Get Smart (2008)

Director:

Peter Segal

Writers (WGA):

Tom J. Astle (written by) &
Matt Ember (written by) &
Mel Brooks (characters) ...

Release Date:

20 June 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy

Tagline:

Saving The World. And Loving It.

Plot:

Maxwell Smart, Agent 86 for CONTROL, battles the forces of KAOS with the more-competent Agent 99 at his side.

Plot Keywords:

Spy | Airplane | Exploding Building | Auto Theft | Ineptitude

Awards:

2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Steve Carell	...	Maxwell Smart
Anne Hathaway	...	Agent 99
Dwayne Johnson	...	Agent 23
Alan Arkin	...	The Chief
Terence Stamp	...	Siegfried
Terry Crews	...	Agent 91
David Koechner	...	Larabee
James Caan	...	The President
Bill Murray	...	Agent 13
Patrick Warburton	...	Hymie
Masi Oka	...	Bruce
Nate Torrence	...	Lloyd
Ken Davitian	...	Shtarker
David S. Lee	...	Krstic
Dalip Singh	...	Dalip

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some rude humor, action violence and language.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:12 | Finland:K-13 | Australia:PG | Ireland:12A | UK:12A | Singapore:PG | Greece:K | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Canada:G (Québec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Brazil:12 | Argentina:Atp | Malaysia:U | Norway:11 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #44068) | Taiwan:PG-12 | Peru:PT | Germany:12 | Germany:12 (f) | Netherlands:6 | Portugal:M/12 | New Zealand:PG | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | South Africa:13L | Iceland:7 (DVD rating) | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Gorky Street, Moscow, Russia

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The radio station broadcasting the concert for the president Sigfried is listening to in his car is a station that really does exist on the shown frequency. The station's name is KUSC and it broadcasts classic music all day.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Hymie staples Larabee's skull, Larabee and Agent 91 switch positions for the pain scene.

Quotes:

Larabee:Hey, Maxine! Why don't you come over here and we'll play a little game I like to call: 'Let's Go to the Dog Show'! I put a collar on you and make you my bi... AH!
[gets shot in the crotch with a paintball by Max]
Larabee:[while groaning, to 91] I think I really got inside head.
Maxwell Smart:[to 23] I am not proud of what I just did.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Entrapment (1999)

Soundtrack:

Take a Chance on Me

Get Smart Movie Review from The Massie Twins!

With loads of action, quirky humor, jazzy music, and shoe phones, Get Smart has admirably mimicked the blend of genres and innovations that made the original series so memorable, and while die-hard fans will likely pick apart what this re-envisioning doesn't get right, it's almost impossible not to laugh at Steve Carell's ludicrous on screen antics.

Over-analyzing analyst Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) dreams of becoming an official Agent for the top secret government organization CONTROL, and longs to execute action-packed spy missions like his idol, the charismatic Agent 23 (Dwayne Johnson). When CONTROL headquarters is attacked by longtime nemesis group KAOS and many of the Agents' identities are compromised, Smart is promoted to Agent 86 and partners with the unwilling Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) to thwart the villainous group's latest plan for world domination.

Whether or not Steve Carell perfectly embodies Maxwell Smart, he certainly knows how to handle his comedy. Excelling at both physical and verbal-stemmed laughs, Carell makes the tumbles look as easy as his notable style of quick quips and clever observations, and the funnyman seems to garner chortles even when the rest of the crew can't quite muster an equal energy. Anne Hathaway provides the good looks and serious attitude to counter Agent 86's incessant jokes, and the pair's on screen chemistry gels nicely throughout the majority of the film. A few slips and failed retorts interrupt the flow of their characters' progressions, but are quickly forgotten in the grand scheme. Alan Arkin furnishes several of the funniest moments in the movie and the Academy Award-winning actor never misses a beat when the camera turns his way. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson again confirms his status as a reliable comedic presence and laudably supports the leads. Many interesting cameos perforate the film, and while they're amusingly recognizable, they're also regrettably wasted. Few draw laughs with clever dialogue or comedic prowess, but rather produce a quick smile for those that get the reference or enjoy the recognition.

The humor throughout Get Smart always orbits around Carell and his singular style of comedy. Those that don't take a liking to his brand of wit will undoubtedly be less amused, as he is clearly the driving force behind the vast majority of the entertainment value present. While Carell's lines are rarely delivered without a magnetic humor, many of the conversations lose their luster midway, due to faltering dialogue and a lack of focus on creating the biggest laughs. Several of the extravagant set-pieces end with many a missed opportunity to supply more hilarity, and lots of little laughs spread the truly uproarious moments too thin. While a healthy dose of romance, drama, and some truly spectacular action scenes appears commendable, the devotion to these components often shortchanges the comedy.

From exotic locales to storm drains, and Moscow to Disney Hall, the action and humor follows Maxwell Smart at breakneck speed. A few feeble gags and missed chances at grand hilarity can't ruin the fun; and while they might have "missed it by just that much," it's not enough to detract from Carell's dynamic performance and the inspired comedy that trails closely behind.

- The Massie Twins