Latest news with #PussinBoots
Gulf Weekly
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gulf Weekly
Smart Smurfs on a mission
Animated comedy Smurfs is out now in theatres. Based on the 1958 Belgian comic series by Peyo, the film tackles the kidnapping of Papa Smurf (John Goodman) by evil wizards Gargamel and Razamel (both voiced by JP Karliak), which causes Smurfette (Rihanna) to lead the Smurfs on a mission, away from the safe confines of the Smurf village and onto the real world to save their leader, as well as unravel their true purpose in the universe. In an interview, director Chris Miller expressed that he wanted to honour the original comics' DNA with the film series reboot, which is preceded by Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017). 'It was really important to approach the story like this was the first Smurfs movie that's been made, something that would stand on its own,' he said. 'We centred the story around a Smurf named No Name (voiced by James Corden) who does not yet have a clear identity or thing and is on a journey to discover it. 'That's something all of us can relate to, we all share this 'moment' in life where we don't know who we are or what we're meant to be. 'Sometimes the answer just comes to us and sometimes it takes longer, and patience is always easier said than done! That's what makes this story so relatable,' he added. Chris is also known for his contributions to the DreamWorks Animation hits Puss in Boots, the first three Shrek films and Madagascar among many others.
Irish Independent
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Smurfs review: Rihanna is Smurfette – but this shoddy musical reboot is among the laziest animations of the year
It's as if comic strip artist Pierre 'Peyo' Culliford's blue-skinned forest dwellers weren't designed for a big-screen feature-length movie. The format doesn't suit them – and this shoddy musical reboot ranks among the laziest animations of the year. Rihanna, would you believe, is a producer of this vacuous fantasy from director Chris Miller (Puss in Boots) and writer Pam Brady (Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken). The Barbadian superstar also lends her voice to Smurfette, the only female Smurf in the village, whose patience is severely tested after a mob of wicked wizards kidnap her beloved Papa Smurf (John Goodman). Business as usual, then. But we also have a Smurf with an identity crisis (James Corden's No Name Smurf), and a bizarre trip to the real world, where nothing much happens and nobody ever notices the tiny blue trespassers. Natasha Lyonne and Nick Offerman provide support, and they'll appreciate the pay packets, I'm sure. But this new-and-unimproved Smurfs movie shows very few signs of intelligent life.
The Age
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Does the new Smurfs movie find its thing?
SMURFS ★½ Rated G, 92 minutes Hollywood is so lavishly stocked with guys named Chris, it can be hard to keep up. I had assumed, until I checked, that Smurfs was the work of Christopher Miller, the co-director of The Lego Movie, though it seemed oddly conventional coming from a filmmaker who used to be known as a hip innovator in the field of family entertainment. As it turns out, this reboot is by his fellow animator Chris Miller, who brought us Shrek the Third and Puss in Boots – although both do wacky fantasy lands, pop culture shoutouts and hero's journeys, so the difference is only a matter of degree. There's less risk of getting confused about the Smurfs, small blue creatures who live in a woodland village and possess one notable trait apiece, sometimes represented by a signature prop: Brainy Smurf, voiced by Xolo Mariduena, wears glasses, Vanity Smurf (Maya Erskine) carries a mirror, and so on. These markers aside, they all look identical, except for Papa Smurf (John Goodman), who has a beard and wears a red cap rather than a white one, and the blonde-haired Smurfette (Rihanna), by tradition the only female Smurf, sculpted out of clay by the evil wizard Gargamel (J.P. Karliak), who intended her as a femme fatale to lure the other Smurfs into captivity. This bizarre but long-standing origin story is more or less the only interesting thing about the Smurfs, and was central to Smurfs: The Lost Village, their last big-screen vehicle in 2017 (in that one Smurfette was voiced by Demi Lovato; before that she was Katy Perry). In this latest reboot we appear to have regressed: the focus is on the brand-new character of No-Name Smurf (James Corden) who hasn't found the 'thing' that would let him stand out from the crowd. Smurfette's 'thing,' essentially, is being a girl, which is a tricky matter and always has been, although in her current incarnation she's also meant to be tough and strong, meaning she's resolved her own identity issues and can spend her time reassuring the protagonist that being a total blank doesn't make him any less terrific.
