Neil Patrick Harris Joins 'The Smurfs'

Neil Patrick Harris will play the human lead in the live-action/animated hybrid, The Smurfs, according to Deadline Hollywood. See, I never would have guessed NPH had so many gambling debts that he had to resort to this, but you can never be too sure in Hollywood. That's a joke, but this isn't: Smurfs will be directed by Raja Gosnell, who makes some of the worst movies in the world. His best film - by a mile - is Never Been Kissed. Here's the last five: Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Yours, Mine and Ours, Scooby Doo 2, Scooby Doo, and Big Momma's House. Well, this explains NPH's willingness to sign on. Clearly with his history of gambling debts, he likes a longshot. Smurfs fits in with one of Sony's new business models that isn't mentioned nearly enough. While the US markets for films like 2012 and the Dan Brown movies are nice, most of the money comes from overseas, and that will definitely be true in this case, because the Smurfs have plenty of recognition in the states, but they're big business in Europe, and have been for 50 years or so. That's where the bread is buttered here. For Harris, it's a chance to broaden his horizons beyond prime time, and that's hard to argue against. How I Met Your Mother, by definition, isn't going to last forever, and Harris has never been more marketable than he is now, so family films are a good next step. I also think he's got the ability to make these silly family flicks and segue into something like Harold & Kumar and get away with it. If you think that's no big deal: Eddie Murphy. He lost his edge with adult audiences after too many kiddie movies. Smurfs opens July 2011.

Comments

[UWE BOLL!]

"Smurfs will be directed by Raja Gosnell, who makes some of the worst movies in the world."

HAHAHA-HAHA-HA! Funny one Boyd, thought you'd slip that one right by me didn't you? NO, I am the one who makes SOME of THE worst movies in the world!!!! ME, ME, ME and ME TOO!!!! Keep your facts straight critical-man or I shall have to pay you a little visit and pummel them straight for you.

[G. Marshall]

As bad as this Gosnell is, I think I still have it over him in non-quality AND quantity (Exit to Eden, Dear God, The Other Sister, Runaway Bride, TWO Princess Diary movies, Raising Helen, Georgia Rule, Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve), even if I can't quite hold a candle of awfulness to Mr. German Boxer...