Smurfs is up there as the worst movies I have seen this year! I thought that the first two live-action Smurfs movies were awesome. My son watched the first two live-action Smurfs movies (The Smurfs (2011) and The Smurfs 2 (2013)), along with the underrated Smurfs Christmas Carol, which is part of that universe, over and over again! Those movies were great family movies, sure, they were funny and had crude and slapstick humor for the kids, but they were movies that the parents and even the older siblings could have fun with too.
Where to Watch Smurfs
Smurfs was released on July 18, 2025. You can expect to be able to s stream the film from Paramount+ in several months a digital platform.
Smurfs 2025 Review: Why It Fails to Capture the Magic
I will admit, Smurfs was always going to have a tough time winning me over, and the main reason for that is James Corden. I just despise the schtick of James Corden, he is literally change the channel stuff for me, he is one of the most unlikable celebrities around, and he is pretty much the star of this movie. Even though he is just a voice, voicing the role of No Name Smurf, it actually made me not like this character, and just hearing his voice was like nails on a chalkboard for me, as I just saw this Smurf as James Corden!
Star-Studded Voice Cast in Smurfs 2025
The thing is, Smurfs, apart from James Corden, has an absolutely epic voice cast with many people that I like. John Goodman plays Papa Smurf, and we meet his brother, Ken, voiced by Nick Offerman, and they are both awesome. We also have Rhianna as Smurfette, and I think that she is super fun in this role, a kind of different, more badass Smurfette. There is also Xolo Mariduen, Sandra Oh, Kurt Russel, Amy Sedaris, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, and many more who are probably slipping my mind as I write this.
Smurfs 2025 Plot Summary
We find out that there was an evil organization of wizards that wanted to take over the world, and one of these is Razamel, the brother of Gargamel. There are four magic books, and if Razamel can get his hands on the final book, he can rule the world. This is the basics of the plot, Razamel trying to get his hands on the book, and of course, this brings us to the Smurfs.
There is a new Smurf called No Name Smurf, and he has magic powers, magic powers that reveal the location of Smurf Village, which leads to Papa Smurf and others being kidnapped. This leads No Name Smurf, Smurfette, and a few others to track down Papa Smurf’s brother, Ken, to try and get him back and stop Razamel from taking over the world. For a Smurfs movie, it is not a bad idea for a plot at all.
What Worked: Design and Side Characters
I liked how the Smurfs would go to different parts of the world, and the actual designs of the Smurfs were a lot of fun. The Poots, especially Mama Poot, were a ton of fun, and I am surprised that there is not more merch of these. Actually, as I write this, I just remembered that Mama Poot was voiced by Natasha Lyonne, and that is pretty damn awesome.
Final Thoughts on Smurfs 2025
At the end of the day, my severe dislike for James Corden probably does play into me really not liking this movie. However, I would argue that even if No Name Smurf was voiced by another actor, this would not have the same charm and heart that the other two live-action Smurfs movies have. I would not even bother watching this with your kids when it hits streaming! Just fire up the other Smurfs movies, even Smurfs: The Lost Village is way better than this!
