Let's be completely honest, very few people (if any) are really obsessed with the Smurfs franchise. After two lackluster films, the series has definitely left most audiences feeling fairly lukewarm. However, that seems poised to change very soon. A new trailer for Smurfs: The Lost Village recently hit the web, and it seems like a genuine reboot of a somewhat mediocre franchise. Check it out below to see for yourself.
I know, right? I wasn't expecting that balance of humor and heart either. The trailer really sets a new tone for the Smurfs franchise, and I think it's safe to say that we're all on board. The film centers primarily on Smurfette as she struggles to figure out her place in life as the only female Smurf in the village. After coming across a mysterious creature in the woods who drops a map to a lost village, she rallies the rest of the Smurfs for a race against time in order to beat the villainous Gargamel to this exotic location.
Take it with a grain of salt, because it is only a trailer and it might not actually be indicative of the quality of the film, but this preview definitely shows quite a bit of promise. Compared to the prior two films, this looks like a genuinely family-friendly animated film that could make a strong impression on audiences when it debuts next spring.
If you have seen the other installments in the modern Smurfs franchise, then there is probably one very important element of The Lost Village that instantly jumped out at you upon viewing this trailer: it's entirely animated. Unlike the previous two films, which blended animated Smurfs with live-action performances, Smurfs: The Lost Village keeps everything grounded in the Smurfs' home. This seems like a solid indication that the upcoming sequel is aiming more for story-based humor, and less for cameos, pop culture references and familiar locales.
Of course, it's also worth noting that keeping everything animated has the added benefit of making Gargamel look WAY less terrifying in the upcoming sequel, which is a definite plus.
In addition to the alterations made to the format of the story, Smurfs: The Lost Village has also seriously bolstered its voice cast. It's nothing less than a star-studded affair, with the voices of Demi Lovato, Mandy Patinkin, Jack McBrayer, Danny Pudi, Joe Manganiello and Rainn Wilson present among the principal ensemble.
We will bring you all of the latest and greatest news pertaining to the upcoming release of Smurfs: The Lost Village as more information becomes available to us. The upcoming Smurfs sequel will hit theaters on April 7, 2017.
