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Mr. Beaks Likes GET SMART, Loves Anne Hathaway!
GET SMART may have been one of the cleverest sitcoms of the 1960s, but it didn't last for five seasons on wit alone; if it were simply a matter of funny, shows like POLICE SQUAD! and ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT would still be running today. For whatever reason, American TV viewers require a palpable emotional investment in the characters to keep tuning in. They crave sexual chemistry between the leads. Cliff and Norm were just the sideshow; it was Sam's scorching/frigid romances with Diane and Rebecca that turned CHEERS into a ratings juggernaut.
Though I wouldn't call the Maxwell Smart/Agent 99 dynamic "smoldering", there was a subtle charge to the Don Adams-Barbara Feldon interplay that seemed to hook audiences. I'd argue that this was almost exclusively a byproduct of Feldon's overwhelmingly mod-ish sex appeal, but Adams's persistent obliviousness definitely challenged Feldon; she had to work twice as hard just to penetrate his narcissism. But, yeah, now that I seriously consider it... mostly she was just really freakin' hot.
Still, that was enough to keep the show on the air for half a decade (they kinda neutered it when Max and 99 got married and had twins), and, with Peter Segal's big screen rendition of GET SMART, that same va-va-voom factor is sufficient to transform an otherwise agreeable summer action comedy into something almost memorable. Once again, Maxwell Smart is a closed-off, career-obsessed nincompoop who gets by on the brilliance of others - only this time he's painfully self-conscious about his weight (Max recently shaved off a few hundred pounds, which means you're getting a fat-suit gag, mister, and you're gonna like it!). In Carell's hands, this is all much more affecting than it ought to be (the script, credited to Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember wants no part of comedic inventiveness or anything that might unmoor the film from convention), but even his charm can't conquer banal screenwriting on its own (look, I woke up on the couch a few weeks ago and EVAN ALMIGHTY was on; I did not seek it out).
Usually, Segal tries to overcome weak material by dragging in talented ringers like John Turturro, Chris Rock, and Nelly; he does that with GET SMART, too, but, for whatever reason, he gets very little of the funny stuff out of David Koechner, Terry Crews and Masi Oka (there's one killer cameo early in the film; it involves an agent hiding in a tree, and I'll not spoil it any further). Perhaps plot mechanics got in the way. Fortunately, Segal ignored the potential ick factor of casting a twenty-five-year-old bombshell opposite a deeply unsensual actor twenty years her senior; thanks to his bravery, we now have incontrovertible proof that Anne Hathaway is a movie star.
Hathaway's 99 differs from Feldon's iteration in that she's outwardly resentful of Max's incompetence; as an experienced field agent (the writers adequately explain away the age difference with a blown cover/plastic surgery device), 99 is incensed that she's been dropped into a critical mission - the infiltration of good ol' KAOS - with such a bumbling clod. We later discover that a good portion of her anger is derived from the fear of blowing her cover again for the very same reasons, but the backstory isn't really necessary. Cliched exposition is perfectly forgivable when you've the pleasure of watching a classic beauty like Hathaway slither through one extravagant wardrobe change after another.
What's odd about Hathaway's performance is that this is the first time she's seemed remotely interested in her male costar. She devoured both Adrian Grenier and Simon Baker in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, ditto Freddie Rodriguez in HAVOC, and got nothing out of James McAvoy in the dreary BECOMING JANE. These are not unattractive or untalented men, so it's strange to see her so damn into Carell from the get (would you believe that most of her resentment of Max is feigned?). I'd chalk it up to the Seth Rogen factor (which we discussed yesterday), but this is the same actress who bolted KNOCKED UP because she couldn't generate a single spark with her would-be co-star.
Hathaway has long been on the verge of a breakthrough performance, but, up until now, she's generally been the least compelling element of some very good films. Though I loved looking at her in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, that movie belonged to Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt; meanwhile, she was painfully miscast in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. However, something clicked in GET SMART. It's the first time she's been completely in charge of her sex appeal onscreen (if HAVOC weren't a downright risible film, her performance might've seemed more daring than reckless). It's strange that a four-quadrant blockbuster based on a Cold War-era parody would be the film to draw this out of her, but who cares? She's ready.
