THE Smurfs 2 begins with Smurfette, the heroine of the previous film, feeling blue because all her friends have forgotten her birthday in what is the middle chapter of an intended trilogy.
In fact, Smurf Village is planning a surprise party.
At her lowest ebb, Smurfette (Katy Perry) meets Vexy (Christina Ricci), a naughty imp created by Gargamel, who is now a successful magician performing at the famed Opera House in Paris.
As commanded by her creator, Vexy transports Smurfette to the French capital, where the snaggle-toothed villain intends to extract enough Smurf essence from Smurfette to keep alive his flourishing showbusiness career.
Once Papa Smurf (Jonathan Winters) learns of the abduction he fashions crystals to travel to New York City, where old friend Patrick Winslow (Neil Patrick Harris) and his wife, Grace (Jayma Mays), can spearhead the rescue.
Unfortunately, Clumsy (Anton Yelchin), Grouchy (George Lopez) and Vanity (John Oliver) mistakenly swallow the crystals intended for Brainy, Gutsy and Hefty, so Papa Smurf must avert total Smurf-a-geddon with a trio of unlikely sidekicks.