Smurfs

I can still see myself on a Saturday morning, bowl of cereal in hand, watching cartoons. With only three channels, you had some options, but the go-to move was to pick one and just absorb all the cartoons it had to offer. That’s how I ended up watching The Smurfs, where I got to know Papa, Brainy, Smurfette—and of course, that unforgettable humming theme song (yeah, you know the one).

Now, after three movies, we’re heading back for another Smurf adventure, where once again, our little blue friends must do battle with an evil wizard.

Smurf Village is pretty lively, as each Smurf has their role and place—well, all except one. That little guy’s name is appropriately No Name (voiced by James Corden), as he has yet to find his calling. Just when he’s about to figure it out, chaos ensues. Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is kidnapped after No Name accidentally opens a portal that exposes Smurf Village.

Never one to sit around, Smurfette (Rihanna), No Name, and a few other Smurfs set off on a journey. Their goal? Find someone named Ken (Nick Offerman), the last word Papa uttered before vanishing. When they find Ken, they uncover the true purpose of being a Smurf: protecting the magic. A group of evil wizards wants to steal all the good from the world, and the Smurfs, now joined by Ken, set off to save Papa. Along the way, they meet new friends, break into song, and ride a wave of high-energy fun.

Written by Pam Brady (based on characters created by Peyo), Smurfs will have longtime fans humming the theme song in no time. Brady, who previously co-wrote South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut and Team America: World Police, doesn’t bring that sharper, adult-skewing humor here. Instead, she plays it safe—some gags miss the mark—but she balances heart, action, and laughs effectively and really nails the film’s third act. The script feels grounded, fully aware of its own silliness, and even throws in a few self-aware winks at the universe it lives in.

Smurfs isn’t anything groundbreaking, but it delivers a strong, positive message about community and identity—all while feeling like you just chugged two Mountain Dews. These aren’t my Smurfs, who mostly spent their time avoiding Gargamel and his cat Azrael. This is a dance party now—which honestly feels right when Smurfette is voiced by Rihanna. So when the songs break out (and they do), you’re not surprised.

The rest of the cast is great, with voices from Dan Levy, Natasha Lyonne, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, and Kurt Russell. Together, they help deliver a fun and watchable film. Where it falters is in trying to pack in too much. The plot is a bit overstuffed—almost bursting at the seams—which may be overwhelming for younger viewers to follow.

Visually, though, Smurfs shines. The facial animations are impressively detailed, and the overall warmth of the film evokes the feeling of classic Saturday morning cartoons. Add in a bumping soundtrack that’ll have you tapping your feet, and Smurfs does just enough. It may not be the bold reinvention some were hoping for, but it feels like a step in the right direction. And honestly? That’s smurf enough for me.