Common Sense Media Review
By Sierra Filucci
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mischief and slapstick fail to charm in un-smurfy sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Smurfs 2
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 14 parent reviews
Parents say this sequel has divided opinions, with some finding it a slight improvement over its predecessor while others deem it painful to watch and full of inappropriate messages. Many agree that while it may entertain young children, it contains disturbing themes and humor that could be unsettling for sensitive viewers.
- improvement over predecessor
- humor for kids
- disturbing messages
- mixed reviews
- positive family portrayal
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 23 kid reviews
What's the Story?
In THE SMURFS 2, it's Smurfette's (voiced by Katy Perry) birthday, and the Smurfs are planning a giant surprise party for her. But when the little blue creatures ignore her in an attempt to throw her off of their plans, she starts to think they don't care about her. Her memories of being created by the evil Gargamel (Hank Azaria) make her question whether she belongs in Smurf Village at all. Meanwhile, Gargamel, who has become an international sensation performing his magic to packed theaters, is concocting a plan to capture Smurfette and get her to reveal the formula that Papa Smurf (Jonathan Winters) used to turn her into a real blue Smurf. He plans to use this formula to turn his latest Smurf-like creations -- the naughty Vexy (Christina Ricci) and Hackus (J.B. Smoove) -- into more real Smurfs so that he can extract their "essence," which he'll use to power his magic and, of course, take over the world.
Is It Any Good?
This sequel, directed by Raja Gosnell (who directed the first Smurfs movie), somehow misses even the easiest targets for humor. While the previous film wasn't the most creative or charming in the kids' movie genre, it at least had some silly laughs, a couple of great human characters (Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays), and a lighthearted tone that made for an easy 90 minutes. The laughs here are hard to come by, no matter how many times Clumsy Smurf drops something or Vanity Smurf looks at himself in the mirror. After a while, the jokes feel worn out. And Azaria's Gargamel seems much meaner this go-round, as he nearly starves his progeny to death or throws his cat Azrael out of a moving vehicle.
Harris and Mays hardly get any screen time, and their cute 5-year-old boy, Blue (Jacob Tremblay), is unfortunately a poor actor. And scenes that seem like they might turn out funny -- like when Vexy cons Smurfette into saving Hackus from a French candy store -- go so quickly that they lose any potential impact. Along with the cliched damsel-in-distress storyline, these flaws make Smurfs 2 a fairly innocuous but overall disappointing movie.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Smurfs 2's message about family. What kinds of families are presented in this movie? How has the definition of family changed over the years? Do you think it will continue to change?
Why do you think Smurfette is the one who needs rescuing? Would the movie have worked as well if it was a different Smurf who needed help? Can you think of any other movies where the female character is rescued by male characters? What message does that kind of plot send about male and female relationships and abilities?
Did any of the violence seem scary to you? Did you ever think Gargamel would succeed with his plan?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 31, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : December 3, 2013
- Cast : Hank Azaria , Jayma Mays , Katy Perry , Neil Patrick Harris
- Director : Raja Gosnell
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Gay Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Sony Pictures Animation
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Run time : 105 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some rude humor and action
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate