the Big Apple, the Smurfs must find a way to get back to their village before Gargamel tracks them down.
As is the case with most of these sorts of movies that reanimate, so to speak, cherished old children's material for the 21st century, The
Smurfs has both "big revenue" and "critical failure" written over it. It's a movie that seems destined to be a hit with
the kids and a miss with everyone else. It's the perfect storm of preconceived notions, notions that dictate that it certainly can't be any good in the
eyes of grownups, "good" in this case meaning "entertaining." On the flip side, the kids probably can't wait; after all,
what is there to dislike about mythical, colorful characters sucked into the big city and doing battle against a devious wizard and his loyal feline
companion? Shoot, much the same was thought of Alvin and the Chipmunks, and look how that one turned out (hint: not
bad at all). So it's with those preconceived notions in tow that everyone goes into the movie. It's already got tons of baggage, even before the little
blue guys (and gal) even appear on the screen. But Director Raja Gosnell (Beverly Hills Chihuahua) is out to not only satisfy the kids' cravings for
wholesome animated/live action hybrid adventure, but also to assuage the doubts of the adults in his audience, to still their rolling eyes and to
sneakily roll their baggage away. He succeeds. Granted, The Smurfs is a formula movie through and through; it's predictable
almost to a fault, but Gosnell has packed the movie with so much charm, honest wit, nicely developed human and Smurf characters, and a
real sense of comedic adventure that not only is it watchable, it's flat-out entertaining. It nicely conceals its flaws through its approachability and
genuineness; it doesn't remove them, but the whole is certainly greater than the individual pieces, particularly those pieces to which many turned
up their
noses before even giving the movie a chance.
Smurf-tastic!
They are beings but three apples tall who live beyond a medieval village, mythical creatures from somewhere in Belgium that are, really, very real.
They're Smurfs, little blue humanoids who live and work in a small community made mostly of mushrooms and other natural materials. They are
every one of them boys, except for Smurfette (voiced by Katy Perry), and are named for their single most defining attribute, such as Clumsy (voiced
by Anton Yelchin), Brainy (voiced by Fred Armisen), Gutsy (voiced by Alan Cumming), and Grouchy (voiced by Grouchy). There's also proud Papa
Smurf (voiced by Jonathan Winters), who is, what else, an elder father figure who oversees the lives of his fellow Smurfs. After a particularly
disturbing vision, Papa Smurf attempts to gather together the Smurfs to sort out what he's seen and what it all means, but there's trouble. Clumsy
has stumbled out of his magical forcefield-protected little haven and run into the Smurfs' archenemies Gargamel (Hank Azaria) and his loyal feline
companion, Azrael. Unfortunately, Clumsy leads the villains right into the middle of his village. Most Smurfs escape, but Clumsy heads in the wrong
direction. His goodhearted friends Smurfette, Papa Smurf, Brainy, Gutsy, and Grouchy attempt to rescue him from his own clumsiness, but it's too
late. They're faced with the greatest dilemma in the history of Smurf-dom: become captives of the evil Gargamel, or travel through a portal that will
take them who knows where. They choose the portal and wind up in New York City, which is, to them, a completely alien environment. There, they
meet a young couple, Patrick (Neil Patrick Harris) and Grace (Jayma Mays), that takes them in even if their lives were already topsy-turvy: Grace is
pregnant, and Patrick is up to his eyeballs with work. With Gargamel hot on the Smurfs' trail and using New York's own resources and Smurf DNA to
create a magic potion
that will make him all-powerful, the Smurfs -- with their new human friends -- must defeat their arch nemesis and open
the portal to get back home, a portal which, sadly, can only open once in a blue moon.
The undeniable fact of the matter is that The Smurfs is a formula movie through and through. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, nor is
it, in this case, a movie-killer. The
movie never strays from exactly where some top-secret studio formula says it should go, and the end result is a picture with little real imagination
and,
daresay, even, purpose. The Smurfs nevertheless succeeds in spite of its adherence to predictable
formula. It crafts its own heart and soul, plays with a steady cadence, and wiggles its way into the heart, even if the laughs and adventure both
stick
to the comfortable confines of family-friendly cinematic norm. The movie is bright and cheery -- even its villain is infinitely likable -- and goes so far
over the top
that
it comes back down full-circle-like into an even keel with a charming and very pleasant sort of way about it. It's delectable but ultra-cheesy, fun and
wholesome and
satisfying in spite of its readily-evident shortcomings. It almost defies logic; the movie should be as bad as it sounds, as terrible as instinct
says it will be, or as miserable as that "baggage" claims. But darn it all if it's not just simply likable. It's alive with that invisible,
indescribable little thing called "movie magic."
There's
no real rhyme or reason to it, but the picture beats the odds and proves to be a down-to-earth, honest, heartfelt, and almost always entertaining
little
adventure for the kids, the kids at heart, and the kid who's become lost in the complexities of adulthood but who may be pulled back to his or her
youth by the magic of
whimsical, sweet, and satisfying motion picture delights.
The one area where there is no ambiguity is in The Smurfs technical prowess. This is nothing short of an amazing visual accomplishment.
