Background: It's another Hollywood remake of a classic TV series; this time updating Mel Brooks' affectionate spy spoof Get Smart (1965-70). The original comedy starred Don Adams as bungling secret agent Maxwell Smart, who works for CONTROL and regularly fights the evil organization KAOS -- with the help of his sexy, more capable partner Agent 99.Review: I chuckled at the short teaser awhile back (Steve Carell stuck in a phone booth), but got a bit worried by early less-than-ecstatic reactions from test audiences. But, on the evidence of this trailer, Get Smart at least appears to be a slick film with some amusing parts and a terrific cast. It definitely looks like a lot of fun, despite being similar in plot to the inane Johnny English.
The trailer isn't perfect (it's a bit too lazily slapstick and clichéd in its design/music), but it gets the job done and looks appropriately polished and contains a few good laughs ("Did you see anything while I was dancing?" -- "Just once; but I don't think you expected him to lift you so high.")
But it's the casting that's really clicking with me: Steve Carell is the perfect modern equivalent to Don Adams, gorgeous Anne Hathaway makes a long-overdue appearance in something more "mainstream" as sexy Agent 99, the superb Alan Arkin is The Chief, Dwayne Johnson as charismatic bone-head Agent 23 and Terence Stamp as the hammy villain! Excellent. Even glimpses of the supporting players has me excited: Heroes' Masi Oka and Borat's Ken Davitian.
Prediction: I think we're in for a big hit, although I'm still slightly worried by the concerns from people who saw an early cut. I'm hoping it's been licked into shape since then, or the early birds were simply being too picky. Based on the trailer: I'm excited. This is surely the summer's big mainstream comedy to beat.
Prediction: I think we're in for a big hit, although I'm still slightly worried by the concerns from people who saw an early cut. I'm hoping it's been licked into shape since then, or the early birds were simply being too picky. Based on the trailer: I'm excited. This is surely the summer's big mainstream comedy to beat.
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Oh, what the hell: here's a screen-grab of scrummy Anne Hathaway. I know that's where the guys will be pausing...
