Labubu collaborates with Godiva to launch limited-edition Dubai chocolate treats
For those who couldn't fend off scalpers to snag the latest Labubu series at PopMart, you'll be delighted to know that Belgian premium chocolatier Godiva has collaborated with this mega-popular franchise to launch the Icy Delights Collection, featuring the cheeky creatures as the stars of the show.
This collaboration includes three indulgent soft serve flavours and two creamy milkshakes, all inspired by Dubai chocolate – yet another viral sensation that Hongkongers can't get enough of. Sip on the milk or dark chocolate shakes ($59 each), or dig into the velvety soft serves ($75 each), available in dark chocolate, vanilla white chocolate, and chocolate twist. Each sweet treat is generously topped with dried mixed berries and crispy pistachio-flavoured kunafa, and comes in limited edition Labubu 3D packaging. Plus, the soft serves include a limited-edition stainless steel Labubu ice cream spoon, which is sure to add a touch of playfulness with each scoop.
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Glasgow Times
18 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Vegan Festival set to return to Glasgow this October
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Metro
a day ago
- Metro
'Worst film ever' ripped apart by critics in one-star reviews
A movie freshly released into cinemas on Friday, ready to take advantage of summer blockbuster audiences, has been savaged by critics as one of the worst films they've ever seen. The family film has attracted a wave of one-star reviews deriding it as 'punishing', 'painfully sentimental' and 'kryptonite to comedy and entertainment'. Smurfs, which has rested most of most of its marketing on solely on music superstar and billionaire entrepreneur Rihanna's involvement, has been in cinemas worldwide for less than two full days. And while fan reaction has started to trickle in during opening weekend with a seemingly pretty positive marker of 64% on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, professional critics have been far less kind, putting it at 21%. And those who hated Smurfs, really, really hated it, with several outlets awarding it the lowest rating possible. This is despite Paramount Pictures best efforts, casting Rihanna as Smurfette and backing her up with a star-studded wealth of vocal talent from the likes of John Goodman, Nick Offerman, Kurt Russell, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Natasha Lyonne, Jimmy Kimmel, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham and James Corden. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Based on the Belgian comic book series created in 1958, this is the characters' sixth feature-length film, billed as a musical fantasy comedy and following a Smurf in the village called No Name (Corden) as he has an identity crisis over his hopes to become a magician – before disaster, in multiple dimensions, ensues as Papa Smurf (Goodman) is kidnapped. 'One of the worst films I've ever seen,' The Telegraph's Robbie Collin declared in his one-star review, where he also called it 'a colossal pile of 'Smurf'' and asked: 'Will it keep the kids quiet for an hour and a half? Probably not, though it is loud enough that you won't be able to hear them complain.' Johnny Oleksinski for The New York Post was even less impressed, awarding the film zero out of four stars according to Rotten Tomatoes and confidently describing it as 'one of the worst movies you'll see all year'. 'I have just endured a film in which an army of little creatures cruelly tortures humans. No, not Gremlins. That's a good movie. It was Smurfs. And the punished human was me. I Smurf-ing loathed it,' he griped. Discussing the film's music, which includes an original song from Rihanna, Friend of Mine, he added: 'The interminable dirge boasts such inspired lyrics as 'Does happy ever after really ever happen?'. Answer: Not for anyone unlucky enough to have bought a ticket to Smurfs.' In Empire's one-star review John Nugent described Smurfs as 'a tedious series, with more than a whiff of corporate mandate about it' and also questioned if any fans of the Smurfs actually still existed. For The Times, another one-starrer, Kevin Maher sounded beyond fed up as he called Smurfs 'profoundly, oppressively empty' and added: 'There's no reason to see it.' 'This Smurfs might just be the worst of the lot, because it's simultaneously derivative and so crammed with new Smurfs lore that it may make you yearn for the comparatively humble hijinks of Marvel's multiverse,' complained The Independent's Clarisse Loughrey in what was – you guessed it -yet another minimum-marks review. While The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw might have been a smidgen more generous by awarding the animated flick two stars, he sounded equally unimpressed in his comments about the 'laborious slice of content'. 'For me, this film shows yet again that there is something about the Smurfs, those little Belgian creatures with blue skin and floppy-protuberant hats, which is basically kryptonite to comedy and entertainment,' he wrote. Film Authority's review had an imaginative way of describing its (1/5) displeasure with the film, sniping: 'Chris Miller's Smurfs literally smurfs its pants over and over again, it's lazy, derivative and painfully sentimental.' Produced for a reported budget of $58million (£43.2m) before marketing costs, its opening weekend is set for a distinctly underwhelming $12m (£8.9m), according to Deadline. Discussing his collaboration with Rihanna for the movie, director Chris Miller told Metro she was 'invaluable'. Alongside her 'great' vocal performance, Miller revealed they were 'hyper focused' with the 37-year-old star on bringing a new look to Smurfette. 'We spent a long time – about a year, actually – even going through different hair styles and even slight subtle costume changes and little things. More Trending 'We really, really, really pushed it to places that it was like, 'We can't, this is not going to happen.' We went almost full circle back to those original Peyo designs with some slight modifications, and felt really good about it. 'With Rihanna, it's like showing her art and really just getting her to react. She was invaluable in that way.' Smurfs is in cinemas now. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: I Know What You Did Last Summer star left sobbing over original actor's 'iconic' return MORE: Clueless director blasts 'nonsense' incest plot complaints 30 years after release MORE: Star of 90s horror reboot wanted to go 'all gas' on gore in new film
