"Carell and Hathaway deliver the goods the smart way: to entertain. Don Adams is probably rolling in his grave--laughing. And he would be proud."
Similarly to another film adaptation of a hit TV show a few weeks ago, "Sex & the City: The Movie," I am unaccustomed to and have seen only bits a pieces of the 1960s comic series "Get Smart," created by Buck Henry and Mel Brooks.
However, unlike the former, the new incarnation of the iconic Don Adams' spoof series makes me want to acclimatize with it.
Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) is a bungling, nerdy analyst for the secret government agency CONTROL that thwarts evil plans by KHAOS, led by the menacing Siegfried (Terrance Stamp). Smart longs so much to become an agent for CONTROL, but the Chief (Alan Arkin) believes he's too valuable off the field rather than in it. To make matters worse, other low-level Agents Larabee (David Koechner) and 91 (Terry Crews). Agent 23 (Dwayne Johnson), the suave, go-get-em hot shot, is always there to help Max cheer up and defend him.
Imagine the star quarterback standing up to the bully on behalf of the kid with tape on his glasses and braces in his mouth.
However, an attack on CONTROL headquarters and agents identities being compromised, the Chief decides it's time to promote Max to Agent 86. Max is partnered with the famed beautiful and cunning Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway).
Apparently, Siegfried has put plans into motion to give several dictators access to nuclear weaponry. Max and 99 must infiltrate KHAOS and put a stop to the distribution of the deadly weapons.
The plot seems simple, right?
And it is. The film starts and sets out on exactly what it wants. It moves along getting done what needs to get done: entertain. Director Peter Segal has had a mixed bag, from sublime comedy ("Tommy Boy") to cinematic trash ("The Nutty Professor II"). And decidedly, this film is a bit mixed but ever so much works in it's own favor with the comic timing and dry delivery of Carell.
With more than just a passing resemblance to the late, great Adams, Carell offers up a PG-13 version (with CIA-like credentials) of his awkward self in the great "The 40-Year-Old Virgin." In that 2005 release, Carell showcased his innate ability to portray cumbersome. Here, he corners that market. Not so much channeling or copying Adams but performing with humility (from what I've seen of the original "Smart"), Carell shows why the show was more of an American version of the great Peter Sellars' performance as Inspector Clouseau in "The Pink Panther" films than a spoof of espionage films of the time (chiefly, James Bond).
Hathaway has always been a good actress. She was a good fit in Disney's "The Princess Diaries" movies and other whimsical, child-like fluff. She dared standards that threatened her wholesome image with a stunning performance in "Brokeback Mountain." Now she can add comedy to her resume. Doing comedy is hard; doing it with a pro like Carell is harder. Where Carell is monotone and wry, Hathaway is energetic yet controlled. Their chemistry is plausible and delivers the goods, playing off one another. She is more than just a pretty face here (did I mention her looks?).
Johnson, better known to WWE audiences as The Rock, proves what he showed in "The Rundown" and the otherwise forgettable "Be Cool": he's funny. He has charm and natural comic chops.
Yet, it is the acting veteran who steals the show: Arkin is downright hilarious. He's all-out for a laugh, and gets it more times than I can count. He delivers one of the films funniest lines towards the end and has some of the films' best scenes.
Really, "Get Smart" is about the value of the entertainment dollar. For more bang for your buck, the filmmakers, Carell and Hathaway (along with some infinitely delightful cameos, both big-name and respected subtle) get you strapped in with a sharp blend of intense action and hilarious wit, an imperfect comic gem that goes in and gets the job done.
Now that's smart.
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