GET SMART

"You're our new Agent, Max"

Maxwell Smart (Carell) is the best analyst that Control has but all he wanted to be is an agent the super secret US Intelligence agency. When the HQ of Control is attacked by Kaos, the world criminal organisation that they thought had been defeated, and all the data on Control's active agents is stolen, The Chief (Arkin) is forced to used the two agents that Kaos doesn't know about. They are Agent 99 (Hathaway) who has just had extensive plastic surgery to change her identity and Control's newest agent, Agent 86 Maxwell Smart.

Hollywood has looked into the archives again to find inspiration but this time they have chosen a classic 60s show that should make the transition with ease but will 'Get Smart' capture box office gold?

With James Bond and Jason Bourne setting the standard when it comes to spy and espionage, there is no real point in taking on the giants of the genre but just in the way that TV responded to Bond's success in the 60s and 70s with shows like 'Mission: Impossible' and 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.', there was a show that parodied the genre and became a cult classic, 'Get Smart'. This was a show set within the espionage world were a secret agency of the US Government called 'Control' battled against an organisation of super criminals named Kaos. This, of course, played fun with the MI6 and S.P.E.C.T.R.E. confrontation made so famous in the Sean Connery era and 'Get Smart' series creator, the parody master Mel Brooks, really had fun with this making the show an instant his with the audience and becoming a cult classic of the genre.

Now in the new millennium, when Hollywood is grasping for ideas and with the success of Bourne and the reinvigoration of the Bond franchise, it was obvious to bring 'Get Smart' to the silver screen and for the most part it is a success. This is simply because of the all-important casting of Maxwell Smart, the bumbling analyst turned Agent when Control's best are wiped out in a Kaos attack, and that man charged with filling the late, great Don Adams' shoes is Steve Carrel. The star of the American version of 'The Office' and blockbuster hits like 'The 40 Year-Old Virgin' and 'Little Miss Sunshine', was the obvious choice for the role and he revels in the part. The casting of Smart's reluctant partner, Agent 99 has also been handled well with the gorgeous and talented Anne Hathaway. The rest of the casting is also very good with Alan Arkin as the Chief, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as super spy Agent 23, Terence Stamp as Kaos agent Siegfried, 'Heroes' actor Masi Oka and Nate Torrence as 'Q' like technicians Bruce and Lloyd and some good cameos from James Caan, Patrick Warburton and Bill Murray.

While the casting is excellent, the story needed a little more work. The fact the Kaos has taken out all of Control's top agents after finding out their identities, meaning that top analyst and agent wanabe Maxwell Smart is only one who the Chief can turn to, to solve the case and locate the Kaos operatives behind the attack. This, of course, leads to many a bumbled attempt and even with the best intentions, Max struggles to make the step up to Agent but with the help of Agent 99 you know what is going to happen next. It is the finale that lets the film down however, with the Kaos agents becoming more of a bumbling fool than Maxwell himself. This is a shame, as what comes before is a lot of fun.

'Get Smart' is a fun big screen adaptation of the classic Mel Brooks TV show. With another good role for Steve Carrel and an all-star supporting cast, this looks like it could become its own movie franchise and one that captures the essence of original show and really rolls with it.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 1.85:1 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is good.

BONUS FEATURES

Smart Takes
Steve Carrel introduces a special, interactive feature, which give the viewer the chance to see deleted or alternate versions of scenes within the movie.

Spy Confidential (5.39 mins)
Watch bloopers and gags from the filming of 'Get Smart'

Language Lessons (3.30 mins)
Steve Carrel talks about 'Get Smart' in French, Italian, German and in Sign Language and he thinks that he is communicating everything international fans need to know about the film, or is he?

OVERALL

The DVD treatment for 'Get Smart' is very disappointing. While the 'Smart Takes' feature is a good way of showing the deleted or alternate scenes, the rest of the bonus features are very disappointing. The Blu-Ray is much better however, with much more extra material, so fans of the film should opt for the High Def version.

DVD

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2008