If there has been one constant this summer, it is the continual appearance of recognisable IPs in the release schedule. From Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, and 28 Years Later, to Lilo & Stitch, and Karate Kid: Legends, familiar brand names have been the backbone of this blockbuster season.
This week sees the release of two more well-known IPs, hoping to claim their slice of the box-office. One is aimed at youngsters and the family market, while the other is setting its sights on teens and horror buffs.
The movies? Smurfs and I Know What You Did Last Summer.
The former is the latest take on Peyo’s pint-sized people, while the latter is the fourth entry in the ‘90s slasher series. Both films have built-in fan bases and both are tossing their respective hats and hook into the ring.
In addition to these two blockbusters, this week there’s anniversary insights with the documentary film, Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story. And you can read all about it in this week’s edition of Movie Reviews 2025.
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In cinemas…
Smurfs (2025)
First up this week, is the animated family film, Smurfs. Directed by Chris Miller, the film features the voice talents of Rihanna, James Corden, John Goodman, Nick Offerman, JP Karliak, Octavia Spencer, Kurt Russell, Hannah Waddingham, and Dan Levy, and focuses on the Smurfs’ attempt to rescue Papa Smurf.
In the movie, the Smurfs live a happy, peaceful existence in Smurf Village. They sing and dance, and each Smurf has a name and a purpose.
That is, except No Name Smurf. Despite various attempts to figure out what he is good at, he can’t seem to come to a conclusion, and remains nameless as a result.
However, one day, No Name Smurf discovers he has magical powers. Excited by his discovery, he uses his newfound abilities to demonstrate to his fellow Smurfs that he has a purpose.
Unfortunately, when No Name Smurf activates his powers, he attracts the attention of the evil wizard Razamel, who in turn kidnaps Papa Smurf. Keen to rescue their patriarch, the Smurfs travel to the real world to enlist the aid of a mysterious Smurf named Ken, and hopefully put things right.
In the introduction to this week’s edition of Movie Reviews 2025, I mentioned the recurring theme this summer: Recognisable brands. However, there is another theme which keeps popping up this year: Soft reboots and/or standalone tales.
Studios appear to be utilising the prestigious name of a successful brand, but at the same time they are keen to restart things and welcome in new audiences. They are doing this by ignoring any unnecessary baggage, and are instead focusing on entry-level pictures.
The recently released Final Destination: Bloodlines and Jurassic World: Rebirth were sequels to existing films, but at the same time they were essentially standalone tales designed to encourage new engagement. Similarly, last week’s Superman and next week’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps are complete reboots, and Smurfs follows a similar tactic.
Ignoring everything that came before, this is a brand-new Smurf story which requires no prior knowledge of any existing continuity. As such, if you have little ones in your household, who are less than familiar with the Smurf brand, they can easily dive into this one no problem.
And to be clear, it will be little ones who will be the most interested in this film. Smurfs is designed with children in mind, and it should sit well with its target demographic.
Smurfs isn’t a life-changing picture, nor is it as strong as the Trolls films of which it bears a few similarities, but there is some fun to be had. The film offers up a mix of laughs and fantasy adventure, and along with its themes of togetherness and friendship it mostly hits the spot.
If you’ve watched some of the previous Smurf movies and felt they missed the mark (they did), this new offering is at least a smidge better. It’s arguably the most creative Smurf film to date, making better use of its animation to tell its story, and the voice cast work well too.
Rihanna takes on the role of Smurfette, and brings a certain level of charm to the part. Likewise, James Corden is well-cast as No Name Smurf, while JP Karliak (Morph in X-Men ‘97) is on fine form pulling double duties as brothers, Gargamel and Razamel.
Outside of this, there are a couple of song and dance routines guaranteed to have younger audiences bopping along, and then there are a smattering of gags. Most of the humour is quite broad, but there are a couple of jokes which will land better with adults, ensuring parents will remain (mostly) awake, even if Smurfs aren’t really their thing.
Arriving in cinemas during a very busy period, and sandwiched between Jurassic World: Rebirth, Superman, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Smurfs does run the risk of getting lost in the mix, but those who are interested in what the film has to offer should be entertained. Smurfs aims for a young audience, keeps things simple and straightforward, and is fairly likeable for what it is.
Clocking in at a mere 92 minutes, Smurfs is also bum-friendly and should keep little ‘uns in their seats. It’s perfectly fine children’s entertainment for a rainy day, which of course is perfectly fine all round.
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Now streaming…
Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story (2025)
Over to streaming now for the documentary movie, Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story. Directed by Laurent Bouzereau and available to stream on Disney+, the docu-film tells the enthralling story of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, as it reaches its 50th birthday.
From the inception of the project, including the work to adapt Peter Benchley’s original novel, to the creation of the mechanical shark, and the film’s theatrical release, Jaws @ 50 covers it all. You get the head, the tail, the whole damn thing.
You also get plenty of input from Spielberg himself. All the way through Jaws @ 50, Spielberg pops up to offer insights and anecdotes about his film, and this includes the highs and the notorious lows of production.
Jaws was (and still is) a hugely successful movie, but it’s also one that experienced a troubling shoot. Spielberg had problems with the shark, he fell 100 days behind schedule, and at one point he figured the film would end his career.
All of this is covered in the documentary. There’s also lots of clips from the film, along with behind the scenes photos and footage from the ’70s.
In addition to the invaluable insights from Spielberg, a strong collection of fans and admirers offer their own little soundbites on Jaws. James Cameron, Guillermo del Toro, J.J. Abrams, Steven Soderbergh, George Lucas, Cameron Crowe, and Jordan Peele all feature in the documentary, along with many industry figures.
