Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Get Smart

Starring Steve Carrell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Alan Arkin.

I enjoyed this movie. Carrell does a great job in the role Don Adams made famous. Carrell's style of humor works well for the role of a spy who saves the world despite himself. Hathaway lends fine supportas the female lead. The Rock returns to his big man as funny man role he debuted in "The Rundown." Arkin is at his usual funny self as the head of CONTROL, a secret government agency that spends mostof its time battling the evil crime syndicate CHAOS.

It's sort of a mixture of Johnny English, James Bond and Mission Impossible. Carrell is more Johnny English than Bond. The nod to the Bond films is Maxwell Smart's (Carrell) swiss army pocket knife which has dozens of features including a blow torch and grappelling wire. Smart can also dance, shoot and drive with the best of them but is too socially clueless to be a snob.

Agents of CHAOS have stolen some nuclear weapons and are smuggling them into countries throughout the world. CONTROL field agents have been compromised so its up to Maxwell Smart, the newest agent-who finally passed the exam-to go into the field. With him is Agent 99(Hathaway) who puts up a brave front but we know will fall for Smart. Terrence Stamp as a head bad guy is more amusing than menacing. But this is a comedy. Some humor is directly aimed at a young audience. Those old enough to remember the tv show should get a kick out ofthis movie as well. Recommended viewing.

1 comment:

leo509 said...

Patrick, thanks for your reply. Carrell's style of humor isn't for everyone. I find his character in "The Office" to be horrifyingly amusing. I'd hate to work for a boss like Michael Scott, but I enjoy watching the show.