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Get Smart
Directed by: Peter Segal Starring: Steve Carell Genre: Comedy Run Time: 110 min. Release Date: June 2008 On The Web: Official Site Teaser: Movie Trailer Reviewed by Byron Merritt |
For those who grew up with the original GET SMART series on TV starring Don Adams, this new feature release might or might not be what you’re looking for. It is definitely a hybrid of the original with perhaps not enough campiness that many viewers of the original series came to love. But let’s start with what’s enjoyable about this version... First is that Steve Carell (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE) was the perfect choice to play Agent Smart. He looks and has the exact mannerisms as the original. A major boon for the film. He also delivers several lines that came from the series and does so at the most appropriate times (i.e., slamming into the side of a building and then saying, "Missed it by that much." and "The old whatever-it-is-that-really-isn’t-old-but-Max-calls-it-old trick."). Second is the surprisingly good role of Agent 23 played by The Rock, Dwayne Johnson (BE COOL). His rugged good looks and unbelievable abilities were the perfect mix. From here, though, things start to take a turn. Anne Hathaway (HOODWINKED!) whom I normally love in just about everything she’s ever been in, turns in a so-so performance as Agent 99, the love interest to Max. The chemistry never hit the right note between the two of them and I found it hard to believe the turnaround affection 99 ended up having for Max. Masi Oka (LOST) plays Bruce and Nate Torrence plays Lloyd (HOUSE M.D.), the two geeks responsible for Max’s gadgets and the informational nerve center of Control. And although they had some really hysterical moments with Max — especially when they have Max pretend to beat them up — they were non-entities for the majority of the film. Their creation of the robot Hymie (Patrick Warburton, SKY HIGH) at the end of the film was pretty funny, though. I did, too, enjoy the choice of Alan Arkin (RENDITION) to play The Chief. Although over 74 years old, Arkin plays as if he’s closer to 50, giving some great physical comedy, including beating up on the Vice-President. So let’s get to the bigger issue with the film: it’s separation from the original. Although they incorporated several sight gags for fans of the series (the cars, the original suit, the shoe phone), it came off as a big budget film and gave itself too much cred (as the street would say). The great thing about the original was how absolutely campy the sets, the language, and the crime set-ups were. Here we lose almost all of that because there’s too many high-tech special effects, too much focus on a threat to the president (which wasn’t really funny at all considering the times), and the seriousness of the situations rather than the ridiculousness of them (which enamored viewers of the old series). Even with these issues, though, the film does hit some great comedic high notes. And almost all of them are thanks to Steve Carell and his excellent portrayal of Max. See it for him, but don’t see it if you are a die-hard fan of the campy originals.
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Image from Get Smart
DVD cost: $28.59 Purchase: Tower.com Film Review Stew Favorite? No. Stew Poo-Poo? No. Newsworthy: The guy driving the Opel that Maxwell Smart stops to get a ride from, but who is then rear-ended, is Bernie Kopell, who played Siegfried on the original series ("Get Smart" (1965)). Movie Quote: "Is that your default setting or something? Oh, today's Tuesday, I'll punch Max. Oh look, a box of kittens, I think I'll punch Max. I have this piece of bread so now I'm going to punch Max."
Other Actors/Actresses from Get Smart
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Images from Get Smart
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