Smurfs

It takes a certain amount of audacity to revive a franchise like The Smurfs in 2025. Not only because Chris Miller, best known for his work at DreamWorks Animation, dares to remix a beloved legacy into a hypermodern, genre-bending musical, but also because The Smurfs aren't just dipping their toes into nostalgia: they're diving in headfirst with a confidence that borders on the surreal. This new installment, simply titled The Smurfs: The Movie, is the fourth feature film based on Peyo's iconic blue creatures, but unlike its predecessors, it embraces a vision that is both chaotically inventive and joyfully absurd. The film is a spiritual reboot that unapologetically abandons past continuity and welcomes a new era with explosive energy, kaleidoscopic animation, and a voice cast so rich it resembles a fever dream of Hollywood royalty. At the heart of the film's success is an original voice cast that could make even the most cynical viewers think twice.

It's not every day you get to hear Nick Offerman, Amy Sedaris, Dan Levy, Octavia Spencer, Alex Winter, Billie Lourd, Jimmy Kimmel, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Hannah Waddingham, Kurt Russell, and John Goodman share the screen in an animated film. And yet there they are, not only lending their voices, but also performing with sincerity and exuberance. It's a miracle that a film like The Smurfs: The Movie, which could easily have relied on famous names and autopilot performances, instead feels like the product of a genuine collaboration. Special mention must go to J.P. Karliak, who not only voices the villain Gargamel, but also his new brother Razamel, in a dual performance that oscillates between kitsch theater and evil charm. You'll be forgiven for staying open-mouthed until the credits roll, where the names of stars confirm that all the big names have decided that this will be the animated event of the season.

The plot, in true Smurfs tradition, is an absurd but endearing quest: Papa Smurf is kidnapped by the wizard brothers Gargamel and Razamel, and the indomitable Smurfette, voiced with warmth and charisma by Rihanna, must lead a rescue mission in the real world. This opens the door to a mind-bending journey through interdimensional portals that, at one point, propels our little blue heroes into the Australian outback, then has them cross paths with Parisian ninja Smurfs (yes, really). The story isn't concerned with deep logic or narrative subtlety. Instead, it relies on pace, visual spectacle, and a steady stream of ironic gags. What could have been a simple cash-in becomes, in the hands of Chris Miller and screenwriter Pam Brady, a joyful, unapologetic musical adventure that never takes itself too seriously.

Visually, The Smurfs is a successful homage to the comic strip from which it originated. The animation, produced by Cinesite with support from Nickelodeon Animation Studio, is wonderfully tactile. The decision to draw inspiration from Peyo's classic style, particularly the use of action lines and thought bubbles typical of comic books, infuses the film with a lively, kinetic energy. The characters have an elasticity that gives them a cartoonish immediacy: this is not Pixar-style refinement, but rather an anarchic spirit akin to Looney Tunes, fused with the color palette of a Saturday morning cereal commercial. It feels like the animators had a blast pushing the boundaries of what's visually possible, and it's contagious. A sequence featuring a psychedelic dreamscape set to a Rihanna song is worth the price of admission alone.

As for Rihanna, her involvement goes far beyond voice acting. She also produced the film and composed several original songs, one of which, Friend of Mine, has already become a hit with early viewers. The soundtrack, produced by Henry Jackman, blends Rihanna's pop sensibility with grandiose orchestral motifs and a few touches of electro-fantasy. And then there's Higher Lov by Desi Trill, a track featuring Cardi B, DJ Khaled, Natania, and Subhi, which resonates like a cosmic anthem during the film's final act. While the film's imagery evokes nostalgia, the music propels it into 2025, giving the Smurfs a look that is both retro and refreshing.

It's interesting to note that The Smurfs are also an unusual case study in the evolution of animated cinema. Originally scheduled for December 2024, the film was postponed several times, with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 stealing its spot. Nickelodeon Movies eventually withdrew from the project for reasons that remain unclear, but one wonders whether the scale and eccentricity of the Smurfs pushed the project too far outside their comfort zone. Regardless, Paramount Pictures continued with the project, and the film finally premiered in Brussels on June 28, 2025, to an audience that could only be baffled and delighted. The juxtaposition of cutting-edge animation and a classic rescue story works surprisingly well, and what's more, it works beautifully.

There is something both cynical and deeply optimistic about The Smurfs – the movie. Cynical, in the sense that it is clearly designed to appeal to all audiences, with an avalanche of cameos, musical numbers, and meta humor. But optimistic in its unshakable belief that the joy, color, and fun provided by the characters still have a place in family entertainment. Despite all its artifice, its greatest strength lies in its heart, embodied by Smurfette, who is no longer simply the female representative of the Smurfs, but the emotional and narrative center of the film. Rihanna's performance imbues her with a strength, vulnerability, and confidence that make her journey a quest for self-discovery that resonates beyond the fantastical setting.

The Smurfs: The Movie isn't just a surprise hit, it's a love letter to a franchise that has always existed at odds with the most fashionable trends in pop culture. It may never reach the heights of the animation giants, but it doesn't need to. It knows what it is: fast, funny, weird, and utterly charming. Whether you're a parent looking for a little respite during the school holidays, an animation fan in search of something new to watch, or just someone who wandered into the wrong theater after Jurassic World: Rebirth, chances are The Smurfs will have more in store for you than you expected. It's the movie no one was expecting, but, oddly enough, the one you'll be glad you saw.

Smurfs
Directed by Chris Miller
Written by Pam Brady
Based on The Smurfs by Peyo
Produced by Jay Brown, Ty Ty Smith, Robyn Rihanna Fenty, Ryan Harris
Starring Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman, JP Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Jimmy Kimmel, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Kurt Russellk John Goodman
Edited by Matt Landon
Music by Henry Jackman
Production companies: Paramount Animation, Marcy Media Films
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release dates: June 28, 2025 (Brussels), July 16, 2025 (France), July 18, 2025 (United States)
Running time: 92 minutes

Seen on July 6, 2025 at Le Grand Rex cinema

Mulder's Mark: