Smurfs (2025) Movie: Why Rihanna’s Voice Doesn’t Save This Blue Disaster

The little blue characters make their comeback in 2025 under Chris Miller’s direction. Rihanna leads the voice cast as Smurfette, joining James Corden and John Goodman in this computer-animated musical.

This marks a complete departure from live-action versions. Pam Brady penned the script while Rihanna also serves as producer, bringing star power to the beloved franchise.

The Story Setup

Evil wizards capture Papa Smurf, forcing Smurfette to rally the village for a rescue mission. The Smurfs must venture beyond their woodland home into unfamiliar territory.

Their quest becomes about discovering their true purpose while saving their beloved leader. The stakes supposedly involve protecting the entire universe from dark magical forces.

Unfortunately, the narrative lacks clear direction and coherent structure. Events unfold without meaningful connections, leaving viewers confused about character motivations and story progression.

Voice Acting Choices

Rihanna brings her signature style to Smurfette but polarizes longtime fans. Her interpretation strays significantly from the gentle, sweet-voiced character many grew up loving.

New characters get regular names like Ken and Ron, breaking decades of tradition. This creative choice feels unnecessary and disconnects from established Smurf mythology.

John Goodman delivers solid work as Papa Smurf. His performance provides the few moments of genuine warmth and familiarity in an otherwise disjointed production.

Strengths Worth Mentioning

The visual presentation shines brightest among all aspects. Bright colors and detailed animation bring Smurf Village to life with impressive technical skill and artistic flair.

Several musical numbers work well despite overall execution issues. These sequences capture glimpses of the joy and whimsy that made original Smurfs content so appealing.

I noticed genuine efforts to respect the source material in certain scenes. The filmmakers clearly understand what makes these characters special, even if they struggle to execute it.

Major Problems

Chris Miller’s direction feels aimed too young for broad family appeal. The movie talks down to children while boring adults who might watch with them.

Casting choices create disconnect between voices and established personalities. Smurfette sounds harsh and gritty instead of warm and nurturing like fans expect.

The script includes jarring modern references about technology and internet culture. These jokes feel completely wrong for characters living in a magical forest village setting.

Basic storytelling logic breaks down repeatedly throughout the film. Plot points appear randomly without setup, creating a frustrating viewing experience that lacks emotional payoff.

Animation and Production

State-of-the-art animation techniques create the most visually impressive Smurf movie yet. Character expressions and environmental details show remarkable attention to craftsmanship.

Yet superior visuals cannot mask story problems. Beautiful animation becomes meaningless when characters lack clear motivations and compelling arcs to follow.

Classic Smurf designs get modern updates that mostly work well. The balance between tradition and contemporary style succeeds better than most other elements.

Reception and Reviews

Critics responded harshly with Rotten Tomatoes scores hovering around 20-25%. This continues the pattern of poor critical reception for modern Smurf adaptations.

Previous films in the franchise also struggled with reviewers, earning similarly low scores despite different approaches to the material and various creative teams.

Family audiences show mixed reactions depending on age groups. Very young children seem more forgiving, while older kids and adults find little to enjoy.

Some parents report that kids stopped laughing entirely during screenings. The humor feels forced and relies on references that don’t land with the target demographic.

My Overall Take

This Smurf revival misses the mark on multiple levels. While I appreciate the animation quality and some voice performances, the fundamental storytelling issues prove too significant to overlook.

The movie struggles with identity confusion, unsure whether to honor nostalgia or create something entirely new. This uncertainty shows in every creative decision throughout the production.

For parents considering this film, I’d suggest waiting for home video or streaming. The theater experience doesn’t justify the cost when superior family entertainment exists elsewhere.

Young children might enjoy the bright colors and familiar characters briefly. However, even they deserve better storytelling that respects their intelligence and emotional needs.

Rating: 2/5