Sydney Morning Herald
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Smurfs movie review: All-star cast and a few good jokes
SMURFS★½ Rated G, 92 minutes Hollywood is so lavishly stocked with guys named Chris, it can be hard to keep up. I had assumed, until I checked, that Smurfs was the work of Christopher Miller, the co-director of The Lego Movie , though it seemed oddly conventional coming from a filmmaker who used to be known as a hip innovator in the field of family entertainment. The Smurfs are back, including No Name (James Corden) and Smurfette (Rihanna). Credit: Paramount Animation As it turns out, this reboot is by his fellow animator Chris Miller, who brought us Shrek the Third and Puss in Boots – although both do wacky fantasy lands, pop culture shoutouts and hero's journeys, so the difference is only a matter of degree. There's less risk of getting confused about the Smurfs, small blue creatures who live in a woodland village and possess one notable trait apiece, sometimes represented by a signature prop: Brainy Smurf, voiced by Xolo Mariduena, wears glasses, Vanity Smurf (Maya Erskine) carries a mirror, and so on. These markers aside, they all look identical, except for Papa Smurf (John Goodman), who has a beard and wears a red cap rather than a white one, and the blonde-haired Smurfette (Rihanna), by tradition the only female Smurf, sculpted out of clay by the evil wizard Gargamel (J.P. Karliak), who intended her as a femme fatale to lure the other Smurfs into captivity. This bizarre but long-standing origin story is more or less the only interesting thing about the Smurfs, and was central to Smurfs: The Lost Village , their last big-screen vehicle in 2017 (in that one Smurfette was voiced by Demi Lovato; before that she was Katy Perry). In this latest reboot we appear to have regressed: the focus is on the brand-new character of No-Name Smurf (James Corden) who hasn't found the 'thing' that would let him stand out from the crowd. Smurfette's 'thing,' essentially, is being a girl, which is a tricky matter and always has been, although in her current incarnation she's also meant to be tough and strong, meaning she's resolved her own identity issues and can spend her time reassuring the protagonist that being a total blank doesn't make him any less terrific.
Powys County Times
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Presteigne pupils stage their own Puss in Boots opera
Presteigne Primary School pupils have staged their own opera after a week of creative workshops. Year 5 and Year 6 pupils from the school spent five days working with Mid Wales Opera to produce a mini-opera based on Puss in Boots. The project was part of a five-day residency led by Mid Wales Opera's creative team, including Richard Studer, the director and designer, and Jonathan Lyness, the music director. Mr Lyness said: "Teaching songs to kids is one of the best things ever. "It's such fun, they're so quick, and for those that aren't quite sure, all I need to do is remove the front of an old upright piano and show them the hammers. "When a teenager comes up to you in the middle of the street in a small Welsh market town, says 'Hello, Jon,' and then starts singing 'What's the use?' from Bernstein's Candide because, some years earlier, they'd learnt this song at the local primary school… that's when you know you've made some sort of difference… in a good way." Throughout the week, pupils explored storytelling through music and song, learning to create a narrative and write lyrics that would come together in a final performance. The project aimed to spark creativity, build songwriting and group singing skills, and develop literacy, confidence, teamwork, and imaginative thinking. The Puss in Boots theme was inspired by Montsalvatge's opera and was selected for its lively characters and episodic structure, which lent itself well to a collaborative performance. Pupils also had the chance to work with Maria Jagusz, an opera singer, British mezzo-soprano and vocal coach. Jill Rolfe, Mid Wales Opera's costume creator, helped the class design and make costumes for characters ranging from princesses to ogres. Mid Wales Opera believes in the 'transformative power of music and performance'. The organisation is now building artistic plans for the next two years, thanks to the support of funders and the public. However, it is calling for further donations to ensure it can continue its outreach work in schools and help secure a future for opera in Wales. Supporters can contribute online at or contact admin@ to discuss donations or opportunities for collaboration in schools or communities. Mid Wales Opera is set to return this autumn with its SmallStages tour, featuring Trouble in Tahiti. The one-act opera by Bernstein takes a sharp look at 1950s American suburbia and will be performed in a chamber arrangement with a cast of five and seven musicians. The evening will also include a second half celebrating American opera and musical theatre.
