Collegiate Times

In the original 1960s television series "Get Smart," Mel Brooks and Buck Henry were able to combine different genres of movies and create comedy gold. Mel Brooks's spoof films, including Spaceballs and Robin Hood: Men in Tights, have made him legendary. The "Get Smart" remake staring understated comedic actor Steve Carell and directed by Peter Segal fell a bit short of the original spy parody's spot-on hilarity.

Get Smart appeared to be trying way too hard to become a movie that it was not intended to be. The many action scenes were not integrated well with the comedy. The focus on action inevitably led to fewer laughs that I think Segal had planned.

Don Adams played Maxwell Smart in the series, and the character was egotistical while only excelling at spy work through sheer dumb luck. Steve Carell tried to pick up the pieces of the character, but couldn't quite fit them back together. In the film, Maxwell Smart is an analyst who has a knack for listening to chatter via satellite, producing 500 page reports on it, and is constantly in training to become a field agent. His personality is one of a nice guy with book smarts, but little social intelligence.

Smart is finally promoted when The Chief, played by Alan Arkin, has no choice because of his agents' identities being compromised. Paired with the sexy Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway), Smart is now known as Agent 86. 99 is not excited to work with the rookie, but the two make an interesting and relatively funny duo, but only on the professional side of their relationship.

Though 86 and 99 have some hilarious moments together, the director's decision to try to link them romantically failed. Unrealistic pairings may "work" for the sake of comedy in an effective spoof, but Carell and Hathaway are awkward and unconvincing.

Dwayne Johnson actually gives the most humorous performance in the film. That's right, "The Rock" is funny. However, he plays a character with the same attributes as most every character he's played: charisma plus good looks plus a few jokes. Whatever works for you, Dwayne.

Two actors not to be forgotten in this film are David Koechner and Terry Crews as best buds and fellow agents with CONTROL. Pairing Koechner who is a bumbling fool trying to act like a witty badass and Crews who really is a badass, but not so bright, was a great choice on Segal's part.

Carell does deliver some of his dry comedy in the film, though he seems to be trying to leave the witless humor of Michael Scott back in "The Office". Ken Davitian (you may remember as Borat's sidekick) gives us a few laughs, but not many he could, and his boss Siegfried (Terrance Stamp) is one of the most boring villains that I have seen in a comedy. I expected much more from Stamp.

Alan Arkin, however, delivers as the Chief of CONTROL. His seriousness and severity play out humorously, especially when his character full-on attacks the Vice President of the United States.

The film is packed with action, leaving the comedy behind a bit, but still proving to be entertaining. Next time though, if you want to load a movie with great comedians such as Carell, Arkin, and even a cameo appearance by Bill Murray, make sure the comedy is worth their while, and not bombarded by explosions and fight scenes.

Grade: C