The rest of the cast is serviceable with the exception of Terence Stamp. This may be the first time this has been said, but he was simply awful. Maybe it was just a paycheck for him or he knew going in that he was going to be in a crap movie, but he certainly gave zero effort.
I’m trying to think of something good to say about the movie. There are a couple cameos, one of which is so pointless I can’t begin to understand why they even put him in the movie. I guess it was another scene that was supposed to be funny that was brutally not; it was downright uncomfortable.
The ending was so predictable I had to hold my breath to keep from groaning. They do try to pay homage to the show at one point. I’ll leave that detail unspoiled for those of you that plan on wasting your money on this. To be honest, I found myself more interested in the number of Raisinets that came in the box I was holding than the actual movie.
In the end, Get Smart is a dull, uninspired, clichéd mess. Skip it.
Article comments
1 - Jordan Richardson
So Anne Hathaway was serviceable? I'm in!
2 - Joanne Huspek
Thanks for the review. I'm thinking Steve Carell is tapped out. He's been playing the same character for his last six movies. Plus, all those wacky gadgets that made the TV show a success are now a reality. Can we all say "ho-hum?"
I think I'll wait for the DVD to come out.
3 - Derek Fleek
I'm still probably going to see it. At least I now know what to expect. Thanks for the heads up Garon.
4 - El Bicho
The movie, while not as funny as the series, is not as bad as this review indicates. I saw an early cut of the film and while there were flaws in the story, thought it worked better than expected and had more laughs than a typical Hollywood blockbuster.
5 - Joseph C. Cavella
Get Smart movie review
As one of the writers of the original "Get Smart" TV series, I was dismayed by the new, flawed "Get Smart" movie--I never understood why remakes don't at least talk to the original material writers. Maybe it's a kind of immature tantrum, "I want to do it myself, mom."
That said, for the writers of the next remake, here's a bit of advice: The essence, the fun of the Don Adams character was his child-like confidence and his bravado (not unlike the character often played by Bob Hope) presaging the inevitable catastrophic blunder. "Sorry about that."
Any writer charged with vetting agent 86 should start by studying the origin of the character, Don's early nightclub routines. His defense attorney bit: "Look at those trim ankles, the well turned calf. Now I ask you. Are those the legs of a homicidal maniac?"
Joseph C. Cavella