by Brendan Knapp / Originally Published
Smurfs starts with Papa Smurf on a turntable dropping beats: The sign of a bad time ever since Barney Rubble first grabbed the mic. Thankfully little Papa (played by 73-year-old John Goodman) didn’t rap. Instead, we got a Rihanna song.
You’ll hear a lot of Rihanna songs. They get tiring as does her voice acting.
With the Smurfs singing and dancing, I figured we were in for a Trolls-like viewing. Then came the Encanto moment. Then the Lego Movie 2 moment. Then The Smurfs (2011) moment.
I realized this movie is just an assemblage of borrowed tropes and vibes and one-liners and…SNORE.
Yep, I fell asleep. It’s worth noting I was tired, sprawled out on a cushy couch, and had two human furnaces incubating me. It’s also worth noting I woke up because my furnaces burst out into laughter. There are several physical gags that landed for my daughters in Smurfs.
Not a lot landed for me.
The animation tries to look like the ‘80s Saturday morning cartoon. But it’s closer to one of those oddball 2010s Eastern European films Netflix starts to recommend when you’ve watched every good family film.
When I was awake, I sat on the couch like Grouchy Smurf. Yet my kids kept laughing.
I’ll admit there are some bright spots in the film. The side character voice acting is excellent. The story also fills out holes in Smurf lore — if you’re into that. And there’s a climactic chase through animation style portals that almost hits. Almost.
I think my main issue with The Smurfs is the main protagonist, named No Name Smurf. He’s searching for his name — which gives him purpose. When he suddenly discovers his name, he becomes a master at that craft — out of nowhere — with no real buildup. The culmination of his character arc makes no sense.
Overall, Smurfs is a bland but cute family fantasy that tries too hard all the time — and never really lands its big moments. If you’ve already combed Netflix for mediocre animation, Smurfs might offer just enough kid laughs to earn a spot at your next family film night.
BUT. You will want to bring booze. My sparkling water was no match for — SNORE.
🎬🎬🎬
Where to watch
Rating: PG (Me: 5+)
Director: Chris Miller
Starring: Rihanna, John Goodman, Nick Offerman, James Corden
Run time: 1h 29m
Post-credits scenes: A mid-credits moment that teases a potential return.
Bathroom breaks: Whenever
Sequel? It made money. The credits scene teased more story. I’d hedge toward yes.
If you liked Smurfs, check out these films:
- Trolls (2016)
- My Little Pony: A New Generation (2021) (4+)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007) (4+)
- The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019) (5+)
- TMNT: Mutant Mayhem (2023) (7+)
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