Latest news with #Spongebob
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Smurfs' Review: The Once-Iconic Blue Menaces Are Trapped in Charmless, Generic Animated Feature
Should you head to the theaters to see 'Smurfs,' you'll get the pleasure of watching a fun, charming, and mercifully brief adaptation of a beloved cartoon. It's called 'SpongeBob: Order Up,' and it's the two-minute short that Paramount has packaged before the actual movie. Watching it, it's hard not to consider the fact that the vast majority of children brought by parents are probably way more familiar with Spongebob and Squidward than they are with the colony of blue elf things leading the package's feature presentation. That's not to say that the Smurfs are old relics, exactly — since their 1958 debut as the comic creations of Belgian cartoonist Poyo, they've managed to stick around and endure in pop culture, crossing over to America thanks to the popular Hanna-Barbera animated series that was a fixture of NBC's kiddie programming during the '80s. The franchise's concept is weird enough — imagining a tiny village populated by identical creatures of widely varying personalities — to stick in the mind, and the character designs simple and iconic enough to slap on a cereal box or a Hot Topic tee. More from IndieWire 'KPop Demon Hunters' Built a Soundtrack to Slay Global Pop Charts 'Black Swan' Dances Back Into Theaters for IMAX Anniversary Screenings Not for nothing, there's a Belgian animated adaptation of the series that's airing on Nickelodeon right now. But the low quality of Hollywood attempts to launch the franchise into the film world — the shrill live-action/animated hybrid movies released in 2011 and 2013, an instantly forgotten animated feature released in 2017 — begs the question: Even if a lot of people know of the Smurfs, are there many people who particularly care about them? Regardless of the answer to that question, Paramount's new attempt to turn them into movie stars doesn't seem likely to add to the ranks of the Smurfs standom. A resolutely safe, profoundly boring first draft of an animated kids movie, 'Smurfs' only succeeds at making the quaintly formulaic old Hanna-Barbera cartoon — a B-tier effort from the studio at best, compared to 'Scooby Doo' and 'The Flintstones' — look practically artful in comparison. At least that animated series had a sense of whimsy that can be found charming, something this cravenly generic product wholly lacks. Starting on a torturous dance party intro straight out of a mid-2000s DreamWorks film, 'Smurfs' introduces us to the cast of Smurfs leading the film, only three of whom remotely impact the plot in any way. There's the token girl Smurfette, jarringly voiced by a too-cool-for-this Rihanna, who produced this movie and contributed the middling end-credits song. There's wise Papa Smurf (John Goodman), who gets kidnapped early on by Razamel, the even more sinister brother of the Smurfs' main rival Gargamel (both are played by JP Karliak, giving the only slightly memorable vocal performance on offer). And there's the closest thing to a real lead, original character No Name, played by James Corden, a casting choice that feels about six or seven years out of date. No Name's central foible is an obvious, pat one for the world of Smurf Village, a civilization where everyone is named after their talent or quirk or 'thing,' as Papa describes it. No Name has grown up without finding his 'thing,' and feels left out in his community. It's a stock plotline for a kids film (Disney's 'Encanto' springs to mind as the most obvious comparison), but one that can work with deft writing. Remarkably though, 'Smurfs' seems absolutely determined to minimize No Name's arc, the one potential source of real drama or emotional stakes on offer in the ensuing journey from the Smurfs to find Papa and save the world. He isn't treated any differently by the other Smurfs aside from some light encouragement from Smurfette — whose entire role is to play his personal cheerleader, which is still better than the background character with an occasional one-liner treatment that befouls the other villagers — and early on his identity crisis is resolved when he seemingly discovers he's the only Smurf who can use magic. Some minor hemming and hawing over whether he's good enough to save the day aside, that tension of not having an identity gets shoved to the side, and when 'Smurfs' half-heartedly circles back to it at the end, the film hand-waves it away with possibly the most generic and noncommittal 'power of heart' moral ever put to screen. So without any real characters to care about or storylines to actually invest in, 'Smurfs' plugs along with one of the more vapid and frictionless screenplays in recent cinematic memory. It's credited to Pam Brady, who's best known for adult animated projects like 'South Park' or the recent Prime animated series '#1 Happy Family USA,' but has also done some work-for-hire kids projects in the past few years — she was one of