PG Movies Take Over Box Office with Release of New 'Smurfs' Film

A trend of high box office earnings for children's films is prevalent this year, as prevailed in the past, such as in 1990 when the first “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” film opened at a striking $25 million. The movie industry, in its current struggling state, needs to embrace success wherever it finds it. If that success comes from high-energy children's films, then so be it.

We are now witnessing the release of the first Smurfs movie in eight years, named simply, “Smurfs”. This pop musical follows a similar formula as the 2016 hit movie “Trolls” and its sequel, “Trolls World Tour”. Starring a big musical star like Rihanna (one of the producers), voicing the only female, Smurfette, and James Corden as the voice of No Name Smurf, the film moves through different locations and even portals.

However, while the Smurfs originated from a 1958 Belgian comic-book series by the cartoonist named Peyo, their on-screen representation often seems blandly derivative, lacking in distinct personalities. One of the main motifs of the film is the group learning to work together, which seems ironic considering they all seem to be basically the same character. They have a magical book which must be protected from a villain, much like the Infinity Stones in the “Avengers” movie series.

In their adventures, the Smurfs find themselves in diverse landscapes such as the Australian Outback and the Autobahn and, at one point, are visualized as Claymation characters, anime warriors, and ’80s video game characters. Despite its shortcomings, “Smurfs” may be the best Smurfs movie to date, providing an acceptable distraction for children even if it doesn’t completely evade feelings of innocuousness.