What are Smurfs?

Smurfs are small: “three-apples-tall.” That’s about eight inches in height.

Smurfs are blue. The characters are in white leggings, white shoes and most in white caps, known as a Phrygian (pronounced: fruh jee uhn) cap, a soft conical cap with the apex bent over.

Smurfs are old: about 100-years-old.

Smurfs live in Smurf Village. Of course they do.

“Smurfs” is a new feature animation film, starring singer Rihanna as the voice of Smurfette. The movie has bright and lively animation. The voice characterizations are excellent. The film is hampered by an incomprehensible storyline.

The “Smurfs” movie is based on characters created by Belgium comics artist and writer Peyo (pen name of Pierre Culliford, 1928-1992).

There have been six feature “Smurfs” films, two from overseas: “Les Advenures des Schtroumpfs” (1965) and “The Smurfs and the Magic Flute” (1976), and four produced in the United States: “The Smurfs,” 2011, a live-action and computer animated film; “The Smurfs 2,” 2013, live-action and computer animation; “Smurfs: The Lost Village,” 2017, an animation film, and “Smurfs,” 2025, computer animation with some live-action backgrounds.

“The Smurfs” TV series was on from 1981-1989.

In the latest “Smurfs” film, a Smurf, named No Name Smurf, finds a magic book named Jaunty. Papa Smurf is sent into a portal by evil wizards, Gargamel and Razamel.

The Smurfs bounce around the world, including Paris, France, where the animated characters get in a chase on actual street scenes; Munich, Germany, and the Australian Outback, where they encounter the Snooterpoots, hairy creatures led by Mama Poot.

Meanwhile, there’s a meeting of the Intergalactic Evil Wizard Alliance, and the Smurfs journey through the inter-dimensional portal where, of all things, a giant tardigrade shows up.

If all this sounds as though it doesn’t make a lot of sense, you are right, it doesn’t.

One of the fun things with the Smurfs is that their name is used as a noun, verb, adjective or adverb. For example, the “Smufs Main Theme,” written by Joseph Barbera, William Hanna and Hoyt Curtin, with the lyrics, “La la, la-la, la la, Sing a happy song. La la, la-la. la la, Smurf the whole day long.”

At times, “Smurfs” plays like an extended music video. There are a lot of songs and dance sequences in the movie. That’s not all bad when you have Rihanna singing many of them.

The movie is directed by Chris Miller (Oscar nominee, animation film, “Puss in Boots,” 2012; director, “Shrek the Third,” 2007).

The screenplay is by Pam Brady (Primetime Emmy Award, animated program, “South Park,” 2008).

The animation of the Smurfs characters in “Smurfs” stays true to the spirit of Peyo’s drawings. The film uses a variety of animation techniques, including Claymation stop motion, video-game imagery, Japanese style anime and children’s style drawings.

The voice character performances are great, led by John Goodman as Papa Smurf, Rihanna as Smurfette, Nick Offerman as Ken, and JP Karliak as Razamel.

The voice talent includes Amy Sedaris (Jaunty), Natasha Lyonne (Mama Poot), Kurt Russell (Ron) and James Corden (No Name Smurf).

Other actors’ character voices include Jimmy Kimmel, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd and Xolo Mariduena.

“Smurfs” should be entertaining for children and parents and guardians who nostalgically recall the Smurfs of their youth.

“Smurfs,” MPAA Rated PG (Parental guidance suggested: Some material may not be suitable for children.) for action, language and some rude humor; Run time: 1 hour, 29 minutes; Genre: Comedy, Adventure, Animation. Distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous: “The Smurfs” has some entertaining sequences during the end credits.

At The Movies: “Smurfs” was seen in the standard format at AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, Aug.1-3: “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” defended its No. 1 two-weeks straight, holding off several new movies, with $40 million in 4,125 theaters, $198.4 million, two weeks.

“The Bad Guys 2,” with the voices of Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina, Zazie Beetz, Natasha Lyonne and Maria Bakalova in the animation characters feature, opened at No.2 with $22.2 million in 3,852 theaters.

“The Naked Gun,” starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson in the comedy sequel, opened at No. 3 with $17 million in 3,344 theaters.

4. “Superman” dropped two places, $13.9 million in 3,537 theaters, $316.2 million, four weeks. 5. “Jurassic World: Rebirth” dropped two places, $8.7 million in 3,240 theaters, $317.6 million, five weeks. 6. “Together,” starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie in the horror film, $6.8 million in 2,302 theaters, weekend, $10.8 million, since July 30 opening. 7. “F1: The Movie” dropped three places, $4.1 million in 2,024 theaters, $173.2 million, six weeks. 8. “I Know What You Did Last Summer” dropped two places, $2.6 million in 2,303 theaters, $29.2 million, three weeks. 9. “Smurfs” dropped four places, $1.7 million in 2,295 theaters, $28.5 million, three weeks. 10. “How to Train Your Dragon” dropped three places, $1.3 million in 1,459 theaters, $260.4 million, eight weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of Aug. 3 is subject to change.

Unreel, Aug. 8:

“Freakier Friday,“ PG: Nisha Ganatra directs Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Mark Harmon, Julia Butters and Vanessa Bayer in the Comedy. The body-swap film gets a sequel.

“My Mother’s Wedding,” R: Kristin Scott Thomas directs Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller, Emily Beecham and herself in the Comedy Drama. Three sisters attend the third wedding of their twice-widowed mother.

“Weapons,” R: Zach Cregger directs Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Amy Madigan and Benedict Wong in the Horror film. Students from the same class start to vanish.

Movie opening information from Internet Movie Database as of Aug. 3 is subject to change.

Two Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes