The Smurfs 2 Movie Review

By: Lynn Barker

Are you a kid, tween or teen trying to figure out where you belong in the big world? So is Smurfette in this new adventure. Will she expand her family…or lose the one she’s got?

Good or Evil Smurfette?

It’s Smurfette’s (voice of Katy Perry) birthday and every year she has a nightmare about turning evil. Seems her creator/dad is really evil wizard Gargamel (voice of Hank Azaria). She was only adopted and raised by Papa Smurf (Jonathan Winters). Depressed because she thinks her Smurf family has forgotten her birthday, Smurfette is kidnapped by Vexy (Christina Ricci) a “Naughty” created and sent by Gargamel to grab Smurfette so he can make her reveal the secret of Smurf “essence” that will enable him to rule the world.

Smurfette's birthday celebration

To the Rescue

Using magic crystals, it’s Papa to the rescue with Clumsy (Anton Yelchin), Grouchy (George Lopez) and Vanity (John Oliver) along (by mistake) as they hunt down Gargamel, now a famous showman/magician in Paris. 

Vanity, Grouchy and Papa to the rescue

It’s Fun to be Bad

Meanwhile, Smurfette is starting to bond with her “sister” Vexy and “brother”, the dim-witted but friendly Hackus (JB Smoove). Their antics are actually fun for her. Does she truly belong here in Paris with her new “family”?

Smurfette's bro Hackus

Human Help

Papa needs the help of old human pals Patrick (Neil Patrick Harris) and Grace (Jayma Mays) Winslow who now have a young son Blue and are being visited by Patrick’s estranged step-dad Victor (Brendan Gleeson). After Victor gets over the fact that tiny blue people exist, he wants to help as well and the entire family spies, infiltrates etc. all over Paris to get Smurfette back. For a while, poor Victor is a duck…. Don’t ask.. it’s a Gargamel spell thing.

Smurfs arrive at Patrick and Grace's place

Has She Gone to the “Dark Side”?

Gargamel decides to try friendly, loving bribes to get the essence formula from Smurfette; this includes a cool birthday cake and her own magic wand! When her new bro and sis start dying from lack of essence, she gives Gargamel the formula to save them. Gargamel no longer needs his “children” so he sticks them and other captured Smurfs into his essence extracting machine. Yikes!

Smurfette tries out her new wand

Family’s Final Rescue

Patrick and Victor manage to break in, break the machine and free the trapped Smurfs, releasing the friendly, blue “Smurf essence” all over Paris. The freed Smurfette uses her new wand against Gargamel and to get the Smurfs plus her new bro and sis back home to their village where a huge, rockin’ birthday party is thrown in celebration.

Vexy and Hackus in Paris

Wrapping Up

The Smurfs 2 is maybe more for younger kids but can be amusing for some teens and adults with its few funny, zingy one-liners and beautiful and appealing Paris locations. Effects are quite impressive, especially a cool giant Ferris wheel breaking free and rolling all over the “City of Lights”.  

Hank Azaria (Gargamel), Neil Patrick Harris and Katy Perry at Smurf event

I found prissy Vanity Smurf (John Oliver) to be worth a chuckle and “evil” Hackus (voiced by JB Smoove) is endearingly dim and clueless. I really enjoyed the introduction of more modern and edgy “Naughty” Vexy, voiced by Christina Ricci. She’s actually cooler than her sis Smurfette.  

The film’s message is laid on kind of thick but it’s a nice one. Family is important no matter what shape it takes and you can choose your road in life; for good or evil.  I’m not thrilled with the way Gargamel’s cat Azael is treated. A few impressionable younger kids might think they can toss and harm their own pets with no result if they watch what the (mostly computer-generated) kitty goes through for the sake of humor.

Jayma and Neil at the premiere

Overall, The Smurfs 2 is great to look at, has a nice adventuresome storyline and should be entertaining, especially to younger kids. We go 3 stars.

​The Smurfs 2 Movie Rating:

Smurfs 2 poster

Watch the The Smurfs 2 Trailer below!