The Smurfs – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Smurfs

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2011

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Tiny blue creatures meet Big Apple cynicism in this critically-panned 2011 cash-grab that your kids will tolerate but nobody will remember.

21%

5.8

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The Smurfs

movie

PG, 2011

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Tiny blue creatures meet Big Apple cynicism in this critically-panned 2011 cash-grab that your kids will tolerate but nobody will remember.

21%

5.8

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21%

5.8

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this movie exists. That's about the nicest thing I can say about it.

The 2011 Smurfs is what happens when a studio looks at a beloved IP and thinks 'how can we make this as commercial and generic as possible?' You get Neil Patrick Harris looking confused in front of a green screen, CGI Smurfs spouting catchphrases, and a plot so predictable you could set your watch by it.

The universal critical drubbing (21% on Rotten Tomatoes, 30 on Metacritic) isn't critics being snobby—it's because this is genuinely uninspired filmmaking. It's safe and won't traumatize your kids, but it also won't enrich them, challenge them, or even really entertain them beyond the most basic 'things are moving on screen' level.

If your 6-year-old is begging to watch it because they saw it on Netflix, fine—it won't hurt them. But you have so many better options. This is the movie equivalent of gas station candy: technically edible, but why would you choose it when literally anything else is available?

Age Fit

Best for kids 5-8 who aren't yet discerning about film quality and just want colorful characters running around. Older kids and adults will find it grating, and there are dozens of better family films worth your time.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The Smurfs themselves model cooperation and teamwork, and the core message about family and helping each other is solid. However, the live-action/CGI hybrid format creates a chaotic, frenetic energy that undermines the wholesome pacing. Slapstick humor and some mild crude jokes (bathroom humor, pratfalls) keep it from being fully emotionally healthy viewing. The fish-out-of-water setup does create some heartwarming moments between the Smurfs and their human helpers.

Imaginative

While the original Smurfs concept has imaginative roots (tiny blue creatures in a magical village), this 2011 adaptation leans heavily on formulaic fish-out-of-water tropes and product placement in New York City. The magical world is barely explored before we're stuck in generic Manhattan settings. There's minimal invitation for creative thinking—it's mostly chase scenes and predictable plot beats. The CGI Smurfs in real-world settings feels more like a gimmick than genuine imagination.

Safe

No major safety concerns for the target demographic. Gargamel is a cartoonish villain with no genuinely scary moments, violence is slapstick and bloodless, and there's no inappropriate content. Common Sense Media rates it for age 6, which aligns with the mild peril and some bathroom humor. The main safety deduction comes from the chaotic, overstimulating visual style that can be exhausting rather than any content concerns.

Enriching

Minimal enrichment value. The themes of teamwork and family are surface-level at best, delivered through predictable plot mechanics. There's no real skill-building, limited emotional depth, and the humor is mostly physical comedy and pop culture references that haven't aged well. The movie prioritizes spectacle and merchandising over any meaningful takeaways. Kids won't learn much or gain new perspectives—it's pure distraction entertainment, and not particularly clever distraction at that.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Harmless viewing for young kids (6+) who aren't picky about quality—no scary content or inappropriate material
The Smurfs themselves are still inherently cute and the cooperation themes are present, even if poorly executed
Short enough (103 min) that it won't feel eternal, and Hank Azaria commits fully to the ridiculous Gargamel role
If your kid is already into Smurfs from other media, they might enjoy seeing the characters in a different format

⚠

What to Watch For

This is loud, chaotic, and visually overstimulating—think sensory overload rather than thoughtful storytelling
Tons of product placement and the whole thing feels like an extended toy commercial
The humor is dated (2011 pop culture references, mild bathroom jokes) and won't land with modern kids or adults
Critics universally panned it (21% on RT) for good reason—it's a cynical franchise play, not a passion project

Conversation Starters

"What would you do if you suddenly ended up in a totally different place like the Smurfs did?"
"The Smurfs had to work together to solve their problem—when have you had to work with friends or family to fix something?"
"Gargamel really wanted to catch the Smurfs. Why do you think he was so obsessed with them?"

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