June 24, 2008
Review - " Get Smart " (in Theaters) - By Ken Ellis
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Review: Get Smart (In theatres now)
A Warner Bros. release, directed by Peter Segal. Screenplay, Tom J. Astle, Matt Ember, based on characters created by
Mel Brooks and Buck Henry. Starring Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin, Terence Stamp and Ken
Davitian.
Maxwell Smart is back and his return is certainly a welcome one. Steve Carell inherits the role from the late Don Adams, who
made it his signature role. While it is often not recommended to take over a signature role (see Cedric the Entertainer as
Ralph Kramden in 2005's "The Honeymooners" or Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau in "The Pink Panther"), Carell is
talented enough to make the role his own. He and co-star Anne Hathaway (as Agent 99) are careful to bring a certain
amount of depth never previously explored in the '60s TV series without overdoing it. His Maxwell Smart is no Inspector
Clouseau. He might be inexperienced, but never really stupid.
The film features Smart as a talented intelligence analyst hoping to become a CONTROL field agent. When a security
breach exposes the identities of the existing agents, he gets his chance and springs into action, and I do mean action. This
film has almost as much action as any Bond film, but yet it doesn't step on the comedy; in fact it enhances it. Segal's
direction establishes a good pace as he balances the action and comedy and the storyline succeeds in keeping us
interested. The plot takes us from Washington to Russia and back without a letdown. Many tributes to original series are
paid throughout the film, from catchphrases ("Sorry about that Chief!") to props like the shoephone and Max's 1965 red
Sunbeam Tiger convertible. Anne Hathaway is more than capable in role of the ready-for-anything Agent 99 and looks great
as well. The supporting cast of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Alan Arkin, Terence Stamp and Ken Davitian are also quite
good.
Overall a very fun and funny film, a great summertime take. I give it a solid B+…enjoy!
