It was virtually impossible to escape from childhood in the 1980s without owning at least one Smurf-related product. The Smurfs were EVERYWHERE.
Although Papa Smurf and his posse of blue gnomes were first born in a Belgian comic strip back in the 1950s, they reached the zenith of their powers in the 1980s, when an NBC cartoon series and a never-ending parade of figurines, plush toys and other merchandise made them the most ubiquitous tiny creatures since the Munchkins. Despite the fact that they used the word "smurf" so frequently that you kinda wanted to smurf every last one of them where the smurf doesn't smurf, these diminutive, super-happy characters were enormously popular. And apparently Columbia Pictures thinks they can be again.
Earlier this week, the studio announced plans to make a new movie based on the Smurfs that will mix CGI animation and live action. Columbia execs are reportedly negotiating with the writing team behind the "Shrek" sequels to pen the screenplay. (Even though it hasn't been written yet, I bet you 10 gazillion dollars that the screenplay will include multiple uses of the word "smurfy.")
I would say this idea reeks of potential failure. But last year's "Alvin and the Chipmunks" made more than $200 million at the box office. So clearly there is a market for outdated cartoon characters with funny voices.
Also, the Smurfs are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, and DVDs of those old '80s cartoons have recently been released. So maybe Columbia is assuming that today's young pop-culture consumers will have acquainted themselves with Smurfette, Gargamel and the gang before the movie hits theaters.
Still, it's hard for me to imagine the Smurfs -- who strike me as such an '80s phenomenon -- ruling the world again. Back then, as this demonstration of the Smurfs Colecovision video game suggests, Smurfs were, well, the Smurf. But even though the Smurfs still have a few fans, it seems like today's sophisticated kids would take one look at Brainy Smurf and decide he represents nothing more than a big old pile of Smurf.
RetroFitted appears every Thursday on Strollerderby.
Image: Cartuneman.com
