Television adaptations are becoming rife in Hollywood these days. Mission:Impossible, Starsky and Hutch, Bewitched, Dukes of Hazzard; the list goes on. The latest addition to this list is Get Smart, based on the 60's series co-created by Mel Brooks, and i can happily confirm that this will join Star
Television adaptations are becoming rife in Hollywood these days. Mission:Impossible, Starsky and Hutch, Bewitched, Dukes of Hazzard; the list goes on. The latest addition to this list is Get Smart, based on the 60's series co-created by Mel Brooks, and i can happily confirm that this will join Starsky and Hutch at the top of the TV-to-film adaptations comedy pantheon. Very much in the spirit of The Naked Gun (not surprising considering Peter Segal directed Get Smart and Naked Gun 3), Get Smart is silly slapstick fun. Steve Carell is perfect as Maxwell Smart, playing the kind of loveable loser he's made a career out of, while Anne Hathaway kicks ass and looks beautiful, and they spark off each well. Dwayne "no longer The Rock" Johnson is effortlessly cool, funny and suave, while Alan Arkin, Terrence Stamp and Borat's Ken Davatian provide reliable and entertaining support. This film does tread similar paths as other spy comedies, but is able to sidestep the clichés and feels funny and fresh regardless. Add to that plenty of cool action scenes, hilarious visual and verbal gags and a superb comedic cast, and you have the surprise package of 2008. The sight of Steve Carell fighting the 7 foot 2 inch WWE wrestler The Great Khali is a beautiful sight indeed