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Experts issues warning to singletons who collect Labubus - as it could suggest a personality trait that is seen as a 'red flag' to potential dates
Singletons who collect Labubus could be putting off potential dates, according to a relationship expert. The sharp-toothed grinning toys, which have sparked a craze among Gen Z consumers, were inspired by the illustrated book series The Monsters, created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, in which Labubus are a tribe of female elves. They became the must-have item for thousands of young adults and teens after Lung partnered with Chinese toy company POP MART in 2019, producing toys based on his creations. And some people have reportedly spent thousands on the collectibles, with others queuing for hours in order to try and get their hands on a new Labubu. But singletons who collect the items could could see their dating pool shrink, as some people - particularly men - are reportedly put off by the trinkets. Relationship expert Dr Mindy DeSeta, of the Hily Dating app, told Vice there could be a number of reasons why - from seeing the figures as 'immature' to questioning the money management of those who collect them. Speaking about the issue of the maturity, she told the outlet that Labubus 'are often misunderstood and quickly labeled as "dolls".' This, she continued, can make people subconsciously question the 'maturity and life priorities' of people who collect them. Dr DeSeta added that when dating, first impressions are 'powerful', and accessories like Labubus can send signals about who a person is, whether they intend to send those signals or not. Men in particular are likely to be put off by Labubus, she noted, even if subconsciously so, therefore 'anything that hints at immaturity can become a subtle red flag'. Another judgement daters may make about those who collects the items is that they are easily influenced, according to the expert. As Labubus have become a 'viral craze' due to TikTok and celebrity endorsement, a date may 'wonder if you make choices based on trends rather than your own values', Dr DeSeta said. This could subsequently lead them to question the Labubu fan's authenticity, prompting them to wonder whether someone who collects the dolls will 'jump on every bandwagon that comes along'. Moving onto another point, Dr DeSeta noted the cost of Labubus - which can spiral into the hundreds if not thousands, as they can be highly collectible. Because they sell out so quickly, people will often resell them for inflated prices, with some fans even paying to just rent a Labubu. As financial habits are a big deal when dating - even in the early stages - the expert said that spending significant amounts of money on the collectable keychains could suggest that a person might be 'financially impulsive or irresponsible'. If a dater is prudent when it comes to budgeting, and they question whether a Labubu collector is wise when it comes to money management, this could put them off pursuing the relationship further. Another issue raised by the expert is that while collecting the items is often a 'sweet, quirky passion', it could come across as 'a sign of superficiality'. 'Many collectors love flaunting their rare finds and pairing them with designer outfits to show off their Labubus,' Dr DeSeta said, adding that while this can be 'fun', it may come off as 'superficial' or 'high maintenance' to some. This could then result in a date questioning whether the Labubu lover is 'relationship material or just someone who needs to be constantly impressed', she added. Her final point was that those who collects the keychains are likely to invest both time and energy into getting their hands on the sought-after items. Because restocks can sell out within minutes - or even seconds - securing one means buyers have to be organised and strategic, organising their schedule that day around the time and location of the restock. Dr DeSeta said that if 'your date finds out you spent hours waiting in line or obsessively refreshing websites for a blind box, they might be put off'. In addition, she noted, if someone dedicates such significant amounts of effort to following a trend, this could 'raise questions about your priorities and emotional availability'. It comes after a psychologist warned that owning Labubus could be a sign of deeper emotional struggles. While the trend may seem harmless, it has raised eyebrows among mental health professionals - particularly as some fans admit to spending hundreds, even thousands, on the items. From unboxing videos to elaborate displays, fans of the quirky creatures say they're a cute collectable item, but experts say there might be more going on under the surface. Chartered clinical psychologist Tracy King, who has been tracking the rise of 'trinket culture' among younger generations claims it is a 'response to burnout and disconnection.' King described the Labubu toy craze not as a 'shallow trend', but as a 'psychological response' to the unpredictable climate Gen Z are growing up in. Speaking to Tyla, she explained: 'On the surface, they're fun and whimsical. But psychologically, they're deeply symbolic: these objects offer small, accessible moments of comfort, control, and identity in an unpredictable world.' She claimed Gen Z don't have the same financial security as past generations with home ownership on the decline - leaving many young people feeling out of control. However, collectibles are 'something you can control'. The psychologist went on to explain how, while previous generations were largely saving for mortgages and pensions, Gen Z are instead 'investing in now'. Dr King said: 'They've watched global crises unravel with pandemics, recessions, the climate emergency - so the big life goals that guided previous generations often feel out of reach. She clarified that they are not collecting the toys 'out of immaturity' but instead as a 'form of emotional repair', adding: 'These soft, playful objects evoke feelings of safety, care, and nostalgia, things that might've been missing or cut short in early life. This is inner child work in action.'
