After eight years, it’s time to ‘sing a happy song’ again.

Directed by Christopher Miller, Smurfs takes us back to the Enchanted Forest to find the elusive Smurf Village, home to Papa Smurf and all his beloved friends. Each Smurf knows their role in the village, except one – named ‘No Name’ Smurf (James Corden). Struggling to know how he fits in to their community, his world is shaken when Papa Smurf is mysteriously taken by the evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel. With the village in peril, Smurfette (Rihanna) steps up to lead the Smurfs on a multidimensional mission to save their friends and, potentially, the universe as well.

In Smurfs, Miller offers a reboot-of-sorts to the famed animated franchise. With their last big screen adventure back in 2017, the film’s young target audience have grown up, leaving room for a fresh start. And, with Miller at the helm, the return of the Smurfs is frenetically funny and fast-paced kid’s fare.

Having directed films such as Puss in Boots and Shrek the Third (and voiced many of their characters, Miller has spent a lot of time in DreamWorks’ frenzied fairytale universe. That same zany-ness fuels the humour in Smurfs too, offering multiple pop culture references and rapid-fire retorts throughout the film. (The introduction of the Smurfs alone is worth a laugh.)

And Smurfs is more than willing to embrace the weird. Featuring interdimensional transportation, magic powers, multiple villains and a threat to destroy the world, the film taps into its very own multiverse of madness. (Frankly, at times, the story is smurf’n insane.) While the screenplay doesn’t always keep those things in balance, the humour keeps the film moving effectively.

But the film does boast a surprisingly impressive cast. With John Goodman is Papa Smurf, the film features performances by Kurt Russell, Hannah Waddingham, Daniel Levy, Xolo Maraduena, Billie Lourd, Sandra Oh, Jimmy Kimmel, Natasha Lyonne, Alex Winter, Amy Sedaris, Nick Kroll and Nick Offerman. Even so, the largest roles go to Rihanna’s Smurfette and James Corden’s ‘No Name Smurf’. They’re a duo that enjoys some unexpectedly good chemistry together as they support one another through their most difficult moments.

Courtesy of Paramount © 2025

Perhaps, it should come as no surprise that Rihanna’s Smurfette is the film’s strongest character. With feminine fire, Rihanna gives the classic character modern sensibilities. When called to lead the team into the fray, Smurfette carries herself with wisdom and confidence. When other Smurfs are faltering, it’s often Smurfette who builds them back up again. In fact, although Papa Smurf has always been the group’s ‘father figure’, it’s Smurfette who really seems to be leading the charge here.

Still, coming in a close second is Corden’s ‘No Name’ Smurf, a new character that provides the film’s emotional core. With names like ‘Brainy’, ‘Clumsy’ and ‘Grouchy’, all the other Smurfs know their role. But No Name simply hasn’t been able to find his place in the village. Actively working with Papa to find himself, he simply doesn’t fit anywhere. (Even ‘Shark Training’ doesn’t work for him.) As a result, much of the film follows No Name as he tries to prove his worth when the chips are down. (And Corden’s natural affability plays well with this sense of insecurity.)

Together, Smurfette and ‘No Name’ take the team on an adventure that forces them to as what makes them ‘important’ to the group. After all, in the midst of a hundred creatures that look almost identical, everyone wants to stand out in one way or another.

And it’s these moments where Smurfs shines. The franchise has always been at its best when they wear their heart on their sleeve. Multiverses and mystical realms are very much in the series’ canon but they aren’t the spots that resonate most. The best moments of Smurfs come when it wants to help kids understand the difference between ‘good’ and ‘bad’. Papa Smurf and Smurfette work hard to call the others around them to do what’s right. Intent on destroying everything ‘good’, Gargamel and Razamel snarl with destructive glee. There’s a simplicity to these characters that have made them endearing for almost seventy years. Thankfully, Miller works hard to make sure that that innocence shines through, even if he almost loses it amidst the Marvel-esque antics at times.

In the end, Smurfs is a delightfully charming (and, often, very funny) trip into the forest. There’s enough sweetness for kids to enjoy and enjoy humour for parents to keep them engaged, even in moments when the script feels out of sync. In short, it’s hilarious and heartfelt… just not entirely smurf-tastic.

Smurfs is available in theatres on Friday, July 18^th, 2025.