Get Smart– 2008
I have never seen the original Mel Brooks 1960’s TV series of the same name, but if Steve Carrel’s ’08 incarnation is any indication, it may be something I will seek out. It is hard to tell exactly if the bulk comedic success comes from the spirit of its source material, but it is more likely veteran comedy directed Peter Segal and one of the premier
Since making a name for himself in the Farrell hit Anchorman, and the Apatow debut The 40 Year Old Virgin, Steve Carrel has been a reliable and steady presence in various indy and mainstream comedies. He continues his success here as a former pencil-pushing analyst for the intelligence agency “Control” thrust into his dream position in the field after headquarters is attacked. There are ample laughs in this flick, but unlike the recent “spoof” comedies, it does not lambast various spy comedies and popular culture, but is a self-contained and sly experience that ekes from the strength of its stars and clever scripting for laughs. Carrel’s performance as a by-the-books but highly skilled agent is a fascinating meshing of character and is perfect alongside veteran agent 99, (Anne Hathaway) and the suave and charismatic Agent 23 (The Rock).
Also scoring an abundance of laughs is Alan Arkin as The Chief of Control. Arkin has been on a role since his Oscar winning performance in Little Miss Sunshine and here his droning and unflinching line delivery is spot-on. Extending its grasp to include other genres, Get Smart is also a tight little action flick in its own regard. While many of these sequences interlude slapstick elements, the stunts and explosions hold their own, and dare us to be thrilled and entertained simultaneously. Essentially Get Smart is outcast in its own right. Not truly existing as a direct spoof of other genre films, but instead seems to leach the spirit of all spy, rags to riches, fish out of water films and as such, almost spoofs itself; it certainly has a good enough sense of humour.
Despite the thoroughly enjoyable ride, there are imperfect elements at play. Some sequence are drawn out to the point that they become perfunctory, and others opt to exploit slapstick humour to a delirious extreme, most likely to appease to the younger demographic who will fall below the scope of certain puns. However these segments are far and in between and never obstruct the narrative in a detrimental fashion. The villains are not altogether menacing, and exist more as an instrument to the comedic elements. But the true star of this film is Carrel, and he never falters, even when the material given lies upon questionable ground.
In brief, if Kung Fu Panda is a ounce junior for your taste, and you are craving a comedy fix following the long passed Forgetting Sara Marshall, this audacious agent amusement is a delightful diversion from the mundane world in which you (most likely) are not a secret agent. Boasting strong leads and clever scripting, Get Smart chalks up another comedy hit for Carrel and thankfully did not miss it the mark. Not even by ‘that much’.
© 2008 Simon Brookfield
