The latest Smurf just adds to the current cinematic chaos of multiverse while trying to blend the animated world and reality. It doesn’t add much to the characters of its own universe nor does it add any mystery to their own world. The film attempts to kick off a new franchise while disregarding the lore that had been build around Smurfs for years. The earlier films in its own franchise at least focused on sharing lessons and teach something to the new audience, this one does nothing amid the noise of bright colors, shiny magic spells and portals.
Smurfs 2025, beings with the story of a no-name Smurf, who has been looking for something to be named after. Despite trying many hobbies or emotional, behavioral traits, he still can’t find his own thing. After he wishes and wishes for it, he manages to start using magic due to an ancient book of spells being hidden in the Smurf village. The first spell no name uses, manages to reveal the hidden village’s location and Papa Smurf gets kidnapped by an unknown villain.
For the rest of the short runtime, the Smurfs explore different countries, dimensions and travel through number of portals in reality to find Papa Smurf. The most unusual the film has to offer to its audience is an office conference room in the middle of nowhere aka space background. The film introduces new lore for Smurfs as fighters and warriors, but in turns takes away the lore that was build all these years. The most the film does is opens the door for more spin offs and possibilities of other kind of Smurfs around the world.
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The musical banks on Smurfette aka Rihanna’s singing voice to keep the older audience engaged, but neither the music nor the songs-lyrics keep you hooked. The film out and out is for kids but does not add anything more available to watch other than the distracting pretty colors. Despite the one liner plot of the film, there isn’t much to follow through on. The most unusual and unique part of the action in the film would be the group driving an old car with the use of magic and their own tiny bodies, which has been re-created in the past by many other franchises.
The makers have used a mix of 2D and 3D animation which looks fun but hasn’t been used to its best. An entire sequence in the film just shows the group running from the villain in different dimensions that looks like different styles or artwork, which was last seen in Inside Out. Talking about villains, there is nothing ever explained about them either. Just calling them villains and saying they will bring the end of the world has been standard for children film’s but it isn’t enough.
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On the other hand, the music is highly techno and electric, which may not be the right choice for a kids’ film. Despite its several attempt as situational comedy or otherwise, the film only gets one or two laughs in. 2025 Smurf is highly skippable.
Cover artwork by Patrick Gawande/Mashable India
