At The Movies: Safe Smurfs balances adult appeal with wholesome brand values
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(From left) Ken (Nick Offerman), Hefty Smurf (Alex Winter), Smurfette (Rihanna), No Name (James Corden), and Brainy Smurf (Xolo Mariduena) in Smurfs.
PHOTO: UIP
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Smurfs (PG13)
92 minutes, opens July 17
★★★☆☆
The story: A century ago, evil wizards took hold of a set of books containing powerful magic spells. Only one sentient book, Jaunty Grimoire (voiced by Amy Sedaris), has been left uncaptured, but brothers Razamel and Gargamel (JP Karliak) have not given up searching for it. Meanwhile, in the Smurf village, Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is helping No Name (James Corden) find his gift, so he can at last have a name and identity, like Worry Smurf (Billie Lourd) and Vanity Smurf (Maya Erskine). An adventure kicks off when Smurfette (Rihanna) leads a rescue team to find a kidnapped Papa Smurf.
If one keeps trying to launch a film franchise but keeps failing, then you might just be a Bad Luck Smurf or maybe a Stubborn Smurf, because in the 2000s, there were three tries at feature films about the blue creatures.
The Smurfs (2011), which mixed animation with live action, struck gold at the box office, but the follow-up, The Smurfs 2 (2013), flopped, as did the first reboot, Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017).
Since the comics characters were launched in 1958 by Belgian artist Peyo, the Smurfs cartoons for young children have relied on a set of ideas that have made the brand a global success. The tone is wholesome, the jokes are simple and the action is set mostly in the Smurf village, a spot inhabited by an extended family watched over by the perfect father figure, the wise Papa Smurf.
(From left) Papa Smurf (John Goodman), No Name (James Corden) and Smurfette (Rihanna) in Smurfs.
PHOTO: UIP
That trademark gentleness forces film-makers to carefully calibrate the amount of snark, intense action and pop culture references they can stuff into the stories – too much, and it stops being a Smurfs film.
It quickly becomes apparent that director Chris Miller (Puss In Boots, 2011; Shrek The Third, 2007) wants to make this movie one that adults can enjoy.
He holds several aces, the main one being the inclusion of global pop star Rihanna, who voices Smurfette and performs songs composed for the film.
The Barbadian singer has a hefty role: Besides roping in fellow recording artistes Cardi B, DJ Khaled and others to contribute vocals, her Smurfette is the story’s heroine, sending the message that the only female Smurf in the village is also the bravest.
In case Rihanna is not enough of an audience draw, she is backed by a supporting cast packed with award winners, including Sedaris, Nick Offerman, Dan Levy, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh and Octavia Spencer.
Does this belt-and-braces approach to star power work? Yes. These actors are confident and relaxed enough in their delivery that they disappear into their roles.
The songs are solid but forgettable. The graphics style is traditional and does not call attention to itself, just enhanced with extra pops of colour.
The result is a cautious update that tries to appeal to all ages without putting the quaint values of the Smurfs brand at risk.
Hot take: A partially successful Smurfs reboot that plays it safe with star power and wholesome values.
