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"Get Smart" Review

by Jane Boursaw on June 21st, 2008

I didn’t know what to expect with this movie. My only hope was that they not goof it up. Thank goodness, they didn’t! It’s a great movie from start to finish, with plenty of action, fun characters, and a little romance.

And speaking of action, I DIDN’T expect this movie to be an action flick, but that’s exactly what it is. And, surprisingly, Steve Carell rocks it as an action star! Who knew?

More after the jump…

Carell plays Maxwell Smart, the bumbling character played by Don Adams in the 1960s TV series. Only here, Max isn’t so much bumbling as he is efficient. TOO efficient, in fact. As an analyst at the secret U.S. spy agency CONTROL, Smart goes above and beyond the call of duty, creating 100-page reports that put the staff to sleep in meetings. He’s working his butt off to become a field agent, but alas, his efforts only convince his boss, the Chief (Alan Arkin), that Max should stay right where he is.

But when the headquarters of CONTROL is attacked by the evil crime syndicate KAOS, the identity of the agents is compromised, and Max gets a sudden promotion. He dreams of working with his idol, superstar Agent 23 (Dwayne Johnson), but instead, he’s paired with the beautiful — and lethal — Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway).

As their mission takes them across the globe, Max and Agent 99 battle KAOS operative Siegfried (Terence Stamp) and his sidekick, Shtarker (Ken Davitian), and learn a little something about each other in the process.

First of all, this movie has some incredible stunts, which I really wasn’t expecting. Prepare to be wow’d. As Maxwell Smart, Carell plays him with the same demeanor as his Michael Scott character from The Office. Only here, Max isn’t a loser. He just hasn’t been given the opportunity to shine…until now. He and Hathaway have good chemistry, and the rest of the cast is great, too. Masi Oka (Heroes) and Nate Torrence play Maxwell’s analyst buddies, James Caan plays the President, Patrick Warburton shows up as Hymie, and Bill Murray appears as Agent 13 for about three seconds.

I also appreciate that the filmmakers included many references to the TV series, including Max’s little red Sunbeam Tiger, the Cone of Silence, the shoe phone, and all the great phrases, like “Sorry about that, Chief” and “Missed it by THAT much.” But this movie isn’t stuck in the past. It pays homage to the past, but has a fresh, fun storyline.

I also have to mention the soundtrack: Great! The familiar theme is woven throughout the show with updated tracks. Also, Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, who created the TV series, served as consultants on the movie. That’s pretty cool.

In short, go see this movie. You won’t be disappointed. It works for both fans of the TV series and folks who’ve never seen the show.

NOTE TO PARENTS: The PG-13 rating is mainly for action, although there are a few crude jokes, and a bare butt is shown at one point (played for laughs). Still, I think it’s fine for kids 12 and older.

Images: Get Smart, Warner Bros. Pictures, 2008

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