three writers on 2023's already forgotten 'Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken' and co-wrote an upcoming 'SpongeBob' film. Nothing on screen reflects any of her wit and personality, instead coasting along on dull slapstick, boring one-liners, and pop culture references that range from bizarre (a Smurf agent voiced by Nick Offerman tells a weird troll thing voiced by Natasha Lyonne he was once in a relationship with that they'll 'always have Paris') to fishing desperately to modernize the franchise (Dan Levy voices an intern of Ramazel that begs the Smurfs to give him a good Linkedln rating, and there's an extended bit about the joys of rideshare food delivery). At 90 minutes, 'Smurfs' somehow still feels too long, blatantly stalling for time with long pointless chase sequences and diversions rather than hurrying up its extremely barebones rescue mission plot: There's no less than two poorly integrated musical numbers that are so out of place in the film they have a jumpscare effect. The adventure isn't particularly anything to look at, either. 'Smurfs' was directed by Chris Miller, who previously directed 'Puss in Boots' for DreamWorks, but aesthetically, the film shares more in common with its 2021 sequel 'The Last Wish,' which drew praise for its stylish blend of 3D and 2D animation upon release. 'Smurfs' goes for a similar approach, and in the process underscores how this more exaggerated animation style, which felt so fresh and unique when popularized by 'Into the Spider-Verse' in 2018, has now become enough of an industry norm that heartless franchise extensions can mimic it. In theory, the film's vision is inspired, aiming to resemble a page from Poyo's original comics come to life. The characters are 3D, but with exaggerated cartoon facial features. Effects around them — a stream of water, a blast of magic, a foggy cloud — are 2D, and their environments are shaded and colored to look like the setting of a comic. Occasionally, this results in a decent shot or two — the inside of Razamel's castle can be fun to look at. There also comes occasional times where the cast bursts out a thought bubble, though it's used as a sparing gimmick rather than a strong creative choice. By and large though, the film just looks cheap. It can't figure out a way to integrate the characters into the world seamlessly, and the overall effect of the aesthetic often misses the mark, resembling the graphics of a cel-shaded video game made in 2003 (not for nothing, 'The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker' looks significantly better than 'Smurfs.') Other attempts to play with form land poorly — although the film is about 80 percent animated, the modern human world the cast briefly ventures into is live-action, a choice that's less fun and more confusing (why are Joel and Razamel animated then?). A brief sequence that shifts between different animation styles has novelty but proves mostly lazy in its imagination, including an anime pastiche that's about 20 years out of date. What exactly would a good, or even decent Smurfs film look like? Most of the franchise's appeal has come from its relatively folksy, low-stakes tone; the original animated series told short comedic tales about life in Smurf village, often only with the bumbling Gargamel as a real antagonist. And it managed to craft a decently fleshed out ensemble cast in the process, with standouts like the self-aggrandizing Brainy or the kindhearted Clumsy. 'Smurfs' ups the stakes appropriately for film — though never enough, as Razamel doesn't really take off as a compelling villain — but in the process, loses sight of the villagers entirely. Somehow, in a movie about finding your niche, the Smurfs are more generic and indistinguishable than ever. Grade: D Paramount Pictures will release 'Smurfs' in theaters on Friday, July 18. Want to stay up to date on IndieWire's film and critical thoughts? to our newly launched newsletter, In Review by David Ehrlich, in which our Chief Film Critic and Head Reviews Editor rounds up the best new reviews and streaming picks along with some exclusive musings — all only available to subscribers. Best of IndieWire The 25 Best Alfred Hitchcock Movies, Ranked Every IndieWire TV Review from 2020, Ranked by Grade from Best to Worst Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paramount Declares Comedies Are Back With New ‘Naked Gun' Footage; Trots Out Extended ‘Running Man' Look
