“The Smurfs 2” is a sequel that wants to be bigger, louder, and funnier than its predecessor. It fails on nearly every count. The 2013 fantasy comedy, directed by Raja Gosnell and written by J. David Stem, David N. Weiss, Jay Scherick, David Ronn, and Karey Kirkpatrick, tries to remake the franchise with a new villain, a new city, and a new emotional arc for Smurfette. None of it lands.
The setup is simple. Gargamel, the evil wizard, creates two mischievous Smurf-like creatures called the Naughties — Vexy and Hackus — hoping they can help him harness the magical essence that powers his spells. When he realizes only a real Smurf can give him what he wants, he kidnaps Smurfette and brings her to Paris, where he has been winning the adoration of millions as the world’s greatest sorcerer. That forces Papa, Clumsy, Grouchy, and Vanity to return to our world, reunite with their human friends Patrick and Grace Winslow, and rescue her.
Trailer, via Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Smurfette’s Uncertainty
The film’s biggest failure is its central idea: that Smurfette, who has always felt different from the other Smurfs, might find a new connection with the Naughties. This is meant to be a tender arc about belonging. Instead, it plays as a forced twist that doesn’t earn its weight. The movie spends real runtime building up the tension between Smurfette and the Naughties, only to resolve it with a shrug.
A Voice That Doesn’t Belong
Katy Perry voices Smurfette, and her performance is the one bright spot. She brings warmth and wit to the role, even when the script around her is weak. Hank Azaria returns as Gargamel, and he commits fully to the scenery-chewing villain role. Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays anchor the human side of the story, but they’re mostly stuck delivering exposition while the Smurfs run around.
Brendan Gleeson joins the cast as Victor Doyle, Patrick’s stepfather. His presence adds a layer of family tension that the film barely explores. Jacob Tremblay plays Blue Winslow, the son of Patrick and Grace. The child actor holds his own in a small role, but he’s given little to do beyond being cute.
The Cast of One Hundred
The supporting cast is enormous. It includes Jonathan Winters as Papa Smurf, George Lopez as Grouchy, Anton Yelchin as Clumsy, John Oliver as Vanity, and a parade of celebrity voices playing individual Smurfs: Fred Armisen, Jeff Foxworthy, Alan Cumming, Gary Basaraba, Adam Wylie, Joel McCrary, Kenan Thompson, Kevin Lee, Paul Reubens, Shaquille O’Neal, B. J. Novak, Jimmy Kimmel, Shaun White, Mario Lopez, John Kassir, Tom Kane, Frank Welker, Nancy O’Dell, Karim Babin, Gaston Morrison, Jocelyn Blanchard, Erika Rosenbaum, and Carolina Bartczak. That’s a lot of names for a film that barely knows what to do with them.
What Went Wrong
The film’s problems are structural, and they can be ranked:
- The central premise — Smurfette finding a new connection with the Naughties — is forced and never earns its weight.
- The supporting cast is so large that the film loses focus, with dozens of actors given little to do.
- The action sequences and musical numbers are thin, unfunny, and poorly executed.
- The film’s tone shifts constantly, moving from comedy to drama to action without ever landing.
The result is a movie that feels scattered and unfinished. It’s a bloated, unfunny mess that wastes a talented voice cast and a beloved property.
The Numbers
- Runtime: 105 minutes
- Genres: Fantasy, Family, Comedy, Animation
- Tagline: “Get ready to get naughty!”
- Gross: $347.5 million
- Budget: $105 million
The film was released theatrically on July 31, 2013, by Sony Pictures Releasing. It followed the 2011 original, which introduced the live-action/animated hybrid format. That first film worked because it was modest and charming. “The Smurfs 2” is neither. It’s a bloated, unfunny mess that wastes a talented voice cast and a beloved property.
The movie’s failure is structural. It tries to do too much — action sequences, musical numbers, slapstick comedy — and none of it gels. The plot is thin, the jokes land rarely, and the emotional payoff feels hollow. The Naughties are supposed to be the villains, but they’re so dim and cartoonish that they barely register as threats. The film is trying to be a blockbuster, but it lacks the discipline and focus of a good one.
“The Smurfs 2” is a disappointment. It squanders goodwill built over decades of comics and cartoons. The film is best forgotten, and the series moved on to a fully animated reboot, “Smurfs: The Lost Village,” released on April 7, 2017, directed by Kelly Asbury. That reboot was a fresh start. This one was a stumble.
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