Global warning, earthquakes, nuclear disasters.  All considered by some to be signs that humanity has overstayed its welcome on planet Earth, and that deserving Christian types will be rescued, while the rest of us will be doomed to remain upon a dying planet.

Though there are signs that, we may have missed…signs like Raja Gosnell’s “The Smurfs” having earned almost $500 million dollars worldwide.

The majority of that money was earned overseas, which makes sense considering that  is where their following is largest (they’re huge in Europe, which is where their creator, Peyo, a Belgian cartoonist, was born).

Now why the film earned almost $140 million in this country has me a bit mystified, partially because the original cartoon aired 30 or so years ago, partially because they’re SMURFS.

That being said, I admit to not having seeing the film, so it could potentially be Academy Award-worthy; though I really, really doubt it.