The Smurfs have had several big-screen excursions throughout their near-70-year history, so how exactly do you introduce these blue humanoids to a new generation of fans? By going full fantastical, of course.
The 2025 reimagining of the beloved Belgian comic book series offers a fresh take on the iconic franchise, drawing on familiar tropes that will resonate easily with kids and even those with a childlike spirit. A SPOILER ALERT Marvel-ized Smurfs movie may sound strange on paper, but director Chris Miller somehow makes it work. It’s charming and fanciful.
While it’s far from being a visual spectacle, the animation is still quite pleasing to the eye, and the soundtrack is on point. Despite being a “musical”, it isn’t the in-your-face type, drenched in pointless song numbers and overly cheesy sequences. Above all, it sends a powerful message about believing in yourself and finding your “thing” in a world that makes you question your purpose.
The voice cast delivers notable performances, with Rihanna’s Smurfette taking the lead in her sophomore outing. John Goodman (Papa Smurf), Nick Offerman (Ken), Kurt Russell (Ron), Natasha Lyonne (Mama Poot), JP Karliak (Gargamel and Razamel), and James Corden, who voices No Name Smurf, all stand out in their respective roles.
The biggest surprise to me is that the film didn’t feature any human interaction, unlike previous iterations, but somehow it still takes place largely in the “real world”. Not that it needed another Neil Patrick Harris to serve as the human lead, but I just found that choice to be quite odd.
It may feel like a rehash of previous films, but overall, Smurfs is a Smurfin’ good time at the movies that appeals to both longtime fans and new audiences.
Smurfs is now showing in cinemas, so go see it! Special thanks to Paramount Pictures PH and Ayala Malls Cinemas for the screening invite!
