I laughed out loud a lot more than I expected watching 2008’s big screen adaption of GET SMART. Bringing every facet of his “Office” likeability and ineptitude to the role of Maxwell Smart, Steve Carell is perfectly cast as our smart but bumbling hero.
I was always a casual fan of Mel Brooks TV series in the sixties, but way too young at the time to appreciate it’s double entendres and spy film references.
Paying respect to its legacy while loading the film with big budget stunts and adventure, it’s the rare TV adaption that really works.
Smart is the perfect analyst but a hilariously bad agent, teamed up with Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway in one of her more likeable roles) to battle a KAOS terrorist plot.
Max and 99 parachute into enemy territory in one of the best sequences of the movie. My favorite scene is the huge government formal ball, where Max and a very large woman tear up the dance floor. It’s nearly equaled by a hilarious airplane/car and train chase in the finale.
Alan Arkin is very funny playing straight man to Max as the Chief of Control. Arkin’s always had great deadpan delivery and he’s in great form. Dwayne Johnson gets plenty of laughs as a hulking agent that loves stapling notes to analysts heads, David Koechner delivers guffaws as Agent Larabee and Bill Murray even makes an appearance as Agent 13.
I loved seeing all of Max’s cars from the original series. That red Sunbeam Tiger is a nostalgic throwback! So is the brief cameo from Bernie Kopell, who played Siegfried in the series.
With over $230 million at the box office, it’s a shame that we never got a sequel with Carell back in the role. He’s hilarious.
GET SMART climbs out from under the cone of silence and gets a solid B.
Maxwell Smart: I think it's only fair to warn you, this facility is surrounded by a highly trained team of 130 Black Op Snipers.
Siegfried: I don't believe you.
Maxwell Smart: Would you believe two dozen Delta Force Commandos?
Siegfried: No.
Maxwell Smart: How about Chuck Norris with a BB gun?
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