Now that we're two-thirds of the way through it, The Hobbit trilogy is forming up to be Middle Earth-lite. It's an entertaining series of movies for any and all who thought Lord of the Rings was far too serious and grim. Though it occasionally takes stabs at being "epic," these Hobbit movies are far more interested in just having fun in an imaginary world. With that in mind, I'm going to run through The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug with an eye for its goofiness and fun-loving spirit.

Bereft of their ponies at the end of the last movie, Bilbo and company take refuge in the barn-or maybe the...