More than two years ago, when the first big-screen Smurfs film landed in Shanghai, I watched this half-animated, half-live-action family comedy with a group of young children at a downtown movie theater.

I largely considered this global smash hit, which earned a robust $563 million at the international box office, as a harmless slice of family entertainment featuring a straightforward story line and some obvious themes.

Yet beneath the film's happy romp and funny one-liners, there still existed one or two basic story ideas that catered to an audience of youngsters. But for the newly released sequel to the 2011 movie, there is nothing either meaningful or creative to be found in The Smurfs 2.

Nothing at all.

A film still from The Smurf 2 Photos: CFP

The new Smurfs film, which is also a mix of live action and animation, and is shot in 3D (for the sole purpose of moneymaking), opens with a frolicky scene in which a crowd of little blue Smurfs are busy planning a surprise birthday party for Smurfette (voiced by Katy Perry) in their mushroom village.

Meanwhile in the human world, the evil sorcerer Gargamel (played by Hank Azaria) has become a world-famous magician staging shows all over the globe. However, backstage, he creates a couple of mischievous Smurf-like creatures called the Naughties, in an attempt to extract the powerful and magical Smurf essence to reign over the world.

When he comes to discover that he can only harness the essence from a real Smurf and only a secret formula that Smurfette knows can turn his creations into real Smurfs, Gargamel uses his magic powers to open a time tunnel that leads the Naughties to kidnap Smurfette from the Smurf village.

After finding out that his darling daughter has been taken away, Papa Smurf (Jonathan Winters) decides to assemble a crew of Smurfs including Clumsy (Anton Yelchin), Grouchy (George Lopez) and Vanity (John Oliver) to Paris where Smurfette has been imprisoned by Gargamel. The Smurfs also reunite with their human friends Patrick (Neil Patrick Harris) and Grace Winslow (Jayma Mays) to rescue Smurfette.

However, upon their arrival in the French capital, the ensemble discover that Smurfette seems to have developed a new connection with the Naughties, Vexy (Christina Ricci) and Hackus (JB Smoove). So it's up to the whole team to not only save Smurfette from the vicious Gargamel, but to win her back with their unconditional true blue love.

Director Raja Gosnell, whose earlier credits include Never Been Kissed, Scooby-Doo and Beverly Hills Chihuahua, was once again commissioned to helm the Smurfs' second cinematic outing, which is based on the favorite children's comic and television franchise of the same name.

Perhaps given the huge popularity of the film's source material, Gosnell doesn't feel the urge to inject anything plausible or enjoyable into The Smurfs 2. Loaded with an excessive amount of numbing high jinks, slapstick humor, standard action set pieces, and loud music, the film is a paradigm of mindless entertainment.

Another big gripe about The Smurfs 2 is the pronounced product placement, ranging from food and beverage to liquid soap and electronic devices. The movie's most annoying subplot is a tailored promo for a popular Chinese TV talent show.

With most cast members of the 2011 Smurfs movie all returning for this new installment, the film's central characters are enlivened by earnest and expressive performances.

Pop star Katy Perry instills her mellow voice into Smurfette, who is having an identity crisis in this outing. The veteran comic star Hank Azaria's nefarious yet hilarious Gargamel, who talks and acts in a repulsive manner, provides some of the film's funniest moments.

In one of his last jobs, the late comedian/actor/author Jonathan Winters, who passed away in April, lends his rich voice to Papa Smurf, the composed and omniscient patriarch of the Smurf world.

The Smurfs 2, a Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures release, earns two stars out of five.

A film still from The Smurf 2 Photos: CFP

Everyone's a critic

Helen Dano, American

1 year in Shanghai

"My two girls liked this new Smurfs movie. And we all agreed that The Smurfs 2 is actually a lovely improvement over the first film which we watched back in the US. The cast of the film is a perfect fit. The animation is lively, and the story was funny enough to keep my young children engaged and entertained for quite a long time. It's an excellent family movie choice!"

Sophie Ye, 32

Shanghainese

"The Smurfs 2 is a good family comedy movie. As the mother of a 7-year-old boy, both my son and I enjoyed a flurry of funny moments in the film. My boy absolutely adores these cute and cuddly little blue creatures. And he laughed a lot at Gargamel and his cat doing stupid things in the film. As for me, I grew up watching the Smurfs on TV back in the 1980s and so the film brings about a strong sense of warmth and nostalgia. Also I think the film's animation is really well crafted, although the story's a bit predictable and clichéd."

Wang Jian, 30

Shanghainese

"For an adult audience, I think The Smurfs 2 is a real disappointment in terms of plot, dialogue, action and animation. While I understand that this kind of family comedy genre is mainly for kids, I still believe family entertainment should be enjoyable for both adults and children. I simply don't understand what this film, which is built on a kidnap plot, is really about. So I guess the only plus for me after spending nearly two hours watching such a disastrous film was the upbeat music."