'Get Smart' Review

Anne Hathaway as Agent 99 and Steve Carell as Maxwell Smart in Get Smart.  Watch the trailer:  http://www.moviefone.com/movie/get-smart/27152/main

The  Get Smart TV series came out when the James Bond movies and TV's The Man From U.N.C.L.E  were at the height of their popularity. I wasn't a big fan because parodies like this weren't that funny to me and usually lost their inventive edge as they progressed. I still think that Bond and his fellow spies were serious parodies of the Cold War and a humorous parody of a serious parody diluted the humor and bordered on silliness. OK the TV series had some funny bits and how Edward Platt who played the chief could keep a straight face during Don Adams' antics still amazes me. Otherwise I don't have any fond memories of the show since it's been years since I've seen an episode.

   How this movie will come across to people unfamiliar with the original is the big question.  We took Mom to see it and she enjoyed the jokes, slapstick humor, and action scenes. A lot of money was spent here and it's all up on the screen.  Steve Carell seems to have understood what made the TV show work and put his own spin onto his character. Although he's the butt of most of the jokes, he does save the day in his own convoluted way that usually exasperates his team.  The rest of the cast is in tune with the script that gets overly complicated at times but there's enough jokes to get through those scenes. Some jokes fall flat but there's enough belly laughs provided by sight gags to keep the merriment moving along.  As long as you're seen a James Bond movie with its high tech gadgetry and action stunts, you'll understand why the TV show was a hit and so might be this movie.