Get Smart (2008)

Get Smart (2008)

Director: Peter Segal

Writers: Tom J. Astle & Jack Ember, based on characters by Mel Brooks & Buck Henry

Stars: Steve Carrell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin, Terence Stamp, Terry Crews, David Koechner

Analyst Maxwell Smart (Steve Carrell) of the secret intelligence organization CONTROL gets his chance to work in the field when the identities of current field agents are compromised. 

In collaboration with the seasoned Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway), he goes on the trail of Siegfried (Terrence Stamp), an evil mastermind with a plot to destabilize the world. 

This update of the classic 60s TV series is lots of fun. 

Carrell is perfectly cast and makes the part his own instead of copying Don Adams's performance. 

The filmmakers include many tributes to the original show without becoming self-conscious about it. 

There are some big action sequences that don't let us forget that we're watching a comedy, because the laughs are integrated so well. 

Many plot-driven comedies lose steam in the final act as the filmmakers address their obligation to resolve the storyline without successfully working in enough good jokes. 

That is not a problem here. 

I can remember at least three big laughs in the climactic sequence.