THE STORY – When Papa Smurf is mysteriously taken by evil wizards Gargamel and his brother Razamel, Smurfette leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe.
THE CAST – Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman, JP Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Jimmy Kimmel, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Kurt Russell & John Goodman
THE TEAM – Chris Miller (Director) & Pam Brady (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 92 Minutes
After two mostly failed franchise attempts over the past fifteen years, The Smurfs are back for a third at-bat at the cinemas. In that same span, another franchise about unbearably cute, tiny, magical creatures with a love for song and dance has soared, looking at you, “Trolls.” So, it makes sense that Paramount would enlist musical megastar Rihanna to do for “Smurfs” what Justin Timberlake did for “Trolls.” Unfortunately, her music can only carry the film so far. The result is a mostly lifeless animated reboot that feels like it’s copying “Trolls‘” homework a bit too closely. Sure, it’s bright, colorful, and passable entertainment for younger viewers, but there’s nothing special or memorable about this latest return to Smurf Village.
This time around, when Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is kidnapped by Razamel, an evil wizard and Gargamel’s brother (both voiced by JP Karliak), the other Smurfs set out on a rescue mission that takes them all the way to the real world. Their quest quickly escalates when they discover a plot to control four magical books with the power to save or destroy the universe. Leading the rescue is, of course, Smurfette (Rihanna), who was originally sculpted by Gargamel as a trap to capture the Smurfs. She’s joined by No Name Smurf (James Corden), one of the rare Smurfs who doesn’t have a defining trait. While every other Smurf knows precisely who they are (Sound Effects Smurf gets plenty of screentime), No Name Smurf feels adrift, searching for purpose while trying to save Papa Smurf.
The Smurfs’ adventure takes them through a portal to Paris, but the live-action setting adds little to the plot, and the Smurfs barely interact with any humans. It’s emblematic of the movie as a whole: generic choices that never add up to a meaningful narrative, even for kids. The opening musical number, set to Tyla’s original track, “Everything Goes With Blue,” doesn’t advance the story; it’s just several minutes of the Smurfs dancing, without even singing. It’s a bafflingly dull way to kick things off, offering audiences no clue as to what the film is actually about. The handful of original songs are generic pop at best, with only one, a ballad sung by No Name Smurf about finding his purpose, actually tied to the story. Rihanna’s “Friend of Mine” shows up at the end with a fun club vibe, but again, it’s disconnected from the overall narrative. Despite the marketing, this is far from a real movie musical.
Visually, “Smurfs” at least tries to stand out. Director Chris Miller (“Shrek the Third” & “Puss In Boots”) uses 3D animated CGI with hand-drawn outlines and dropped frame rates, similar to “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.” This gives the film a mild comic book feel that lifts the generic plot just enough to keep it watchable.
Kids seeing the Smurfs for the first time on screen will probably enjoy the bright visuals and silly jokes; lines like “What the smurf” and “I just smurfed my pants” (yes, that’s real) might land for them. But for older viewers, the writing is mostly tedious. Family films can be goofy and witty; you don’t have to settle for lazy one-liners and endless dance breaks just to keep kids entertained. Sadly, this reboot leans too heavily on exactly that, and it’s hard to see it sticking around any longer in audiences’ minds than the last two.
