The Smurfs and the Magic Flute   Starring (voice): Cam Clarke, Durga McBroom, Patty Foley and Grant Gottschall Arrow Films & Fabulous Films RRP: £15.99 FHED2762 Certificate: U Available 04 October 2010

A villain named Oilycreep steals the Smurfs magic flute, an instrument that makes people dance wildly, and uses it to rob them. The King sends out Peewit to track down the thief and retrieve the flute. Now Johan and Peewit must get it back at all costs, so they head to the magical kingdom of Smurfs to ask for their help...

The Smurfs and the Magic Flute is 1976 Belgium animated film that was directed by The Smurfs creator Peyo.

Smurf fans may think that with a title like "The Smurfs and the Magic Flute" that the Smurfs actually take centre stage... well they're in for a shock. It's 20 minutes into the film before there is any hint of Smurf activity, but that's only a voice... It's a good 35 minutes into the movie before we even catch a glimpse of a Smurf and the movie is already halfway through.

And when we finally meet the Smurfs some of the voices will put the fear of God into you! Lazy and Scary Smurf have such deep and evil sounding voices that I almost had to hide behind the sofa.

The story is paper thin, the animation average at best and the voice acting is pretty poor. But then you have to remember that this is a '70s movie.

Extras include the text based The Smurf's Story; Character Guide; and About the Smurfs; as well as a picture gallery.

So who will this appeal too? Diehard Smurf fans and the very young. Everyone else will find it hard to sit through the entire movie without wanting to get up and do something less boring instead.

3

Nick Smurfson