Cast: Rihanna, James Corden, John Goodman, Natasha Lyonne, Nick Offerman, Sandra Oh, Kurt Russell, Amy Sedaris, Octavia Spencer, Alex Winter, Nick Kroll, Xolo Maridueña, Dan Levy, Hannah Waddingham, Billie Lourd, JP Karliak
Genre: Animation, Family
Director: Chris Miller
In Irish Cinemas: Now
The Smurfs remain one of pop culture’s more bafflingly persistent phenomena. Despite being blue, squeaky-voiced, and vaguely cultish mushroom-dwellers, they keep reappearing on screens big and small—like an IP that refuses to die. It’s hard to imagine anyone claiming to be a genuine fan, and yet, like clockwork, the franchise shuffles back into relevance every few years. In terms of cultural exports from Belgium, they might even be vying with King Leopold II for sheer notoriety—albeit with more marketable plush toys.
And now, against all odds and certainly without popular demand, the Smurfs have returned. This time, they’ve taken a cue from The Social Network and dropped the “The,” rebranding with a minimalist edge that does little to disguise the franchise fatigue. It’s another attempt at a live-action/animation hybrid, following the dubious template set by 2011’s The Smurfs. Imagine Who Framed Roger Rabbit stripped of charm, replaced with synthetic gloss and—of all people—James Corden instead of Bob Hoskins.
To call this a joyless entry in a joyless series would be generous. It’s hard not to sense the cold hand of corporate obligation behind it—IP maintenance masquerading as entertainment.
Written by Pam Brady (known for South Park and Hot Rod), the script begins with a subtle hint of self-awareness, gently poking fun at the Smurfs’ unusual naming conventions. There’s Brainy, Clumsy, and Hefty—all characters defined by a single, painfully obvious trait. Then there’s Smurfette, whose defining characteristic appears to be “female,” and in this outing, inexplicably joined by Smurfs named Ken and Ron, because… why not? Leading the charge is a new protagonist, depressingly dubbed No Name—a Smurf with no discernible trait at all, unless being aggressively bland counts. He’s voiced, of course, by Corden, which only deepens the sense that this character is meant to be endured rather than enjoyed.
There was, perhaps, a version of this story that could have mined something clever or poignant from No Name’s identity crisis. Instead, we get Corden belting out a painfully sincere ballad about “finding strength” in the face of adversity. It’s the kind of overwrought emotional moment that might almost work—if it weren’t in the middle of a Smurfs movie, and if the audience weren’t already searching for strength of their own to sit through it.
Yes, there are musical numbers. In addition to the Smurfs’ eternal and self-admittedly irritating anthem “Sing a Happy Song,” we get more songs, this time courtesy of Rihanna, who has inherited the mantle of voicing Smurfette from Demi Lovato and Katy Perry. As tradition dictates, a pop star must lead the vocal charge. Rihanna at least brings some energy and contributes two original songs, though even her presence can’t elevate the material beyond obligatory cameos and contractual enthusiasm.
The supporting cast of celebrity voices ranges from forgettable to distracting—with one exception: Natasha Lyonne, who lends her distinctively raspy wit to Mama Poot, the leader of a chaotic new tribe called the Snooterpoots. It’s not enough to save the film, but it at least provides a spark of life in a sea of mediocrity.
Visually, the film fares no better. Director Chris Miller (not to be confused with the infinitely more inventive Lord & Miller duo) adopts the currently trendy blend of 2D/3D animation. Still, the result is more jarring than stylish. The transition between animated and live-action elements feels clumsy and outdated. One particular multiverse sequence—a tired concept already—feels like a direct knockoff of Inside Out, only with fewer ideas and more marketing synergy.
The plot, such as it is, centres around magical books imbued with vaguely defined powers, functioning like a bootleg version of Marvel’s Infinity Stones. This time around, the antagonist isn’t Gargamel (although he’s here, too), but his brother Razamel—voiced, along with Gargamel, by JP Karliak. The fraternal rivalry is meant to feel fresh, but it barely qualifies as a twist, let alone a reason to care.
Ultimately, it’s a film seemingly designed to appease an audience that may not exist. If there are Smurf superfans out there, they’ve kept well hidden. For the rest of us, this latest entry is more a study in franchise inertia than family fun—another IP dragged from the vault, dusted off, and paraded around in the name of content.
Overall: 2/10
Movie Reviewer
