Smurfs (2025)
⭐️ ⭐ (out of 5 stars)
Ever since their initial creation by cartoonist Peyo in 1958, The Smurfs have experienced a resurgence of popularity across generations. There have been numerous films and television shows throughout the years. Yet, there is a need for a reboot every so often and director Chris Miller (Puss in Boots) has been given the task of introducing these little blue creatures to a new generation.
This new musical adventure focuses on No Name Smurf's (James Corden) attempt to find his identity within this elf-like community. As he sings his way throughout his search, the village comes under threat by evil wizards led by Razamel (JP Karliak), who is Gargamel's (Karliak) estranged brother. After Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is pulled into a different dimension, a band of Smurfs led by Smurfette (Rihanna) dives into the various worlds that inhabit various Smurf communities who all hope to assist these mini-warriors on their journey. As they meet each group, they begin to learn the history and their role in the world and how important their adventure is to the survival of multiple dimensions of Smurfs and happiness.
Miller and company take from the Trolls playbook and do their best to introduce new songs to the deepening purpose of this village of blue humanoids. Yet, what becomes a harsh reality early on in this production is that this might be a project of overreach. Despite the simplicity of the Smurfs' existence, Pam Brady's screenplay attempts to appeal to both children and adults, incorporating more dimensions than a Christopher Nolan film, yet also causing confusion about the meaning behind the messaging. The overall production features a multitude of characters, making it difficult to determine our location in the world and the story. Most notably, there is a failure to acknowledge children as the intended audience.
There are a few highlights to look out for if you choose to get along to Smurfs during the holiday season. The first would be James Corden's song, "Always On The Outside," which will be on regular repeat in the family vehicle at the beginning of the film. There is an interdimensional montage worth sticking around to see, along with the brief visit to Australia. Finally, Kurt Russell as Papa Smurf's brother, Ron, adds a fun twist to the tale of this relatively predictable, albeit confusing, storyline. Still, Smurfs might be worth waiting until streaming, as this overly developed adventure will do more to confound viewers than entertain in the end.
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REEL DIALOGUE: Finding a name and purpose in life
One of the central story devices in Smurfs is the search for No Name Smurf's name and his purpose in life. Granted, magic is surprisingly thrust upon him. Still, he is forced to make the decision to discover his full potential in life.
Many of us desire the 'action adventure' we see in many films, even though we probably wouldn't want to live the life of a Smurf. Yet, this escapism continues to drive Hollywood, and we may even wish for this to occur in our lives on some level.
We are all looking for purpose, and most of us think it is somewhere outside of our grasp. Instead, why not view life as a gift? Each day is an opportunity to live. Why not see the adventure that comes with each new morning amidst the mundane aspects of life? The Bible shows that each day is a gift for us to accept and utilise.
