Get Smart (Single-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Steve Carell, Anne HathawayStudio: Warner Home Video
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Running Time: 110 minutes
DVD Release: November 4th 2008
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DVD Review
Maxwell smart agent 86 for control battles the forces of kaos with the more competent agent 99 at his side. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/04/2008 Starring: Steve Carell Dwayne Johnson Run time: 110 minutes Rating: Pg13
User Reviews
I expected silly / dumb, but it was well done. - Rating: 4/5
1. I like Steve Carrell, but just based on the trailers, I thought this movie was going to be a little too silly or dumb in its humor.
2. Bottomline: a great cast of characters, well acted, good story line and smart / funny humor. Well done.
OK Remake of Beloved TV Series - Rating: 3/5
I approach most translations of TV series to the large screen with some trepidition. Some are good like "The Fugitive" and...um...that's the only one I could think of. "Get Smart" isn't bad however though not particularly memorable. The makers were wise by stylistically departing from Mel Brooks and Buck Henry's original blueprint but sprinkle the film with some amusing references to the original. Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway were also wise in not imitating Don Adams and Barbara Feldon as Agents 86 and 99. What jeopardizes the film's chances to continue as a franchise is that it's bogged down with an unmemorable central plot that makes it indistinguishable from, say, "Johnny English". Not a real disappointment but probably only worth a rental or checked out if it comes on cable.
Much Better Than Expected, Underrated Movie - Rating: 5/5
I didn't hear all that much about this movie but when I saw it, I was really surprised. The "smart" humor and constant action give this movie a well rounded finish. Anne Hathaway looks beautiful in everything she wears and has great chemistry with Steve Carrell that shines throughout the picture. Get Smart combines the best aspects of James Bond, Mission Impossible, and Austin Powers with an originality that cements it as a great movie in its own right. If you're on the fence about buying this movie, go ahead and get it. I promise any viewer that you will be pleasantly surprised and entertained.
Horrible - Rating: 1/5
Bloody horrible.
Generally love Steve Carrell, The Rock & the rest. But this film is right up there with the biggest piles of crap ever shot. Stunned & confused as to how people actually like this.???? Somebody? .... Pfft.... Anyway...... Maybe they were all dropped on the head prior to watching this? Only explanation really...
Anyone with any taste, avoid this like the plague. Up there with "North", "Jingle All The Way" & "League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen" as the worst films ever.
P.S. I wanted to give this zero stars, but for some reason it would not let me.
Fun from start to finish - Rating: 5/5
Although Get Smart has plenty of easy laughs in it, there are many places where the laughs are rather subtle and you have to both be paying attention and get what they are spoofing. Those laughs are probably the biggest if you spot them.
What can you say about Steve Carell? In remakes of this type it is easy for the movie actor to come up short of the legend created out of the popular TV role. (Will Smith as James West anyone?) As much as I enjoyed Don Adams in the TV series, Steve Carell one up's him and is a better Maxwell Smart than Adams was.
Anne Hathaway obviously studied Barbara Feldon's Agent 99 quite a bit, because there are lines in the movie where you could swear that a younger Feldon had been plugged in. She's spot on in the role.
The movie pays homage to Don Adam's most famous repeat bits without overdoing it one bit. The story is engaging, and the action is very well done, although you'll struggle to recognize that because they don't let up on the comedy accelerator even in the middle of action scenes that would be the most tense in any other film.
The Blu-ray redition of the film is a delight to watch. I don't go through special features often, so I won't comment on those, altho we did watch the outtake/gag reel and it was worth the time spent to watch it ... twice.
We have now watched this film several times as we played it for ourselves, and then various sets of family and friends. We enjoy it just as much with each repeated viewing ... a solid accomplishment for any film, and even more so for a comedy.
Obviously, if you like comedies this is highly recommeneded. If you were a fan of the Get Smart TV series, its must see.