With his usual flair, Paramount President of International Theatrical Distribution, Mark Viane, kicked off the studio's CineEurope presentation today with a hysterical video that reimagined him as the head of 'The Paramount Squad,' a reference to the upcoming Naked Gun reboot. Sporting a white wig, Viane was joined by other Par execs including the EMEA team while the mini film also nodded to upcoming studio titles including Smurfs and the latest Spongebob movie, among others. After the video and as he took the stage here, replete in boxers and skirt à la Liam Neeson's Frank Drebin Jr in The Naked Gun, Viane exclaimed, 'Comedies are back!' More from Deadline 'Meet The Parents 4': Paramount To Co-Produce With Universal & Distribute Internationally - CineEurope 'Superman' Flies Into Barcelona With 30 Minutes Of Footage During Warner Bros' CineEurope Presentation Universal Swoops Into CineEurope With Fresh 'Jurassic World Rebirth' & 'Wicked: For Good' Clips; Touts Steven Spielberg & Christopher Nolan Projects The Naked Gun starts global rollout on July 30, getting to domestic theaters on August 1. Neeson introduced an exclusive look at the movie via a video message and cheekily said to exhibitors, 'remember to book my movie — or I am coming for you.' During the presentation, Viane also announced that Paramount will co-produce with Universal Meet the Parents 4, and will handle international distribution. There was also extended Smurfs footage, including the opening sequence, that was introduced by Rihanna who voices Smurfette. The movie kicks off July 16 internationally and goes domestic on July 18. Moving away from comedy and targeting the underserved female audience, a first look at Colleen Hoover adaptation Regretting You was introduced via video by the cast including Allison Williams, Dave Franco, Mckenna Grace and Mason Thames. The story is set against a tragic event that unlocks a series of secrets, lies and regrets. A fall 2025 release is on deck. Also showing up for the first time for exhibitors was Primate, a horror movie about a domesticated chimp gone bonkers. That's swinging into cinemas in 2026. Viane closed out the Par presentation with new extended footage from The Running Man. Glenn Powell, Josh Brolin and Colman Domingo star in the Stephen King chase thriller adaptation from director Edgar Wright. Set in a dystopian America (in the year 2025), the story centers on Ben Richards (Powell), a desperate man who participates in violent reality show in order to win enough money to revive his gravely ill daughter. Powell, Brolin and Domingo sent a video to Barcelona to talk up the film and introduce the footage. Release is on November 7 this year. Best of Deadline 'The Buccaneers' Season 2 Soundtrack: From Griff To Sabrina Carpenter 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Viral Kick streamer and creator Amouranth is coming back to Twitch after earning $38M from Kick
(Image via YouTube/@SmoshAlike) Kaitlyn Siragusa, better known as Amouranth, just made headlines again, but this time, it's not for her wild streams or viral stunts. After raking in a jaw-dropping $38 million from streaming platform Kick, she's officially making her way back to Twitch. Yes, you read that right. Here's everything we know. A $38M Detour Called Kick Back in 2023, Amouranth shocked fans by leaving Twitch to sign an exclusive deal with Kick. The platform was still new but gaining serious momentum thanks to massive creator signings, including xQc's historic $100M contract. While her exact Kick contract details were hush-hush, Amouranth herself revealed in an interview that it doubled her income. If the math checks out, that's $19M a year; not bad for a 'side gig,' right? Kick gave her the space to push boundaries, build her empire, and explore other business ventures… all while cashing in big. The Return Tease That Broke the Internet Fast forward to June 19, 2025. Amouranth drops a cheeky teaser video on X (formerly Twitter). In the clip, she's seen refueling her car with a green Kick-themed license plate at a gas station. She gets a call, casually says, 'I'm on my way,' then hops in the car. Then? A quick flash of the Spongebob meme - '$38 million later' and the green car turns Twitch purple. The car suddenly transforms into a Twitch-purple ride. And just like that, her comeback was confirmed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo The Twitch return is officially set for June 20. What's Next for Amouranth? Here's what we don't know yet: Is she returning to Twitch exclusively? Has her Kick deal ended, or is she simply allowed to multistream? Will we see her explore OTK, which she's publicly shown interest in joining? What we do know: She's not going to YouTube. Her main account was terminated for ban evasion, and her ASMR content was previously removed for 'sexual content.' So, Twitch is really the only big stage left. xQc Reacts to Amouranth Announcing Return to Twitch after Making Over $38 MILLION From KICK Alone Why Now? Why Twitch? There's no official word on whether her Kick contract simply ran out or if she opted for an early exit. But what's clear is this: the exclusivity era may be ending. Platforms like Kick are no longer locking down creators with long-term deals. Instead, they're pushing multistreaming—something Amouranth might lean into next. After a lucrative two-year run on Kick, Amouranth is pulling a full-circle move and returning to Twitch. With $38 million in the bank, a purple car, and a teaser that broke the internet, she's proving once again: she knows how to command attention and the bag. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Time of India
