"Smurfs: The Lost Village" represents a "back-to-basics" moment for the three-apples-tall blue people and their feature-film shepherds, Sony Pictures Animation.

Gone is the effort to set the Smurfs alongside live-action actors, and any attempt to set the Smurfs in "our" world. Gargamel the dim-witted wizard is once again just as animated as the Smurfs are -- sorry, Hank Azaria.

Back is an effort at more sincere, family-friendly comedy. Yes, the movie has its pratfalls, but also aims for heart and a positive message amidst the fall-down, go-boom.

Does it all work? No. But it's certainly an improvement over the most recent Smurf-terrible adventures.

What's it about?

Papa Smurf (voiced by Mandy Patinkin) lets audiences know very early on that "Smurfs: The Lost Village" is, in fact, a story about Smurfette. Specifically, it's the story of how Smurfette (Demi Lovato) searches for her role in their village, how she can best contribute to the happiness she'd come to love.

After all, Smurfette knows she's very different from the others. Not only is she the only girl, but unlike her best friends Hefty (Joe Manganiello), Brainy (Danny Pudi), and Clumsy (Jack McBrayer), her name doesn’t tell everyone or even her what her most recognizable trait is.

A chance encounter outside the village leads Smurfette to believe answers to her questions about herself may lay far beyond the safe boundaries of the village. She and her devoted friends thus venture out into the great unknown, including a magical forest beyond a wall they’ve been told by Papa Smurf never to cross.

Of course, the unknown isn’t all that is out there waiting for them. There’s that dastardly dim-witted wizard Gargamel (Rainn Wilson) and his long-suffering cat Azrael, too, just waiting for a chance to capture the Smurfs and take their magic to fuel his own power.

The Smurfs’ adventures beyond the wall will bring them face-to-face with Gargamel, fantastical creatures, and a whole other tribe of Smurfs. Most importantly, however, they will reveal a truth tied to Smurfette’s origins that will point the way toward her future.

La La La-la-la-la, La la-la-la-LA!

Don’t worry, grown-ups. You only hear that song once during “Smurfs: The Lost Village,” thus minimizing the threat of it getting stuck in your heads.

As stated earlier, this Smurfs adventure represents a drastic change in direction for the franchise following 2011’s “The Smurfs” and 2013’s “The Smurfs 2.” Director Kelly Asbury (“Shrek 2”) aims for a storytelling style and comedic tone more reminiscent of the Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoon series that ran from 1981-1989 – much less cheeky and self-aware.

The very look of the film is also a throwback to the Smurfs many millennials may remember growing up with. The art style bringing the Smurfs to life is much more reminiscent of the 80’s cartoon and Belgian artist Peyo’s original design of the characters back in 1958 – watch, for example, how characters’ face shapes never change despite their expressions.

The most profound difference, however, between this Smurfs film effort and its predecessors is the heart and positivity at its core. The earlier films aimed for easy laughs borne of double entendre and fish-out-of-water gags.

In contrast, “Smurfs: The Lost Village” aims at something inspirational for young audiences: the idea that even Smurfs don’t have to be limited in their identity by just one defining trait.

Azrael rules

As for the characters in “Smurfs: The Lost Village” and the all-star cast providing their voices, a few deliver memorable turns.

It’s easy to pick out Joe Manganiello’s voice as Hefty, and Mandy Patinkin is pitch perfect as fatherly Papa Smurf.  Demi Lovato brings energy and charm to Smurfette, while Rainn Wilson’s Gargamel is pure 80’s cartoon villain – all grandiose scheming and maniacal laughter until he’s outwitted … again.

Arguably, though, some of the film’s biggest laughs come from Azrael the cat. As in the old cartoon, Azrael often is two steps ahead of his bungling wizard owner and far more of a match for the Smurfs ingenuity. The fact that he can’t talk and thus point out his master’s ineptitude gets mined for quite a few chuckles here – the poor cat’s face-palms … err, paws, are priceless.

Worth seeing?

“Smurfs: The Lost Village” does have a few problems, unfortunately. At an hour and 29 minutes, it runs a little long for kid-friendly fare – parents may find themselves dealing with restless children seeing it in theaters.

There’s also a few moments where the action may get a bit intense for younger children, depending on what they’ve seen to this point. Parents of children 5 and up most likely have nothing to worry about, but if the kids are younger, it might be best to screen the movie themselves first.

That said, this latest Smurfs adventure might well be just as enjoyable at home as it is on the big screen. If you’re out with the kids and in the mood for a fun movie with a positive message that you can reinforce later, it works, but it would work just as well on the TV at home a few months from now.

Smurfs: The Lost Village

Starring the voice talents of Demi Lovato, Rainn Wilson, Joe Manganiello, Jack McBrayer, Danny Pudi, with Mandy Patinkin.
Directed by Kelly Asbury
Running time: 109 minutes
Rated PG for some mild action and rude humor