The new Smurfs reboot is a candy blue sugar rush that peaks in short bursts, then crashes when the story tries to get serious. Chris Miller directs a fast, pop-leaning take that sends Smurfette and a new character named No Name into the real world to save Papa Smurf from Gargamel and his brother Razamel. It runs a brisk 92 minutes, leans into musical moments, and keeps the energy high. It also keeps tripping over a thin plot and jokes that rarely land for anyone older than grade school.
Rihanna is the headline here. As Smurfette, she brings an easy confidence and a gentle warmth. She also supplies new music, and you can feel the film wake up whenever a song cue kicks in. “Friend of Mine” is the clear highlight. It is catchy, cleanly produced, and fits the friendship theme the movie keeps circling. The rest of the soundtrack does its job without sticking in your head for long after the credits.
James Corden voices No Name, a Smurf who has not figured out his defining trait yet. The idea is solid. A Smurf who does not know who he is should be a strong anchor for a kids movie about identity. In practice, the characterization is broad and the humor leans on easy puns and meta asides. Younger kids will chuckle. Parents may smile a few times, then check the time.
The production is more interesting than the script. Miller and the team mix styles from glossy CG to short detours that look like claymation, scribbles, and 8-bit. These switches give the movie a playful, anything-goes rhythm. A scene with a talking tardigrade is pure oddball fun, and an enchanted book with perfect deadpan gets some of the best laughs. When the film lets itself get weird, it feels alive.
The quest itself is standard. Our heroes bounce through portals, hop between postcard locations, and gather help from familiar faces, all while trying to stop Razamel from turning a magic book into a world-ending device. It is colorful and easy to follow, but the stakes never feel urgent and the emotional turns are rushed. The movie wants to be about belonging and self-definition, yet it rarely slows down long enough to let those beats sink in.
Voice work is hit and miss. Rihanna carries her scenes. John Goodman gives Papa Smurf a warm, weathered authority that instantly works. Much of the rest is serviceable without being memorable, which is surprising given the stacked cast list. The script keeps tossing one-off gags at them rather than giving anyone a real arc beyond the leads.
Parents will appreciate the PG tone and the tight runtime. The action is mild, the peril is brief, and the visual invention keeps kids engaged. If you grew up with the old cartoon, this is not trying to recapture that exact vibe. It is a modern studio kids movie with some charm, some clunk, and a superstar soundtrack single doing heavy lifting.
Smurfs is fine family matinee material. The look is lively, a few side characters pop, and Rihanna’s presence helps. The story and comedy are too uneven to recommend beyond families and curious fans. You will get a handful of smiles and one song you might add to a playlist. You will also forget most of it by dinner.
Verdict
A pleasant watch for kids with flashes of creativity for adults, but not the full discovery the premise promises. 6 out of 10.
gfpods.com 
Leave a comment