1godzillafan
06-21-2008, 01:24 AM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/1godzillafan/Getsmart08.png
As a fanboy, I consider myself lucky. I hear a lot of complaints about the feature film adaptations of Starsky & Hutch, Dukes of Hazzard, and Bewitched when they're released by die-hard fans who claim their favorite show was raped in front of them. I, myself, was never into Starsky & Hutch or Dukes, and while I enjoy the original Bewitched, I'm not obssessive about it. I was quite ho-hum about all three adaptations of these shows, and I honestly didn't really give a damn what the producers did with them.
Now, there have been feature film adaptations of some shows I do really love, but I don't think one has sparked anger in me yet. Of my five favorite television shows, three of them have made it to the big screen (and the other two, Whose Line is it Anyway and Star Trek: Enterprise, will gain theatrical release on a cold day in hell). Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie hit theaters in 1996, and was a lukewarm experience. The movie is very funny, but was hacked up by the studio and we were handed half a product. The Simpsons Movie was set loose last year, and while fanboys who hate the recent seasons whined about it (as expected), I found it a genuinely enjoyable hour and a half. Get Smart's feature film came in the Nude Bomb, a 1980 attempt to kick off a Maxwell Smart movie series. Out of all the films mentioned in this paragraph, Nude Bomb is easily the weakest, as the only actors from Get Smart to reprise their roles were Don Adams as Maxwell Smart and Robert Karvelas as Larabee and the film retains pretty much no continuity with the series it was spawned from. The spy organization of CONTROL became the less funny acronym PITS and Max's wife Agent 99 was, sadly, erased from existance. While the Nude Bomb was an amusing film, it only provided chuckles and pretty much no hard laughs.
These three film have one thing in common, none of them were an updated relaunch with an overhauled cast. They all had the charm of watching the characters played by their original actors on the big screen in a glorious letterbox format. This recasted relaunch wouldn't happen until now, when a post-Don Adams' death feature adaptation of Get Smart finally came about. I always knew it would happen some day, but that didn't mean I wasn't nervous about it. I've heard rumors bouncing back and forth for years, with many actors being linked to the role of Max. From Jim Carrey (who I like, but his humor isn't suited to the more subtle style of the show) to Will Ferrell (who I prayed to the lord in hope that he would leave the project. Sorry, Ferrell fans, I don't find him that funny). Then Steve Carell was brought into the picture, and my interest peaked.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/1godzillafan/PH2008061900936.jpg
"Are the angry fans gone? Is it safe to make this movie now?"
Ah, Mr. Carell. I must admit I haven't followed his theatrical work. I skipped 40-Year-Old Virgin mostly because the idea of a movie where Steve Carell lost his virginity just sounded unappealing. Evan Almighty was one I didn't see mostly because I didn't really care for the original Jim Carrey vehicle Bruce Almighty. Come to think of it, the largest role in a movie I've seen Steve play was the uncle in Little Miss Sunshine. However, I was familiar with his work on the Office and the Daily Show, and I knew one thing about Carell...he was funny. Not only is he funny, but he is the spitting image of Don Adams back in the 60's. The man was perfect. Maybe this would be good.
Now the movie is out. So am I content...or shall I join the ranting fanboys mentioned above? All I have to say is I watched every frame and scene from this movie "...and loving it."
The film has pretty much every nod to the original series I could hope for, including a few I didn't think of (didn't expect Fang to pop in there), though I admit being disappointed they couldn't fit the male agent disguised as a sexy female dancer in there (s/he's one of my favorites). Not only that, the concept was updated in all the right ways to make it work in a modern setting for modern audiences. I will admit, Get Smart is dirtied up a bit with some bodily function and sexually suggestive jokes (though, I won't deny there were a few of these in the Nude Bomb as well), but they don't dominate the film and the humor that was so sharp in the original series shines just as brightly here.