ChatGPT goes down: Internet erupts with hilarious reactions and memes
Image credits: X When it was launched in 2022, ChatGPT was like an unwelcomed and unannounced guest that nobody really cared for except tech enthusiasts. Over the years, the AI platform has become a vital part of everyone's lives. From work emails to personal messages, from relationship advice to family arguments, there's not much people don't ask ChatGPT about. While other AI platforms like Grok and Gemini have made their entrance into the world, they have not been able to capture the hearts of the people like their predecessors. Thus, when the AI platform that people use mostly the entire day went down, there was surely havoc but also a lot of free time. According to Downdetector, 88% of the reported issues were linked to ChatGPT's web platform while 8% were related to the app and 3% were associated with the API. This meant that the creative minds of social media were put to good use to uproar with a meme fest. From sarcastic one-liners to sad GIFs and images, people left no way out to show their disappointment in the AI bot taking a break. Image credits: X "ChatGPT is down how will I answer if someone asks me my name," wrote a person on X, adding a GIF of a man shouting and rubbing his face. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Here's The Price for a 1-Day Walk-in Shower In 2025 Homebuddy Learn More Undo "ChatGPT is down….. Which means I actually have to type out my own emails at work. Send prayers." wrote another X user, mirroring the emotions of thousands of ChatGPT users out there who use the bot for work emails and conversation replies. Image credits: X "When the doctor asks what my birthdate is but chatgpt servers are down" added another. " Me without my friend chat gpt #ChatGPTdown" wrote another adding a GIF of Spongebob crying. Image credits: X One social media user interestingly apologised to the platform writing, "Sorry we overused and made you sick !!! 🥹🤕" Many posted photos of early humans trying to strike a fire with stones, citing it as the activity they were doing when ChatGPT was down. Image credits: X A trend to be seen was people claiming to be a particular surgeon and asking if ChatGPT was down as they were in the middle of a surgery and needed it. "is ChatGPT down for anyone else? i'm a cardiac surgeon in the middle of heart surgery" and "Is ChatGPT down for anyone else? i'm a neurosurgeon in the middle of brain surgery"
Buzz Feed
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Tattoos People Judge You For: The Brutal Truth
It is roughly estimated that around 32% of American adults have at least one tattoo. And, although tattoo styles are subjective, there are some that a lot of people simply do not like. In fact, some admit they will judge a person for simply having a certain kind of tattoo. Most everyone agrees with Reddit user u/IaniteThePirate who says they despise anyone with hate symbols. And "nazi, racist, white power shit gets the big 'fuck you,'" said u/RoodogNYC. And here are 19 other tattoos that the people of Reddit say they judge others for having: "I try really hard not to judge, but the times I have are when I see Confederate flag tattoos. They just…. Give me the ick." "The 'Only God can judge me' tattoos." "I have some kind of thoughts about (and avoid) people that use the navel or a nipple as some animals wtf already." "'Alpha male' tatted across the back." "Significant others' names. Just don't do it y'all." "I think hentai tattoos are disgusting, and I automatically assume that people who get them are stupid perverts." "Super American tattoos like eagles holding a confederate flag in one talon and a rifle on the other." "A lion wearing a crown… great way to let the world know that you have no personality." "Tattoos of serial killers or serial killer paraphernalia. I saw one artist on Instagram who had a flash sheet of items associated with various killers (like Dahmer's glasses, Bundy's car, etc.). People were RAVING about how much they wanted them. It's disgusting." "I instantly judge people on an anchor with 'I refuse to sink' or something similar. The whole point of an anchor is 👏 to 👏 sink 👏." "That feather turning into a flock of birds that every basic white girl got five years ago." "'90s tribal, I assume you drive a lifted truck with truck nuts." "Any misspelled or wrong translation tattoos." "I don't love weed-related, gaming, Spongebob, and Disney tattoos, but I'm sure most of the people who get them are lovely (and they prob don't like my work either)." "Cherry dripping juice, Winnie the Pooh, and Tweety Bird. Lots of girls got these in high school." "Lion clock roses." "NSFW stuff on visible places 🙅♂️." "Curly mustaches on their finger." And lastly: "Putting your last name on you, cringe." Got any others to add to the list?! Or maybe you want to show us your own, and why it is unique! Use the anonymous comments form below to share:
