Movies

Our reviewer wanted to like the new ‘Smurfs’ movie, but it totally blue

BBG News

nearly at the end of the summer movie season for kids, parents. Remember to stay well-hydrated and nourished, as your duty of supervising at the cinema won’t really be finished until early August or so, when the movies become more appropriate for adults, transitioning into mature themes before fully transforming into the adult-oriented, award-season films of fall that are not suitable for children.

Instead of subjecting yourself to the disorganized, tense “Smurfs” available this weekend, a weary parent might opt to leave early and search for a nearby last-minute summer camp where your kids can be sent, as this new big-screen adaptation of the popular cultural phenomenon could challenge your patience for everything tiny and blue. In terms of legacy management, it’s more about endurance than enjoyment.

Regardless of your childhood memories connected to Belgian artist Peyo’s idealistic woodland characters, this movie isn’t about nostalgia; instead, it offers the standard stream of humor driven by audience engagement. The comedy, vibrant visuals, music (including Rihanna’s tracks), and uplifting messages accumulate rapidly, forming a large pool of jokes, colors, tunes, and self-belief slogans that seem haphazard rather than genuine. Director Chris Miller, known for his work on the “Shrek” series, uses animation less as a traditional art form to enchant, but more as a flashy tool for mass distraction, capable of being amplified and loud.

In this modern retelling penned by Pam Brady, the Smurfs are given a revamp of their origins. Instead of just being simple mushroom-dwelling villagers with amiable lives based on individual traits and evading a mischievous wizard, they are now revealed to be descendants of ancient cosmic guardians of good, a backstory that leans more towards the popular superhero narrative rather than typical popcorn entertainment. On the other hand, the villains in this story, the wizards Gargamel and Razamel (both comically brought to life by voice actor JP Karliak, emulating Harvey Korman), are part of an Evil Alliance with a goal of global conquest.

Movies

This summer is shaping up quite nicely, offering a tantalizing mix of blockbuster hits that could rival any major studio production, intriguing independent films to satisfy my discerning taste, and some delightfully mindless entertainment to balance it all out – just what I need to keep things interesting!

The story’s entire flow, from its initial scene to the concluding dance party, seems contrived as if it were brainstormed during a dull playdate among uninspired children who would rather be enjoying television. A Smurf named No Name (portrayed by James Corden) yearns for recognition, much like his characteristic peers Hefty, Vanity, Grouchy, Baker, and Clumsy. Despite encouragement from her close friend Smurfette (played by Rihanna), the village’s self-assured and vivacious rebel, No Name expresses feelings of insignificance in a melancholic tune.

In the story, Papa Smurf, portrayed by John Goodman, gets abducted via a portal, initiating a series of such incidents. A mysterious magical book called Jaunty (played by Amy Sedaris) goes missing as well. The group sent to rescue Papa Smurf visits various places, starting with a disco in Paris, followed by the Australian Outback and outer space. Natasha Lyonne voices the leader of an odd alien species that resemble shaggy cushion pillows. Razamel harbors intense dislike towards Gargamel. Papa Smurf has an older bearded brother, Ken (Nick Offerman), and a long-lost sibling named Ron (Kurt Russell). Despite having multiple brothers, the narrative does not emphasize family emotional dynamics significantly.

Occasionally, it seems as if everyone is levitating. Primarily, this refers to our thoughts. However, look away for just a moment, and the characters might have transitioned into another reality. After all, multiple dimensions are quite fashionable these days, much like those where no voice actor was probably in the same location as any other when they recorded their lines.

It appears the animators were kept quite occupied, as evidenced by the varied animation styles seen during “dimension-palooza” – from claymation to pencil drawings and 8-bit graphics. This gives off a nostalgic, chaotic yet charming vibe reminiscent of classic cartoons. However, the movie “Smurfs” predominantly follows the typical slapstick humor of CGI-animated films, with an excessive amount of zigging and zagging that barely allows it to effectively convey its core message about unity. A disjointed film may not be the ideal medium to impart such a lesson. Nonetheless, it leaves a lasting impression of kindness when it concludes.

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2025-07-19 01:01

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