Product Info

Studio

Paramount Animation

Director

Chris Miller

Genre

Action, Adventure, Animation, Family

Rated

PG

Theatrical Release Date (NA)

Jul 18, 2025

Film Length

1hr 32min

Purchase From

The Smurfs franchise is getting a reboot with a new cast of voice actors and a different story direction. The film takes an interesting path to expand the Smurfs’ story but at times it feels like it’s trying to cram in too many jokes and scenes, making it messier than it should be.

Out of This World

Smurfs™ & © PEYO – 2025 Lic. Lafig B./IMPS © 2025 Par. Pics.

Smurfs, originally a comic in 1958 and began airing in 1961, has been a long-running television series with a few movies. The Smurfs returned to the big screen in the 2010s, but faced challenges with the first two films looking too realistic. Paramount Animation is rebooting the Smurfs in a new film to kick off a potential series. With a different animation style and an expanded storyline that explores the world of the Smurfs, this could be a fresh start for fans of the beloved characters.

The 2025 Smurfs film is set in Smurf Village and introduces familiar characters like Papa Smurf, voiced by John Goodman (Roseanne, 10 Cloverfield Lane), Smurfette, voiced by Rihanna (Battleship, This is the End), and Hefty Smurf, voiced by Alex Winter (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Zappa). A new Smurf named “No Name”, voiced by James Corden (Peter Rabbit, Trolls), is also introduced as a central character.

No Name Smurf, lacking a unique talent like the other Smurfs, is feeling down as he tries to figure out what he can do to earn himself a proper name. When a mysterious humanoid book senses the Smurf’s low self-esteem, it gives him a boost of confidence that grants him magical powers. Thrilled with his new found abilities, he excitedly shows them off to everyone in Smurf Village. However, he  comes too reckless and attracts the attention of villains from another world who are determined to locate the elusive Smurf Village.

Papa Smurf is kidnapped by an unknown wizard named Razamel, voiced by JP Karliak (X-Men ‘97, The Boss Baby: Back in Business), who turns out to be the younger brother of the original Smurfs’ antagonist, Gargamel, also voiced by JP Karliak.

Smurfs™ & © PEYO – 2025 Lic. Lafig B./IMPS © 2025 Par. Pics.

The story then takes a group of Smurfs to a new world, thanks to No Name’s magical powers to the “real world” in Paris. From there, as the Smurfs from Smurf Village interact with obstacles like dogs and human legs, they make their way to meet the Smurfs in the real world. There are a few other scenes where the real world and the Smurfs interact, but they feel out of place compared to the cartoon style of Razamel’s castle, from the buildings to every character inside. These scenes used in trailers do not accurately portray the overall style of the film and could have been tweaked to match Razamel’s castle or removed entirely.

New characters are introduced that add a great presence to the story, such as Mama Poot, voiced by Natasha Lyonne (American Pie, Orange is the New Black). When the film focuses on Smurfette, No Name, and Mama Poot, it becomes a fun trio to watch, with Mama Poot’s slapstick dialogues and reactions.

The film not only introduces new non-Smurf characters with unique characteristics but also delves deeper into the history of the Smurfs and the backstory between Razamel and Gargamel. The pacing to deliver this information feels right, reminiscent of watching the original series. However, the film does tend to overload with corny dialogue and scenes that can be a bit much, such as Papa Smurf’s dialogue as a DJ artist in the beginning of the film, which felt cringeworthy.

Let Me Hear You

Smurfs™ & © PEYO – 2025 Lic. Lafig B./IMPS © 2025 Par. Pics.

Voice actors themselves do a great job portraying each Smurf. JP Karliak does a good job as Razamel but Gargamel’s voice sounds off. Those who have watched the original and grew up with the Smurfs will notice the difference right away. At first, Rihanna as Smurfette may throw the audience off, but they will quickly adapt to her as Smurfette. This is the first of the Smurfs films to add musical scenes. The movie doesn’t overdo it compared to other films like Disney. Of course Rihanna will have some musical scenes showcasing her talents as a voice artist, and she does a good job with each. However, there are some scenes that work really well, such as the climax of the film. There’s a lot going on, and there are parts that could be ironed out as new fans may find it difficult to follow many of these characters if they don’t have prior knowledge of the Smurfs.

A New Look

Smurfs™ & © PEYO – 2025 Lic. Lafig B./IMPS © 2025 Par. Pics.

The Smurfs’ new 3D designs are portrayed with an illustration style on their 3D models that closely match the original creator, Pierre “Peyo” Culliford’s original comics. The style and animation resemble the original quite well, which is a much better approach than the “realistic” Smurfs of the early 2010s. The background has a cell-shaded look and a 3D feel that also uses a similar style to the Smurfs, giving it a cartoon-like appearance but cleaned up to match many other modern animated films.

The music, including a few tracks written and recorded by Rihanna, works well too. However, there are questions about the direction when Smurfette and No Name are riding in Kangaroo pouches during one of Rihanna’s scores. Additionally, some of the classic Smurf tunes make a return and can get stuck in your head.

The Final Smurf

The Smurfs latest film extends the storyline and features great visuals, but newcomers to the series may find it confusing. The mixture of real-world visuals and an overflow of corniness doesn’t help with that. However, it’s a good fresh start for a reboot.

An early screening provided for this movie. Smurfs arrives in theaters on July 18th. Fans can visit the official website for more information and tickets.