The premise is the same, spies vs. spies with witty verbal remarks and funny physical humor. Certain roles have been changed, though. While the main character of Maxwell Smart is the same competant yet over-confidant (and clumsy) agent he was in the series, here he is just starting out and trying to prove himself. I liked watching this story play out, and thought it was a good arc for the character, though I was iffy on certain points on it. The flashbacks with Carell parading around in a fat suit were a bit too much, methinks. While at the time, Barbara Feldon's original Agent 99 was one of the strongest women on television, she is considerably more subdued by todays standards, and is a bit of a puppy dog who follows Max around. The 99 of the film updates the 60's strong female into a modern strong female: a sexy super-spy bursting with self-esteem. The main villian is Siegfried, unsurprisingly (since he was the most commonly used villian on the series, and Maxwell Smart's arch-nemesis). While he contains several recognizable traits of the original Siegfried, movie Siegfried is a much harder and nastier individual. This is understandable, since the filmmakers obviously want to legitimise the threat.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/1godzillafan/GetSmart1-opt.jpg
No villian can defeat the might of awsome hero pose.
The main test I didn't expect the film to pass was spirit, but the spirit of the series was kept alive, and I'm happy that they showed respect for these beloved characters. There were times in the film where I found myself laughing at the dialogue, then when I was done, pictured the lines coming out of the mouths of Don Adams, Edward Platt, and Bernie Kopell, and then I found myself laughing again. It proved to me that the film was really in tune with what made the television series work. One of those things was casting. Adams, Platt, and Kopell were brilliant together as Max, the Chief, and Siegfried, providing many moments of comic gold. And in the film, they found the best men for the job to replace them. Steve Carell has Max down to a tee. He captures Don Adams manorisms beautifully, and while he doesn't try and emulate Max's unique speaking voice from the original series, he does speak with a slightly higher than normal tone to try and closer himself to it without doing a poor Adams imitation. Alan Arkin steals the show as the Chief, and his few scenes generate the biggest laughs of the film ("We don't jam staples into people's heads! That's CIA crap!"). And Terence Stamp...wow, Terence Stamp...he plays Siegfried with more menace than Bernie Kopell ever attempted. Yet, he never loses the comic grace of the character. That says a lot of Stamps acting skills, as far as I'm concerned.
Other updates of previously established characters include (of course) Agent 99, played by Anne Hathaway. Hathaway is a pretty girl (though Barbara Feldon is prettier, IMO), but I was worried about how she would handle the character. Luckily, she is graceful and fun. God help me, I really liked her. Ken Davitian plays a physically different Shtarker from his television series counterpart, but his doofus stooge additude is perfectly in synch with the original. Bill Murray and Patrick Warburton are both perfectly casted in their roles as Agent 13 and Hymie, as well, and they'll be the favorite scenes of many fans who watch this movie. The only actor that didn't work for me was David Koechner as Larabee. Larabee was never my favorite character on the series, because his character always seemed to be fighting a losing battle with Max for the big laughs in a scene. The Larabee of the movie is a much different character, however he is a very obnoxious one. I didn't like the portrayal at all.
Characters exclusive to the film are Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Agent 23 (who needs to make another action movie. No more Game Plan crap, thank you) and Masi Oka and Nate Torrence as lab techs Bruce and Lloyd (who, bizarrely enough, are getting a direct to DVD spin off in 10 days. Why they deserve this? Beats me). Each has their own moments to shine, and none are ever really painful to watch.
There are a few cameos to boot. Not only a ton of old Get Smart equipment (including a late scene in the film which includes all three main cars Max drove during the series), but Siegfried actor Bernie Kopell (driving one of those cars, hillariously enough) and guest star and good friend to Don Adams James Caan both make welcome appearances in the film. Too bad they couldn't book Barbara Feldon, since she would have been a pleasing sight to my eyes.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/1godzillafan/getsmart2.jpg
"Good morning, Agent 86. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to out funny Mike Myers in the Love Guru. This'll be the easiest paycheck you'll ever make."
The film is directed by Peter Segal, who has directed several comedies worthy of my DVD shelf, including the threequel Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult and Chris Farley's masterwork Tommy Boy. Segal directs the film with flaire, as he rapid fires fast pace, gags, and action straight into the audience's faces. Not a dull moment goes by in the film, and Segal's knack for physical comedy comes in handy for the action pieces laces with jokes.
I was hoping Get Smart would be good, but what I got blew me away. I certainly didn't expect it to be a contender for best movie of the year (and as much as I loved Doomsday and am looking forward to the Dark Knight, Get Smart just may take this honor). With luck, the series has been revived in feature film form, with plenty of sequels on the way (I demand 15 of them. Don't ask me why, I just want them). Sign me up for G:S-2: Get Smarter. If Carell, Arkin, and Stamp are back, I'll be there.