The seamlessness with which the animated characters have been created and the ease with which they interact with their real-world companions
and the real-world
environments in which much of the movie takes place is truly a sight to behold. The Smurfs couldn't look any more real for a 2011 movie; their
shape and volume
couldn't be more apparent (even in 2D), their hairs any less intricate, their eyes any less bold and revealing into who they are deep down inside.
The animators have done the incredible, creating seamlessly believable digital characters that almost perfectly interact with one another and real live
actors. It's been done before, and it will be done again even better than it has been here, but there's maybe only less than a handful of movies out
there right now that can boast of this level of on-screen digital excellence. Even Gargamel's cat is often so lifelike -- in its movements, in the way its
fur flows,
in the way its eyes seem to define a living, intelligent being -- that it's often difficult to tell when it's real or when it's digital. The
Smurfs is worth watching if for no other reason than to marvel at its technical superiority; the old adage holds true that says whatever's put in
is
what will come out, and there's certainly been plenty of know-how, man hours, and love poured into The Smurfs, and the results
definitely show.
Rounding the movie into form is a down-to-earth, likable, and well-performing human cast. Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays are strong as the
film's requisite human couple-who-interacts-with-the-adorable-little-digital-characters. They play along with the schtick, seemingly not bothered
that their characters are relatively one-dimensional, just going with the flow and doing what's required of them to keep the movie chugging along.
Both
handle the film's more tender scenes well, with Harris giving just the right amount of credence to a heart-to-heart (or spleen-to-spleen?)
conversation with Papa Smurf on the importance of family. Even then the movie winks and nods its way through the scene, playing it a little bit like
it's expected of a movie of this sort, but also playing it somewhat straight because the message is important, if not redundant. But Harris,
Mays, and friends are absolutely dwarfed by Hank Azaria's effort as the sinister wizard Gargamel. The performance is outstanding from top
to bottom. Azaria carries the movie on his character's humped back, turning in one of the most deviously playful kid-centric villain performances in
quite some time. He's a joy to watch as his character relishes every opportunity to cinematically appear through a fog, for example, recalling
something out of an old black and
white Universal Horror picture from a bygone era. The character and the performance both are so over-the-top that, like the movie as a whole,
Gargamel just works despite the zaniness -- ridiculousness, even -- that's so evident throughout.
The Smurfs looks positively stunning in high definition. Did anyone expect less? Sony's 1080p Blu-ray release is a stunner. It's bright, clear,
and sharp. Colors are impressively vibrant and many but remain grounded in a realistic flavor; the movie never looks gaudy or warm despite its myriad
of bright, sparkling hues. The blue Smurfs, of course, are the real general highlight, but the complex little details within their eyes, for instance, are the
true measuring stick of the transfer's worth. The palette is overflowing with goodness, whether in the colorful yet green-dominated Smurf home front
area or in the equally vibrant middle of Times Square. The cityscape scenes certainly don't lessen the transfer's innate ability to sparkle; even "bland"
building façades are presented at a level that just exudes a sense of realism and visual immersion. Fine details are likewise impressive. The digital Smurf
characters look great -- there's endless small detail on Smurf clothes, hairs, and skin -- and Gargamel's cat is wonderfully complex, from nose to tail and
all the individual furs in between. Humans enjoy faultless facial and clothing details, yet no matter how close to the actor the camera gets, the
1080p resolution doesn't betray Hank Azaria's various prosthetics, a true compliment to the film's makeup team that the effects can live up to the
scrutiny of Sony's Blu-ray transfer. Real and digital structures are also wonderful; the Smurf mushrooms yield very fine textures and minute little digital
details that give them great lived-in character, while the various city locales couldn't look anymore realistic if the disc somehow managed to plop its
audience right in the middle of the film's many New York locations. It's the great clarity that truly makes both the details and the colors pop. There are
only a few Blu-rays that are this visually dazzling. The HD video material never yields crushed blacks, banding, noise, or other unwanted intrusions. This
is simply digital photography intermixed with spectacular digital renderings at its finest. Every character, every location, every moment: nothing misses
a beat in The Smurfs. It's truly a breathtaking Blu-ray release.
The Smurfs' DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack is pitch-perfect, and it's pretty much everything a high-energy soundtrack for a 2011 children's
movie should be. It's boundlessly energetic but also impeccably smooth and perfectly crystal-clear. It's a dazzling display of sonic delights, if only for the
seamlessness of the entire experience. Everything in the track -- music, dialogue, sound effects -- are infinitely rich, playing with superb spacing and a
natural and immersive presence that easily fills the soundstage with every little nuance and each great audible element alike. Music is precise and
audibly transparent; its presentation is one of those ones which seem to see the speakers melt away in favor of something that just has to be
real. Score enjoys a solid surround presence that greatly aids, but never dominates, the material. Rock tunes enjoy high energy output but not at the
expense of clarity and precision; spacing remains strong, and all comers in the musical category enjoy just the right low end element to provide a full
bodied and realistic experience. Sound effects are likewise presented without hiccup; they seamlessly maneuver around the stage or emanate from a
precise location. The track creates a perfectly believable sonic atmosphere, whether in the Smurf's mythical grove or in the hustle and bustle of New
York City. Ambience comes form all directions, but it comes naturally, as one would expect of it in the various environments, whether the idyllic sounds
of serene nature or the din of busy city streets. Everything comes together in wonderful harmony, no matter how strong or light, no matter how
prevalent or minor a sound or musical note may be. Rounded out by flawless dialogue reproduction, Sony's lossless soundtrack for The Smurfs
is above reproach.
