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June 19, 2008
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Dork vs. Dork: Get Smart I’ll put stock in Alan Arkin, Steve Carell and yes, even Dwayne Johnson. They’ve delivered in nearly every film, with Johnson’s goofy football forays like The Game Plan and Gridiron Gang excused by the impeccable record of Arkin. And yes, Evan Almighty is a pulsating ulcer on Carell’s CV, but you can’t make a comedy omelet without a few broken eggs. Get Smart is a pitch-perfect fit for this gang, a nostalgic property with reinvention written all over it. The original was funny but never so clever or esoteric that we should resist the urge to reimagine it. Between Arkin’s wry sarcasm, Carell’s honed-to-a-razor’s-edge bumbling idiocy and Johnson’s unexpected but alarmingly fine-tuned comic timing, this reboot should do fine. Summer popcorn larfs NOT overly laden with scatological gross-outs or teen-baiting titillations are hard to come by, but Get Smart appears to fit that bill to a tee. Beyond the formidable comedy talents of Arkin and Carell, Bill Murray, Patrick Warburton and Terrence Stamp round out the ensemble, possibly packing more genuine humor talent per square inch of actor than any movie since the last Rodney Dangerfield (God bless his heart) vehicle. I think audiences will rightly take a breather from the non-stop action of the summer so far and find themselves “lovin it” with Get Smart. — Glenn Given Dan Responds Is it already that time? I’ve been dreading this. Well, let’s just face it head-on. The new Get Smart movie is just another ramshackle, half-baked effort to cash in on the good will and charm of the original TV series. None of the subversive humor will be present. None of the wacky, tongue-in-cheek rib-poking will be played up. This is a movie directed by Peter Segal, whose claim to fame in Hollywood thus far has been three Adam Sandler movies, one Chris Farley movie and Nutty Professor II. I mean, what did he think when he saw the script for Nutty Professor II: “Hmmm, I’m going to give this one a shot because I really believe my particular style of direction will bring depth and complexity to Eddie Murphy’s fat suit.”? I dare you to find a hint of subtlety in anything Segal’s done. That’s what’s made the Get Smart TV series so fine, and it will be sorely missed. Then there’s Anne Hathaway. Let’s not even start. And oh no ... poor Steve Carell. He’s no Don Adams. Carell’s career seemed destined for Bill Murray heights, but after Even Almighty and Dan in Real Life, it looks like he’s headed for the Steve Martin dustbin of white-bread family fare. And The Office is sooo good. I’d say something like “be smart and save your 10 bucks,” but the joke will be too highbrow for anyone interested in this disaster. — Dan Szczesny Glenn Responds
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