**** out of ****
As a fanboy, I consider myself lucky. I hear a lot of complaints about the feature film adaptations of Starsky & Hutch, Dukes of Hazzard, and Bewitched when they're released by die-hard fans who claim their favorite show was raped in front of them. I, myself, was never into Starsky & Hutch or Dukes, and while I enjoy the original Bewitched, I'm not obssessive about it. I was quite ho-hum about all three adaptations of these shows, and I honestly didn't really give a damn what the producers did with them.
Now, there have been feature film adaptations of some shows I do really love, but I don't think one has sparked anger in me yet. Of my five favorite television shows, three of them have made it to the big screen (and the other two, Whose Line is it Anyway and Star Trek: Enterprise, will gain theatrical release on a cold day in hell). Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie hit theaters in 1996, and was a lukewarm experience. The movie is very funny, but was hacked up by the studio and we were handed half a product. The Simpsons Movie was set loose last year, and while fanboys who hate the recent seasons whined about it (as expected), I found it a genuinely enjoyable hour and a half. Get Smart's feature film came in the Nude Bomb, a 1980 attempt to kick off a Maxwell Smart movie series. Out of all the films mentioned in this paragraph, Nude Bomb is easily the weakest, as the only actors from Get Smart to reprise their roles were Don Adams as Maxwell Smart and Robert Karvelas as Larabee and the film retains pretty much no continuity with the series it was spawned from. The spy organization of CONTROL became the less funny acronym PITS and Max's wife Agent 99 was, sadly, erased from existance. While the Nude Bomb was an amusing film, it only provided chuckles and pretty much no hard laughs.
These three film have one thing in common, none of them were an updated relaunch with an overhauled cast. They all had the charm of watching the characters played by their original actors on the big screen in a glorious letterbox format. This recasted relaunch wouldn't happen until now, when a post-Don Adams' death feature adaptation of Get Smart finally came about. I always knew it would happen some day, but that didn't mean I wasn't nervous about it. I've heard rumors bouncing back and forth for years, with many actors being linked to the role of Max. From Jim Carrey (who I like, but his humor isn't suited to the more subtle style of the show) to Will Ferrell (who I prayed to the lord in hope that he would leave the project. Sorry, Ferrell fans, I don't find him that funny). Then Steve Carell was brought into the picture, and my interest peaked.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/1godzillafan/PH2008061900936.jpg
"Are the angry fans gone? Is it safe to make this movie now?"
Ah, Mr. Carell. I must admit I haven't followed his theatrical work. I skipped 40-Year-Old Virgin mostly because the idea of a movie where Steve Carell lost his virginity just sounded unappealing. Evan Almighty was one I didn't see mostly because I didn't really care for the original Jim Carrey vehicle Bruce Almighty. Come to think of it, the largest role in a movie I've seen Steve play was the uncle in Little Miss Sunshine. However, I was familiar with his work on the Office and the Daily Show, and I knew one thing about Carell...he was funny. Not only is he funny, but he is the spitting image of Don Adams back in the 60's. The man was perfect. Maybe this would be good.
Now the movie is out. So am I content...or shall I join the ranting fanboys mentioned above? All I have to say is I watched every frame and scene from this movie "...and loving it."
The film has pretty much every nod to the original series I could hope for, including a few I didn't think of (didn't expect Fang to pop in there), though I admit being disappointed they couldn't fit the male agent disguised as a sexy female dancer in there (s/he's one of my favorites). Not only that, the concept was updated in all the right ways to make it work in a modern setting for modern audiences. I will admit, Get Smart is dirtied up a bit with some bodily function and sexually suggestive jokes (though, I won't deny there were a few of these in the Nude Bomb as well), but they don't dominate the film and the humor that was so sharp in the original series shines just as brightly here.
