Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageGet Smart (2008)
Director: Peter Segal
Synopsis
Big-screen version of the hit 1960s comedy about an accident-prone spy called Max Smart. The film version sees Smart, who works for the secretive government agency CONTROL, battling the dastardly KAOS with the help of Agent 99 and the newly created character Agent 23.
Movie review
From Time Out London
Clearly relishing a return to his bumbling, likeable ‘40 Year Old Virgin’ persona after four years as the equally bumbling but distinctly unlikeable Michael Scott in ‘The Office’, Steve Carell seems to be enjoying himself as tech-nerd-turned-secret agent Maxwell Smart. Adapted from the popular spoof TV series created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, the movie follows Smart and his leggy sidekick Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) as they hunt down terrorist forces that are attempting to infiltrate the secret government agency CONTROL.With its roots firmly planted in the ’60s spy-pastiche genre, it’s perhaps unavoidable that ‘Get Smart’ has a whiff of ‘Austin Powers’ about it. But, in fact, that over-familiarity extends to the whole enterprise, from the knockabout violence and slapstick pratfalls to obvious gags about aeroplane toilets and fat women. The overlong script takes no risks: its globetrotting plot is replete with signposted twists – the big last-act reveal will astonish no one over the age of six. ‘Nutty Professor II’ director Peter Segal consistently substitutes big bangs for big laughs – in the age of low-budget joys such as ‘Knocked Up’, this kind of overblown effects bonanza is beginning to feel decidedly outdated.
Some moments work. Bill Murray makes a welcome, if rather perfunctory, cameo as an agent trapped inside a tree, and the climactic car chase is exciting and remarkably well constructed. But overall this is a limp parade of recycled gags and gadgets: an action movie with no surprises and a comedy with nothing like enough laughs.
Author: Tom Huddleston
Time Out London Issue 1983, 21-27th August 2008
User reviews of this film
-
- Hannah said...
- Posted on Oct 28 2008 13:23 Keleeeeee - Actually u can't comment on whatever page u like cos this is the GET SMART page. I said if u want too comment on The Dark Knight and moan at me there I would be happy to.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- keleeeeeeeee said...
- Posted on Oct 20 2008 17:04 Hannah I am allowed to comment on whatever page I like!!!!! U say that u are entitled 2 your own opinion. Well so am I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND I OBVIOUSLY don'T neEd To WoRrY AbOuT It being a different person cos u have justr confirmed that it is you!!!!!!!1 DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Hannah said...
- Posted on Oct 20 2008 16:56 keleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. This page is for talking about Get Smart not complaining about my review of The Dark Knight. If u want 2 do that get back onto The Dark Knight. And for all u know it could have been someone else with the same name as me who had wrote this comment and they would have had no clue what u were talking about. I an entitled to my own opinions
- Report as inappropriate
-
- keleeeeeeeeeeeeeee said...
- Posted on Oct 20 2008 16:46 Hannah u have not even seen the dark knight so don't say it woz rubbish incase u are wondering how I know dis I have been on the dark knight page and read your comments. OK I didn't totally love the dark knight but I still don't think you should just comment on a film wen you haven't even seen it. Get smart is fab though!!!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- confused cookie said...
- Posted on Oct 13 2008 14:54 Hannah get smart was not an action film it was an action comedy
- Report as inappropriate
-
- smiley cookie said...
- Posted on Oct 13 2008 14:51 Thank u hannah 4 agreeing wif me.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- hannah said...
- Posted on Oct 13 2008 14:49 I think that it was the best action movie of the year. Much better than movies like The Incredible Hulk(i was forced to see this on a school trip) and the Dark Knight. I would have seen it again if i had had the chance
- Report as inappropriate
-
- cookie crumbled said...
- Posted on Oct 09 2008 17:06 Iz anyone gonna agree wif me???? Anyone at all???
- Report as inappropriate
-
- cookie said...
- Posted on Oct 07 2008 16:33 I disagree with all the people who said that this movie sucked.I have seen far worse. Did anyone see the incredible hulk movie???? Now that was awful. OK maybe some of the jokes in Get Smart weren't totally hilarious but it wasn't exactly painful too watch!!! Whover thinks that I think that you need to watch the movie again before you decide what you really think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- cookie said...
- Posted on Oct 07 2008 16:33 I disagree with all the people who said that this movie sucked.I have seen far worse. Did anyone see the incredible hulk movie???? Now that was awful. OK maybe some of the jokes in Get Smart weren't totally hilarious but it wasn't exactly painful too watch!!! Whover thinks that I think that you need to watch the movie again before you decide what you really think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Ben said...
- Posted on Sep 10 2008 19:23 Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that this film is TERRIBLE?
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Ben said...
-
Posted on Sep 10 2008 19:22
Absolutely Terrible. I saw this before it came out, in the previews, and somewhere in the middle of the film I wanted to tear out my eyes and ears as the jokes were SO LAME! But don't worry, I am slowly recovering from this awful film. The 3 best words for describing this film is:
Awful, Lame and TERRIBLE! Please, i advise you all to stay as far away from this film as possible. - Report as inappropriate
-
- tari said...
- Posted on Sep 09 2008 16:25 rocks and its funnny
- Report as inappropriate
-
- tari said...
- Posted on Sep 09 2008 16:25 rocks and its fun
- Report as inappropriate
-
- DONNA said...
- Posted on Sep 03 2008 17:04 I thought this film was about a dog. Very disappointed. One of the worst days of my life. XD XD.
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Peter Segal
Cast: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, The Rock, Terence Stamp, Alan Arkin, Terry Crews, David Koechner, James Caan, Bill Murray, Patrick Warburton, Masi Oka, Nate Torrence, Ken Davitian full cast
Rated: 12A
Duration: 110 mins
UK Release: Aug 22 2008
US Release: Jun 20 2008
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Time Out's 50 greatest monster movies
As Joe Johnston’s long-awaited reinvention of Universal’s howl-at-the-moon classic ‘The Wolfman’ hits cinemas, Time Out lists our 50 favourite cinematic stalkers, growlers, slashers and biters.
Mark Kermode: A life in film
Dave Calhoun chats to Britain's most outspoken film critic and pundit ahead of the release of his memoirs
Has Ricky Gervais gone all serious?
The trailer to 'Cemetery Junction' suggests that its writer-director is suppressing his funny bone.
The genius of Roman Polanski
Ahead of his new film, 'The Ghost', we must forget the media circus and remember the artist pleads Wally Hammond
Oscars 2010: The nominees
Tom Huddleston offers his acute analysis on the list of nominees for the 2010 Academy Awards
Rotterdam 2010: Geoff Andrew's report
Geoff Andrew finds rich leftfield pickings at the 2010 Rotterdam Film Festival
Can Tom Ford cut it as a director?
After ten years as creative head of Gucci, Tom Ford has directed his first movie. Nina Caplan meets him
Time Out's 101 Films of the Decade
So here it is… Ten years, thousands of movies and millions of dollars in international box office, and it all boils down to this.
2009: The year in film
We look back at the best movies of 2009 and pick out some of our favourite lists, features and interviews.
What do you think?
Post your review now