Keith Staskiewicz of "Entertainment Weekly" gave the film a D+ saying, ""The Smurfs" may be blue, but their movie is decidedly green, recycling discarded bits from other celluloid Happy Meals like "Alvin and the Chipmunks", "", and "Hop" into something half animated, half live action, and all careful studio calculation". Michael Rechtshaffen of "The Hollywood Reporter" gave the film a negative review saying, "This numbingly generic Smurf-out-of-water-tale is strictly for those who stand closer to three apples tall." Ending the review he said, "Having previously helmed two "Scooby-Doo"s and a "Beverly Hills Chihuahua", director Raja Gosnell could probably have done this one in his sleep, which is likely where all but the most attentive of caregivers will helplessly find themselves drifting."