The premise is the same, spies vs. spies with witty verbal remarks and funny physical humor. Certain roles have been changed, though. While the main character of Maxwell Smart is the same competant yet over-confidant (and clumsy) agent he was in the series, here he is just starting out and trying to prove himself. I liked watching this story play out, and thought it was a good arc for the character, though I was iffy on certain points on it. The flashbacks with Carell parading around in a fat suit were a bit too much, methinks. While at the time, Barbara Feldon's original Agent 99 was one of the strongest women on television, she is considerably more subdued by todays standards, and is a bit of a puppy dog who follows Max around. The 99 of the film updates the 60's strong female into a modern strong female: a sexy super-spy bursting with self-esteem. The main villian is Siegfried, unsurprisingly (since he was the most commonly used villian on the series, and Maxwell Smart's arch-nemesis). While he contains several recognizable traits of the original Siegfried, movie Siegfried is a much harder and nastier individual. This is understandable, since the filmmakers obviously want to legitimise the threat.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/1godzillafan/GetSmart1-opt.jpg
No villian can defeat the might of awsome hero pose.
The main test I didn't expect the film to pass was spirit, but the spirit of the series was kept alive, and I'm happy that they showed respect for these beloved characters. There were times in the film where I found myself laughing at the dialogue, then when I was done, pictured the lines coming out of the mouths of Don Adams, Edward Platt, and Bernie Kopell, and then I found myself laughing again. It proved to me that the film was really in tune with what made the television series work. One of those things was casting. Adams, Platt, and Kopell were brilliant together as Max, the Chief, and Siegfried, providing many moments of comic gold. And in the film, they found the best men for the job to replace them. Steve Carell has Max down to a tee. He captures Don Adams manorisms beautifully, and while he doesn't try and emulate Max's unique speaking voice from the original series, he does speak with a slightly higher than normal tone to try and closer himself to it without doing a poor Adams imitation. Alan Arkin steals the show as the Chief, and his few scenes generate the biggest laughs of the film ("We don't jam staples into people's heads! That's CIA crap!"). And Terence Stamp...wow, Terence Stamp...he plays Siegfried with more menace than Bernie Kopell ever attempted. Yet, he never loses the comic grace of the character. That says a lot of Stamps acting skills, as far as I'm concerned.
Other updates of previously established characters include (of course) Agent 99, played by Anne Hathaway. Hathaway is a pretty girl (though Barbara Feldon is prettier, IMO), but I was worried about how she would handle the character. Luckily, she is graceful and fun. God help me, I really liked her. Ken Davitian plays a physically different Shtarker from his television series counterpart, but his doofus stooge additude is perfectly in synch with the original. Bill Murray and Patrick Warburton are both perfectly casted in their roles as Agent 13 and Hymie, as well, and they'll be the favorite scenes of many fans who watch this movie. The only actor that didn't work for me was David Koechner as Larabee. Larabee was never my favorite character on the series, because his character always seemed to be fighting a losing battle with Max for the big laughs in a scene. The Larabee of the movie is a much different character, however he is a very obnoxious one. I didn't like the portrayal at all.
Characters exclusive to the film are Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Agent 23 (who needs to make another action movie. No more Game Plan crap, thank you) and Masi Oka and Nate Torrence as lab techs Bruce and Lloyd (who, bizarrely enough, are getting a direct to DVD spin off in 10 days. Why they deserve this? Beats me). Each has their own moments to shine, and none are ever really painful to watch.
There are a few cameos to boot. Not only a ton of old Get Smart equipment (including a late scene in the film which includes all three main cars Max drove during the series), but Siegfried actor Bernie Kopell (driving one of those cars, hillariously enough) and guest star and good friend to Don Adams James Caan both make welcome appearances in the film. Too bad they couldn't book Barbara Feldon, since she would have been a pleasing sight to my eyes.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/1godzillafan/getsmart2.jpg
"Good morning, Agent 86. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to out funny Mike Myers in the Love Guru. This'll be the easiest paycheck you'll ever make."
The film is directed by Peter Segal, who has directed several comedies worthy of my DVD shelf, including the threequel Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult and Chris Farley's masterwork Tommy Boy. Segal directs the film with flaire, as he rapid fires fast pace, gags, and action straight into the audience's faces. Not a dull moment goes by in the film, and Segal's knack for physical comedy comes in handy for the action pieces laces with jokes.
I was hoping Get Smart would be good, but what I got blew me away. I certainly didn't expect it to be a contender for best movie of the year (and as much as I loved Doomsday and am looking forward to the Dark Knight, Get Smart just may take this honor). With luck, the series has been revived in feature film form, with plenty of sequels on the way (I demand 15 of them. Don't ask me why, I just want them). Sign me up for G:S-2: Get Smarter. If Carell, Arkin, and Stamp are back, I'll be there.
**** out of ****