Smurfs Review: Rihanna Leads a Glossy, Glitchy Adventure That Misses the Mark

Smurfs (In Theatres)

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Cast: Rihanna as the voice of Smurfette, alongside an ensemble including James Corden, Nick Offerman, JP Karliak, Daniel Levy, & more

Directed By: Peyo

Produced By: Jay Brown, Ty Ty Smith, Rihanna[a] and Ryan Harris

Another year, another reboot. And this time, it's those pint-sized, periwinkle forest-dwellers getting the full glitter treatment. Smurfs (2025) promised to be a bold, pop-powered reinvention of Peyo's iconic Belgian creations, with superstar Rihanna behind the mic and the scenes. But despite the eye-popping animation, dimension-hopping antics, and an A-list voice cast, the film fumbles in its quest to balance nostalgia, novelty, and narrative.

Welcome Back to Smurf Village – Now With Dance Numbers

We kick things off in classic Smurf fashion: lush forests, mushroom houses, a cozy blue community. Only this time, Papa Smurf (voiced by John Goodman) isn't just the wise leader, he's also a DJ spinning vinyl while his Smurfs break into a synchronized dance routine to a Tyla track. It's upbeat, visually rich, and honestly, not a bad start.

Smurfette (voiced and co-produced by Rihanna) is still the only girl in town, still brave and charming, but this time, she's more of a mentor-heroine, taking a central role in leading the mission. Alongside her is No Name Smurf (James Corden), a Smurf in search of, well, himself. His lack of a defining trait and name launches an identity quest that ends up dragging the entire village into an interdimensional adventure to rescue Papa Smurf from the clutches of Razamel, a new and over-the-top villain (voiced with flair by JP Karliak).

What Works: The Look, the Lore, and Some Laughs

Let's give credit where it's due, the visuals are impressive. Director Chris Miller (Puss in Boots) brings flair and texture to the Smurf universe. There are cool touches like hand-drawn facial details over CGI models, fuzzy hat textures, and even segments in claymation, anime, and 8-bit pixel art. These dimension-hopping detours are among the film's most fun moments, even if they serve more style than substance.

There are flashes of creativity in the world-building too. The Smurfs aren't just happy forest folk anymore; they're ancient "guardianeers" protecting a magical book from evil sorcerers. Papa's two brothers, Ken (Nick Offerman) and Ron (Kurt Russell) are introduced with their own brand of heroics, offering a slightly new take on the family dynamic.

Pam Brady's script does sprinkle in some good gags and sly jokes for the adults in the room. Sound Effects Smurf, voiced by a perfectly chaotic Dan Levy, earns some genuine laughs. A cameo by DJ Marshmello as a turtle (yes, really) is so bizarre it's almost brilliant.

What Doesn't Work: Everything Else

But here's where things get blue, and not just Smurf-blue. The film is overstuffed, undercooked, and far too chaotic for its own good. The plot hops between worlds, characters, and set-pieces like it's checking boxes from the "How to Make a Kids Movie" handbook. There's a race of new creatures called the Snooterpoots (because, why not), rainbow rollercoaster sequences that scream "3D era flashback," and a prologue about four magic books that sounds more exhausting than enchanting.

The emotional beats, especially No Name's crisis of identity, are predictable and heavy-handed. While the movie tries to be heartfelt, it feels more like it's going through the motions than saying something meaningful. And poor Smurfette, even with Rihanna's cool charisma, is still left carrying a story that can't decide what it wants to be, musical, fantasy epic, comedy, or toy commercial.

Even the celebrity cast, while stacked, feels underused. Sandra Oh and Natasha Lyonne pop in with fun cameos but vanish too quickly. John Goodman is warm and reliable as Papa, but his character gets sidelined halfway through. And though Corden's voice performance tries to channel earnest charm, it borders on grating.

Star Power Can't Smurf Away the Flaws

Rihanna's involvement raised expectations, and while her voice work is confident, the songs she delivers (and co-produces) don't leave a lasting impression. The musical numbers are big and loud, but rarely memorable, more filler than Smurf magic.

The film tries so hard to be new and hip, but in doing so, forgets the simple charm that made the Smurfs lovable in the first place. The original comics and cartoon had an innocent sense of humor and wonder. Here, it's been replaced with dizzying pace, shiny distractions, and too many punchlines that don't land.

Final Verdict

Smurfs (2025) isn't a total disaster. It's colorful, occasionally funny, and certainly ambitious. But ambition without coherence doesn't always work, and in this case, the film loses its footing trying to juggle too much. Kids might enjoy the visuals and chaos, but for longtime fans or weary parents, it's a half-hearted reboot that smurfs itself into a creative corner.