The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2011

52%

WISE Score

6.1

IMDb

Grouchy Smurf gets the full Dickens treatment in this paint-by-numbers Christmas Carol that's safe, predictable, and instantly forgettable.

6.1/10

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The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol

movie

G, 2011

52%

WISE Score

6.1

IMDb

Grouchy Smurf gets the full Dickens treatment in this paint-by-numbers Christmas Carol that's safe, predictable, and instantly forgettable.

6.1

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Screenwise Verdict

This is filler holiday content—the kind of thing that plays in the background while you're wrapping presents or making cookies. It's harmless, wholesome, and teaches a decent lesson about not being a grouch during the holidays.

But let's be real: it's a completely unimaginative retelling of A Christmas Carol with Smurfs swapped in. The 2011 animation feels dated, the story beats are paint-by-numbers, and the Letterboxd 2.7/5 rating tells you everything you need to know about its memorability.

If your young kid loves Smurfs and you need 22 minutes of safe holiday viewing, fine. But there are dozens of better Christmas specials out there—ones with actual creativity, better animation, or at least a fresh take on the material. This one's a shrug.

Age Fit

Best for ages 4-8 who are into the Smurfs or need a gentle holiday short. Common Sense Media's age 11 recommendation is baffling—this is clearly preschool-to-early-elementary material. Older kids will find it boring and derivative.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A straightforward retelling of Dickens' classic with Grouchy Smurf learning to appreciate Christmas and be kinder to others. Models redemption and the value of community without being preachy. The Smurfs universe is inherently wholesome—cooperative village life, helping each other—though this particular short doesn't break new ground emotionally.

Imaginative

It's a direct adaptation of A Christmas Carol transplanted into the Smurf universe—predictable beats, familiar ghosts, no real surprises. The Smurfs setting adds some visual charm (mushroom houses, blue characters), but there's zero originality here. Kids who've seen any Christmas Carol variant will know exactly where this is going. Doesn't invite creative thinking or exploration, just retells a well-worn story.

Safe

Very safe for young viewers. IMDb parents guide shows no concerning content in any category. Christmas Carol adaptations can sometimes have mildly spooky ghost moments, but in Smurf form these are softened considerably. No violence, no inappropriate content, no surprises that would upset a young child. Common Sense Media age of 11 seems overly cautious—this is gentler than most holiday fare.

Enriching

The Christmas Carol framework delivers a clear moral lesson about generosity, kindness, and appreciating what you have. That's solid ethical territory. But it's a 22-minute short that doesn't add depth or nuance to the source material. Kids might absorb the 'be nice at Christmas' message, but they won't gain much beyond that. Entertaining enough for a holiday watch, but not particularly memorable or thought-provoking.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Completely safe for young kids—no scares, no edge, just blue creatures learning to be nice
Short 22-minute runtime means low commitment if you need a quick holiday distraction
The Christmas Carol redemption arc is a solid moral framework about kindness and gratitude
Smurfs village aesthetic has a cozy, storybook charm that works for the holidays

⚠

What to Watch For

Zero originality—if your kid has seen any Christmas Carol adaptation, they've seen this
2011 CGI hasn't aged particularly well; feels dated compared to modern animation
Common Sense Media's age 11 rating seems way off—this is clearly aimed at much younger kids
So forgettable it might not even register as a 'watch' afterward

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Grouchy was so mean to everyone at the beginning?"
"If the ghosts visited you, what would they show you about how you treat your friends?"
"What's something you're grateful for this holiday season?"
"Have you seen other versions of A Christmas Carol? How was this one different?"

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