Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2011

This is an ingeniously written, superbly acted, intriguing, hilarious, clever and nearly perfect half-animated motion picture. If you’re FOUR. Older moviegoers may find it adorably cloying. Directed by the guy responsible for Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Scooby-Doo. The rat-sized blue protagonists visit NYC via a wormhole from their magical world, and do frantic and impulsive (but cute) things. Bright spot: an over-the-top Hank Azaria as the evil wizard Gargamel. Note: if I hear the word “smurf” used just one more freakin’ time as a noun, verb or adjective, I’m going to smurf!