Then on top of this, there are archive interviews with Jaws actors Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss; plus, discussions about John Williams’ iconic movie score, and so much more. All areas of the film are covered, with many key figures offering their views.
All-in-all, Jaws @ 50 is a fascinating docu-film which celebrates one of the greatest, and most famous films of all time. Whether you’re familiar with the behind-the-scenes details of Jaws or not, this is an entertaining documentary to sink your teeth into.
If you’ve not re-watched Jaws this year to celebrate its 50th anniversary, then schedule in a screening at your earliest convenience. In the meantime, be sure to take a look at Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story.
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In cinemas…
I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)
And finally, back to the cinema for the release of another summer blockbuster. Although, this one seems to be one of the least hyped films this season, which is surprising since it contains the word ‘summer’ in the title.
Anyway, the movie is I Know What You Did Last Summer – a legacy sequel to the 1997 slasher of the same name. Directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, the film stars Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, and Sarah Pidgeon, as well as franchise returnees, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Freddie Prinze Jr.
I Know What You Did Last Summer follows the story of five friends who are involved in a fatal car accident and attempt to cover up the crime. A year later they begin to receive messages from someone who claims to know what they did.
These messages are followed by a series of murders, committed by a hook-wielding killer. In order to survive being bumped off, the teens must uncover the identity of the mysterious killer before it’s too late.
Now, does the above premise sound familiar? Well it should, as I Know What You Did Last Summerfollows pretty much the same basic outline as the original film.
The major difference this time around is the teen quintet call on past survivors, Julie James and Ray Bronson to help them out. Julie and Ray lived through the events of the first film, as well as its dire sequel, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998), and are back for more.
The hope is audiences worldwide will be happy to join them. However, based on how bloody tedious and longwinded this entry is, it’ll be surprising if anyone stays awake to see things through to the end.
And what a ham-fisted ending this film has. No spoilers here, but the finale to I Know What You Did Last Summer feels like it underwent multiple rewrites to drag it (kicking and screaming) over the finish line.
Some of it defies logic, while certain parts appear as if they have been tacked on as a last minute decision. Either way, this film serves up a bumpy ride at the beginning, middle, and end, which even die-hard fans are going to struggle with.
For those keeping track, I Know What You Did Last Summer is the fourth entry in this film series. It is a sequel to the two movies from the 1990s, but wisely ignores the standalone and frankly rubbish I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer (2006).
That one was a direct-to-video title, which is best overlooked. However, if this new offering didn’t include legacy characters, it could easily pass for a streaming title and be similarly dismissed.
There’s no spark, no imagination, and no creative flare. The story is a retread, some of the acting is questionable, and the characters are largely forgettable.
The only one to come out of this picture well is Madelyn Cline who takes on the role of Danica Richards, one of the five teens targeted by the killer. Cline gets the best lines in this outing, puts in a decent turn, and is one of the few highlights of the film.
She also looks as if she wants to be in the movie, which is more than can be said for Jennifer Love Hewitt who reprises the role of Julie James and looks bored and half asleep during the limited scenes she has. Not that anyone can blame her, as presumably she read the script, knew it was underwhelming, and just took the money and ran.
At least she fares better than Freddie Prinze Jr., who returns as Ray and falls into the ‘questionable acting’ crowd. Prinze Jr. delivers some of the clunkiest lines this year, as well as a performance more wooden than Pinocchio, and every time he is on screen it’s painful to watch.
Is it his fault or is it the direction? Based on how poor the ‘kills’ are, and how drawn out this whole thing is, it would seem he is not entirely to blame.
If you’re looking to be wowed, you won’t be with this movie. If you’re struggling to sleep, book a ticket and settle in for a relaxing snooze.
I Know What You Did Last Summer is very disappointing. It attempts to recapture the magic of the original, but fails; attempts to walk a similar path to 2022’s Scream, but fails; and attempts to entertain, but fails.
For the most part, this is a two star movie. An extra half-star is being added due to a couple of surprising callbacks, not previously announced, with one of them featuring in the mid-credit scene (yes, you do need to stick around once the credits roll).
But that extra half-star is being generous. The film is a dud, as well as a missed opportunity.
Next year, when anyone asks what you did last summer, tell them you avoided this film. It’s tosh.
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Movie of the Week
Ok, that’s all the reviews for this week, but which film takes the title of Movie of the Week? Well, it has to go to Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story.
Jaws is one of the greatest films of all time, and with this being the film’s 50th anniversary, it is the perfect opportunity to check out this insightful and engaging docu-film. It details everything you need to know about this stone-cold classic, and reminds you how great the film is.
And if you like Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story then be sure to check out:
- Jaws (1975) – Steven Spielberg terrifies audiences worldwide with this brilliant horror-thriller about a Great White shark which terrorises a small coastal town.
- Jurassic Park (1993) – Another classic from Spielberg’s portfolio, this time featuring resurrected dinosaurs and a doomed theme park.
- Duel (1971) – Sticking with the theme of Spielberg for this tense TV movie about a travelling salesman who is stalked by a mysterious truckdriver.
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Forthcoming attractions
And that’s you lot for yet another week. But the summer blockbuster season keeps on rolling.
Coming soon, the FF join the MCU in The Fantastic Four: First Steps; Liam Neeson takes on the role of Frank Drebin Jr. in The Naked Gun; and Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reunite for Freakier Friday. Plus Talk To Me directors, Danny and Michael Philippou deliver their latest horror, Bring Her Back.
With all this and much, much more, you’d be crazy-mad not to return for more. So, we’ve agreed you’re coming back, right?
Good.
Alex
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Thank you for taking the time to read Movie Reviews 2025 on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
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