Get Smart (2008)

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/04/2008 Run time: 151 minutes Rating: Pg13 Product Description

A Tribute That Gets It Right

Most movie tributes to TV series don't impress me. They usually try to revisit every gag of the original series and it ends up seeming forced and contrived. This movie is not at all that way. It manages to pay homage to the original series without dredging up every possible moment. It's fresh, contemporary and when they drop and old line or an old gag it's always done constructively frequently in a surprising context.

Steve Carell brings the viewer a believable character, a Maxwell Smart that actually is smart but somewhat inexperienced as a field agent. Likewise, Anne Hathaway portrays 99 as an experienced agent with real emotions and feelings, someone that grants respect to Max only as he earns it. In a sense, much of the movie is based upon the TV show but reels it in a bit and plays as being plausible in many ways.

The final scene is probably the most far-fetched but it is also very gripping. Overall it plays about like the average Bond film but the humor is rarely far from the surface.
November 27, 2008

Missed it by THAT much!

Some pretty lame attempts to copy the original series just don't work, at least as a comedy. Sure, there were a few laughs but strangely enough, it works better as an action and suspense film.

Steve Carell does an okay job of portraying Agent 86 as does Anne Hatahway as Agent 99. However, someone should have told Carell that when he says "Missed it by that much" he is suppose to indicate how much with his fingers but Carell just says it and his words, as in most of the film, carry no punch.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Alan Arkin both do good jobs. Dalip Singh (WWE/WWF star) who looks suprisingly like a pumped version of the "Jaws" character from the Bond Films (The Spy Who Loved Me, et al), played by Richard Kiel, provides the physical punch and came through as one of the more authentic characters although his crying scene was also pretty lame.

It seemed like most of the other characters, including a few from the "Heroes" TV series were just thrown in for comedic effect but without further character development, thy just fell flat.

Finally, the DVD promises 20 extra minutes ("62%) of "More Laughs." I could only sit through the first 5 minutes of these. They were just too stupid. This script tried way too hard to be something it was not. November 26, 2008

I REALLY wish Amazon would allow ZERO star ratings ....

..... OR, even BETTER, how about NEGATIVE star ratings??

I grew up watching the original GET SMART ..... I LOVED the show.
When I heard that this movie was being made, I was excited.
When I heard that Steve Carell had been chosen to play Maxwell Smart, I thought that he was a good choice.
He's NOT my favorite comedic actor, but I thought he'd do a pretty good job!!
I was really looking forward to this movie.

BOY, WAS I WRONG ..... AND DISAPPOINTED!!!

As I sat in the theater, I was almost in tears.
The ONLY amusing scene in the ENTIRE movie was when "THE ROCK" stapled a piece of paper to someone's head.
(I've had thoughts of doing that to some "DESERVING" folks myself from time to time)

Anne Hathaway is a DYNAMITE looking woman, and again I thought she'd do a great job as agent 99.
BZZZZZZZZZZT ---- WRONG ANSWER!!!
Apparently, no one can replace Barbara Feldon either.

How ANYONE could rate this movie with 5 STARS .... (Shrug)
How ANYONE could even think that this was actually a FUNNY movie, is totally beyond me.
I personally rate it NEGATIVE 20!!!

Except for that one scene with "The Rock," I found NOTHING even mildly amusing. In fact, I had trouble NOT dozing off,
BUT I stuck with it and watched EVERY SECOND!!! I will ALWAYS regret that decision.

OBVIOUSLY, I shan't be purchasing this item.
In fact, the studio would have to PAY ME to include it in my collection, and they could NOT pay me enough to own this P.O.S.!!!

Can you tell how disappointed I am??? November 26, 2008

Get Smart - Smart Buy

I love this movie! And in Blu-Ray HD, it is like going to the movie and seeing it again and again without having to slip on popcorn butter on the floor! November 26, 2008

Funniest movie this year!

This had to be one of the funniest movies we have seen this year. I love the use of originals from the old series, and love the Max is not a complete idiot. Truly funny for all!!! November 26, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...