This three disc Holiday Gift Set of The Smurfs contains a massive amount of supplemental material, including a Christmas-themed short film
included on a separate DVD disc.
The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol (480p, 22:36, 1.78:1): Unfortunately, this bonus short film is presented in standard definition
on the first of the two included DVD discs and not in high definition on a Blu-ray disc. It's available with English, French, and Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0
audio tracks and English, English SDH,
French, and Spanish subtitles. The film is rated G.
Smurf-O-Vision: Second Screen Experience: Using an iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad, users may watch the
movie on their television screen and experience various additional content via the synced device's screen simultaneous with the film. Both the
Blu-ray player
and the device must be connected to the same WiFi network and interact via WiFi Sync. Users without a WiFi connection or without one of the
above
devices may watch Smurf-O-Vision on their television screens, playing over the movie. Also included is a dedicated introduction to
Smurf-O-Vision Second Screen (1080p, 1:21). Unfortunately, the supplement would not sync with the tested iPad 2 running the appropriate
app. The Blu-ray disc repeatedly
insisted that the player was not connected to the internet, even when tests verified otherwise. Perhaps it will work on release day.
The Smurfs Fantastic Adventure Game (1080p): A three-level game that challenges players to rescue Papa Smurf from
Gargamel by using their remotes to control Clumsy across the playing area.
Audio Commentary: Director Raja Gosnell delivers a well-spoken and even commentary that covers a broad range of information. He
speaks on the ins-and-outs of the story, the film's advanced digital effects, the challenges of shooting the film as-is and as the movie may have been,
directing in a sometimes completely CG world, the shooting process and filmmaking schedule, scouting and shooting locales, the work of the cast, and
much,
much more. This is a very good, very even, very informative track. Fans of the film or those interested in working on a special effects-heavy picture
will want to give it a listen.
Audio Commentary: Producer Jordan Kerner, VFX Supervisor Richard Hoover, and Writers J. David Stem, David N. Weiss, Jay Scherick,
and David Ronn man track two. They go all the way back to briefly discuss the characters' viability as a Saturday morning
family entertainment option in the early 1980s and move on to cover the ins-and-outs of the 2011 movie. Much of the information overlaps between
this track and the director track,
but there's enough goodness here -- whether old material told in a different way or new content altogether -- that makes this a solid track, too.
Deleted & Extended Scenes (1080p, 7:41): Goat Man, Gargamel Throws Azrael Through Door, Gargamel Enters FAO Schwarz, Girl
Talk -- Extended, and Original Lullaby.
The Smurfs: Comic Book to the Big Screen (1080p, 8:15): A short but informative piece that begins by looking back at the original
source material and moving on to examine the complex process of creating digital Smurfs and ensuring that they'll remain true to their roots, appear
physically credible and abide by natural laws, and look good on film.
Smurf Speak: Meet the Cast (1080p, 9:26): The film's voice cast discusses and reacts to the movie.
Going Gargamel (1080p, 9:57): A fun little piece that looks at Hank Azaria's amazing performance through cast and crew interviews,
including with Azaria himself. The piece also looks at the Gargamel makeup application process and his work with multiple real and digital Azraels.
Blue-Pers (1080p, 0:25): A brief gag reel that sadly consists of only two shots.
Happy Music Montage (1080p, 1:49): Scenes from the movie set to music.
Progression Reels (1080p, 9:14): Smurf-olution, Growing a Village: Generating Complexity for a Smurf-Sized World, Building and
Lighting a CG Smurf, Image-Based Set Reconstruction and Lighting, and Anatomy of a Portal: Effects and Lighting.
Previews: Additional Sony titles.
BD-Live.
UV Copy: Currently unavailable per Sony's UltraViolet webpage.
The Smurfs is just an enjoyable and very well-made little movie. Despite following formula and brining nothing new to the table, the movie just
works because it never really takes itself seriously. It's delightfully playful and easy to watch. It exudes a fun, catchy vibe, even through mountains of
cliché and endless predictability. The special effects really are quite special (there wouldn't be a movie otherwise), Heitor Pereira's score is catchy and
breezy, and the live action performances are
fun, with special emphasis on Hank Azaria's brilliant portrayal of Gargamel, who's basically a caricature of the throwback old movie villains of yore.
The Smurfs beats the odds; who knows why, but the end result is a fun and addictive little movie that's just maybe the surprise of the year.
Sony's Blu-ray release of The Smurfs features brilliant video and audio to go along with plenty of supplements. Very highly recommended.
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