BOF's ON-FILM.NET - Film Review: "GET SMART" by Jett (6/18/08)

RELEASE DATE: June 20, 2008
STUDIO: Warner Bros.
DIRECTOR: Peter Segal
SCREENPLAY: Tom J. Astle, Matt Ember
CAST: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin, Terrance Stamp, et al.
OFFICIAL SITE: GETSMARTMOVIE.COM

I’m not what you would call a “fan” of the old GET SMART TV show. I was too young for it’s original run on the tube, so my exposure to the show was via reruns -- as I imagine is the case for most of you reading this review. I liked it, but it never was a bigtime favorite of mine like the BATMAN TV series which I also discovered through reruns.

Consequently, I didn’t know what I was going to think about the new GET SMART movie based on that old TV show. But it did have one thing going for it for me: Steve Carell. I’m a HUGE fan of THE OFFICE and thusly Carell so I was definitely willing to give it a shot.

(I wasn’t willing to give EVAN ALMIGHTY a shot, but I shall digress.)

Maxwell Smart (Carell) has a desk job at the government agency known as CONTROL (think CIAish, but several notches below) and dreams of becoming a field agent -- although he’s having a hard time passing the field exam. Events take place that thrust Max into his dream job paired with the competent, professional, and rather hot Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway). The new team must track down stolen nuclear weapons under the control of CHAOS’ head-honcho Siegfried (Terrence Stamp).

Of course they have to do this despite Max’s rather bumbling -- and mission threatening -- escapades.

I don’t want this to come off as a criticism of Carell, because it isn’t. But if you are a fan of his and of THE OFFICE you know what you are getting from him in GS. And that is some really funny stuff. Carell is at his comedic best here, but he also manages to thrown a bit of heroism into the role as well. SC doesn’t try to do a “Don Adams” impression, but rather provides his own twist to the character -- which does give a respectful nod to the original.

As far as the supporting actors, Anne Hathaway does a fine job playing the straight guy, if you will, to Carell’s goof. Dwayne Johnson (formally known as “The Rock”) plays CONTROL’s best field agent, “23,” and another ally of Max and 99. He does a fine job with this comedic role as well as making fun of himself (or his character, rather) during the course of the film which makes him all that more charming to the audience.

If you’ve seen any of the TV episodes, you’ll know what to expect from Alan Arkin’s turn as “The Chief,” the guy who runs CONTROL. Terrence Stamp is his CHOAS counterpart and is funny as hell mainly due to Stamp’s “serious” performance.

GET SMART is a laugh out loud funny comedy film that also -- and successfully -- includes lots of cool action and a little bit of romance.

Unlike Max’s classic adage of “Missed it by THAT much,” GET SMART is quite on target.