The Smurfs on Canal Plus: what is Chris Miller’s film worth? (critical)
The director of Puss in Boots is at the helm of this family comedy playing with different styles of animation but sorely lacking in inventiveness in its gags.
The new film The Smurfs arrives this Friday evening on Canal Plus (and streaming on MyCanal). But Chris Miller (the director of Shrek 3 and Puss in Boots, not to be confused with Phil Lord’s sidekick) did not really succeed in relaunching the saga, with this opus which was a dismal failure at the box office. Is it still worth it to see it with the family? Our review:
“La la la smurf la la, come and smurf in your heart…” In the depths of an enchanted forest, mushroom houses of all colors, pretty flowers and… a string of little blue men are piled up. No doubt, we are well ahead of the Smurfs. To a pop tune performed by Rihanna, the little men gesticulate in a heartbeat and smurf a remarkable dance show for us.
More seriously, still in the vein of a rather lucrative franchise, the Papa Smurf gang is back with a new opus, The Smurfs – The movie. Imagined by the director of Puss in Boots, Chris Miller, this animated family comedy follows the incredible adventures of this entire small village populated by blue men. This time, it is their leader, the famous Papa Smurf, who is in danger, savagely captured by the evil brothers who no longer need to be introduced – Razamel and Gargamel -. Nameless Smurf and Smurfette fly to his rescue and quickly, dark secrets are revealed and the two budding adventurers will have to save much more than their leader: all the goodness of the universe is threatened by the great organization of evil wizards (and yes, just that).
Of Belgian origin, the comic strip “The Smurfs” has rocked the childhood of several generations. Born under the pencil of Peyo in 1958, the adventures of these little blue people fueled 42 volumes before making their way to the cinema and multiplying the adaptations on the big screen. After choosing 3D animation in the previous opus, the Smurfs reconnect with their origins thanks to 2D, closer to comics. However, we understand that Chris Miller wants to bring his touch of modernity. Unfortunately, this materializes in a reductive vision of the new generation, repeatedly recycled and tirelessly confined to the use of new technologies or the promotion of social networks. TikTok choreography, video call, an influencer Smurf, DJ Snake in a nightclub: everything is there to quickly tip into a clumsy caricature while, at the same time, the mentality of Papa Smurf and his friends has not changed a bit. And this, despite the presence of a Nameless Smurf who ultimately takes a back seat throughout the plot, nipping in the bud a promising idea for exploring the relationship to identity.
On the humor side, we are witnessing an accumulation of repetitive and therefore not very inventive gags. Only the noisemaker Smurf manages to seduce and bring a comic note that works. But to bring Papa Smurf back safe and sound and try to save the magic grimoire, the gang of little blue elves embark on an incredible adventure which, by dint of taking all directions, loses us along the way. With a trip to Paris and then into space, the landscapes pass by at a thousand miles an hour, punctuated by pop music, transforming the overall story into a fairly indigestible proposition that is difficult to appreciate.
Despite its many flaws, The Smurfs – The Movie offers the opportunity to appreciate the nostalgia provided by the sublime colors of the mushroom village, faithful to the comic strip. Chris Miller goes even further in this area: he pays homage to the history of animation thanks to a succession of worlds inspired by all dimensions. The Smurfs chased by Razamel venture into the different sub-genres of animation: plasticine, stop-motion, animated…, creating a beautiful visual fresco that amazes us. A nod that extends to Marvel comics with the appearance of a Smurf with blond hair whose uncanny resemblance to Thor cannot be denied. Without forgetting the inseparable moral of the adventures of the blue men, which once again delivers a message of hope on the values of friendship and the symbolism of community, with a nice conclusion – a little corny but always welcome – “Unity makes Smurf”.
By Chris Miller. With the voices (in French) of Jérôme Commandeur, Sofia Essaïdi, François Damiens… Duration: 1h32. Released July 16, 2025
