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Health & Fitness

A Movie Reflection by Ken - 'The Smurfs' and 'Crazy, Stupid, Love'

Two 3.0 performances. Both took me by surprise. This week I review the Smurfs and Crazy, Stupid, Love.

I don't know any other way to begin except, are you smurfing kidding me? I liked The Smurfs movie? How could a group of CGI blue creatures make me walk out of the theater with a huge smile? The answer may be perfect casting.

Neil Patrick Harris, Hank Azaria and Jayma Mays of Glee fame give the appropriate level of goofiness to help the magical creatures pop off the big screen. The voices of the Smurfs are perfectly cast as well: Jonathan Winters as Papa, Alan Cummings as Gutsy and a surprisingly good Katy Perry as Smurfette.

If you want to backtrack to the '80s a bit, you may remeber the Smurfs are creatures named after their unique characteristics or abilities. Brainy is smart, Grumpy is a grump, Clumsy breaks a lot of stuff and Smurfette is a girl. That's why she's an 'ette. Perhaps she should have been updated a little.

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The story of home and family are strong here, and although there are moments where the adult humor is clear, it seems to go over the heads of most of the the younger audience.

Hank Azaria plays Gargamel, the evil wizard who wants to drain the Smurfs of their power. Azaria's transformation into the clumsy, troublesome wizard is hysterical. His moments on screen are as magical as the Smurfs. There are moments however where his trusty sidekick, Azrael the cat, steals the scene.

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I was amazed how much I enjoyed this film. What I thought would be a terrible movie about a mediocre '80s cartoon turned into a great night with the family, where each of us felt a little guilty for liking it. The Smurfs is a fun ride. Don't take it too seriously. Enjoy the nostalgia and smurf along with the whole family.

Ken's Ranking - 3.0 stars - It's Smurf-tastic!

 

Crazy, Stupid, Love is crazy at times. Some parts are stupid, but the film is full of love.

Steve Carrell's first film since exiting as the manager of The Office is a depressing look at a marriage in trouble. After getting the news that his wife Emily (Julianne Moore) wants a divorce, Carrell turns to guidance from professional bachelor Jacob (Ryan Gosling).

The film takes a tour of Carrell's transformation from boring hum-drum dad to recently single bachelor. His changes are fun, but the filmmaking is what's great. For a format that has been done time and time again, Crazy, Stupid, Love takes its time and gives the audience more than the typical "chick flick."

Like The Smurfs, I was pleasantly surprised by the film. Romantic comedies have long been boring and predictable, but here there are more than a few moments where I was taken by surprise.

The film is funny, intelligent and depressing, but enjoyable.

Ken's Ranking - 3.0 stars - Crazy in love with this film.

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