Review: The Smurfs – Complete Third Season, Complete Fourth Season / Cert: U / Director: Various / Screenplay: Various / Starring: Don Messick, Frank Welker, Danny Goldman / Release Date: Out Now

Somehow, in my time writing for this esteemed publication, I have come to be known as the go-to-guy for reviewing Smurfs releases. Sure, I would prefer to be the dude who gets handed the latest Batman stuff, gory horror nonsense or ridiculous Nicolas Cage movies (as if I don’t have them all pre-ordered anyway), but a niche is a niche, and the Smurfs are pretty niche.

For a 26-year-old male, anyway. After reviewing The Smurfic Games and The Halloween Special, the latest Smurfy Smurfness to land on my desk is Series Three and Four of the TV programme – consisting of a total of 59 episodes (1416 minutes!) of Smurfs. That’s a lot of Smurfs, even for the most die-hard fan of the little blue dudes (and singular dudette).

Reviewing a pair of box sets like Series Three and Four of The Smurfs (or indeed, any of them) is a largely pointless exercise, since one more than likely knows already how they feel about the Smurfs. Whether you love, loathe or are indifferent to the Smurfs (if you think I’ve overused the word ‘Smurf’ too much in this review, wait until you watch the bloody thing), not one moment of the twenty-four or so hours of Series Three and Four will change your mind. It remains as colourful, cheery and relentlessly Smurfy as ever. One can’t help but feel sorry for poor Gargamel; after spending so much time with the wee blue buggers, I for one definitely identify with his plight. Still, the television series is infinitely preferable to the recent movie or its imminent sequel. I know which I would rather have my hypothetical children watch.

That said, I would definitely recommend doing so in moderation. Smurfy as the Smurfs may be, they do get on your Smurfing Smurves after a while. Smurfing… smurf smurf. Smurfing… Smurfs.

Extras: None