Normally you don’t find me at movies that are based on television shows. There are exceptions though, like Batman, Serenity and stuff that is actually good.
Then Get Smart came along. It was another movie that I’d normally skip, if it wasn’t for Steve Carell and Alan Arkin.
Both of these guys crack me up and Arkin has made me laugh in films like Little Miss Sunshine and So I Married An Axe Murderer. Carell of course hit it big on The Office and his style of comedy just does it for me.
Those were the main two reasons I decided to watch this movie on Friday and I pretty much got what I expected.
The film opens with Maxwell Smart (Carell) trying to become a field agent. He’s taken the tests, he’s trained, but he just hasn’t gotten his chance yet. He’s a field analyst for CONTROL, the group battling the evil forces of KAOS.
It’s basically a Maxwell Smart origins story (I’ve been reading too many comic books).
Eventually of course, Smart becomes Agent 86 and teams up with Agent 99, played by Anne Hathaway, as they try to get to the bottom of a nuclear weapon plot by KAOS.
Get Smart gives you what you expect: Some funny moments, great cameo appearances (Some I’m afraid I think I missed) and a predictable story.
Carell was the star of the movie, but his supporting cast really helped carry it. Especially the duo of Masi Oka (Heroes) and Nate Torrence. In fact, both actors have a spin-off going directly to DVD called Get Smart’s Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control.
Interesting.
Nothing new, nothing special, but a good, funny, summer escape movie.
Mike’s Rating: 6 out of 10
I can sum this one up in three words: silly summer romp
I know, it's this kind of in-depth analysis you all come to expect from me.
OMG – I can't believe you just ruined it for me!
Nice – I loved the show when I was a kid (watching reruns of it – I'm old, but not Cap'n old). I was thinking I wanted to see this, but I might wait for it to hit DVD/Blu-ray. Glad you liked it though Mike, thanks for the write up.
I'm glad they started from the beginning. I'm guessing a lot of the younger movie goers haven't seen an episode.
Is AnaClark03 aka “Ana”, aka “AnaDVR”, aka “Princess Ana”? lol
If it is I'm dieing because that's pretty funny.
Seriously, how many usernames is she going to have?
She is only on 03 – there are plenty of more to go through
I prefer to say I'm more conditioned and wise than old….
yeah, thats somethin an old guy would say, right? I'll work on it…
Theres AnaMontana the famous singer too, dont forget that!!
Get Smart movie review)
As one of the writers of the original “Get Smart” TV series, I was sadly disappointed by the new “Get Smart” movie–I can’t understand why remakes don’t at least talk to the original material writers. Maybe it’s kind of, “I want to do it myself, mom.”
That said, for the writers of the next remake, here’s a tip: The essence, the fun of the Don Adams character was his child-like confidence and his bravado (not unlike the character often played by Bob Hope) presaging the inevitable catastrophic blunder. “Sorry about that.” Seeing a man slip on a banana peel is funny. Seeing a pompous man slip on a banana peel is infinitely funnier.
Any writer charged with vetting agent 86 should start by studying the origin of the Get Smart character–Don’s early stand-ups. Like his self-assured attorney defending his client sitting in the witness chair: “Look at those trim ankles, the well turned calf, the dimpled knees. Now I ask you. Are those the legs of a homicidal maniac?”
Joseph C. Cavella
HowToWriteComedy.com
LOL! Y'all are a riot. There will be a new Alias next month. Any suggestions?
…and that's AnnaMontana, my evil twin. I'm Ah-nah. En Espanol.
I simply couldn't agree with you more.
I have yet to see this update, but I am a big fan of the original series with Don Adams (thanks for stopping by and chiming in by the way). It was Max's naivete and self-assuredness in almost every situation that often (usually) set the stage for the inevitable blunder to follow.
I feared from the beginning that remake would lose the essence of the character of Maxwell Smart. From the previews it is obvious that the writers and producers HAVE taken the character in a different direction (in the original Max was one of the best agents despite his almost complete incompetence – with a little help from 99, of course).
I'm interested to see how they've chosen to portray the character, but, like you, I fear I will be greatly saddened if the character on the screen bares little resemblance to the Maxwell Smart I grew up laughing at.
Get Smart looks pretty good over all though it seems like Steve Carell is veering toward an excess of slapstick humor