Peter Segal deserves more credit than he's likely to get for the film's pacing; ephemeral fare like this tends to bog down after ninety minutes, but he keeps things humming for a solid 110. That's not easy. And while the ringers generally fail to deliver, Alan Arkin makes a sublime "Chief". If GET SMART manages to become a franchise, Segal should leave his actors more space to riff; there's too much potential being wasted in this movie.
Faithfully submitted,
Mr. Beaks
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+ Expand All
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Looking forward to it
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'
fsdgsfdghfdgh -
Much like this clueless review.
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that somebody liked it...the early buzz had me worried....My wife and I will be plunking down our $5 for the matinee show tomorrow...
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yeah, she's a little piece of ass....of course most male reviewers are going to like her. She was great in Brokeback Mountain too...esp the scene in the backseat of the car.
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Stand with me and keep the PLANTS from taking root!
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Oh yeah... Spoiler...
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but no one can beat Don Adams... period. His timing was akin to Jack Benny's.
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I got a free sneak preview. I should have written a review at the time. Fans of the original will no doubt enjoy this. It's not quite as witty in the same ways, but good in others. Anne Hathaway is spank-it hot. Carrell does a dead-ringer Don Adams, although Don's delivery was a little more high pitched and staccato. Still, if you liked the show, this is a solid "B". I laughed quite a few times, and there were times the audience roared! This movie was far more enjoyable than Zohan.
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Is it perfect casting? No. But a Wonder Woman movie needs a bank-able star, and Hathaway is it. Hit the gym, Annie!
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between Cliff and Norm.
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I'd have to disagree with you Beaks. Anne was excellent in the Brokeback film (which probably saved her career after being in a couple bad movies), especially when her character is on the phone at the end, talking about Jack's death.
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Yeah. I know. GET SMART (the show) was before Austin Powers, but all I can think of as I watch these previews it THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME. Sorry. I'm lame. I'm not going to see this.
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Fwap fwap fwap.
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Beaks has been writing on and off for this site for YEARS and not like one or 2 but for like 9, or 10 years, so he's not a plantinteresting review Beaks, it seems that most people who liked this liked tt because of the acting and not really out of the story, that'll get me to the theatre because I love watching an actor do his stuff when they really click with it
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maybe I'll rent it then.
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That she's a big fan of The Office. That's probably partly why she is convincing to be into Carell's Smart. Not that she has the hots for Carell, but she probably is legitimately impressed with him.
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...Jennifer Love Hewitt. There are just some girls who don't have IT. They look pretty, their bodies are hot, but they give off no chemistry to anyone. We've all dated one of these. They just end up being annoying in the end.
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now will someone off Merrick?
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his scathingly negative Indy review?
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...but one of the greatest nights of my life involved spending time with John Ratzenberger in a local bar after he did one of his "made-in-America" spiels. My friends spent six months calling me "Norm" after that.
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Not bad. Not great. The action is surprisingly good - better than the comedy. I think that they get the character of Maxwell Smart wrong. He's too good in the movie. He's actually legitimately intelligent and actually has some skills. I can't say I totally agree with Beaks though - I honestly thought Anne Hathaway came off as a raging bitch for most of the movie, but I do like looking at her, so she balanced out for me.
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Zero interest. I loved the TV, no reason for this movie other than money.
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Is he in it much? Is he funny?
Woulda been nice to know some stuff about the actual film. -
wait, I mean her awesome breats, I love her awesome breasts.
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carell does a very good job, anne hathaway is hot as fuck as was previously stated, and arkin, murray and kevin nealon are all fantastic in their parts as usual. i'd give this movie a B+ and recommend it highly as the only new movie worth seeing this weekend.
god, i'm so fucking excited for wall-e -
Just got back from a midnight show. I really enjoyed it. Everybody in it is pretty hilarious, but especially Terrance Stamp and Dwayne Johnson.
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at least for the next 10 years or so. then the wall approaches..
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Husbandly duty and whatnot.....
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"Missed it by that much. Actually, the new version of Get Smart misses by a fair-size margin. It's too bad. It's just trying to give us a good time at the retroplex." Yup, total shame it tries to recreate the TV show it was based on.
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Perfect start to the weekend. And Ms. Hathaway can roundhouse kick me anytime. God, those legs...Steve Carell is a lucky bastard, and the movie looks like great fun.
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I really used to find her attractive. But every time I see her at an event, she looks..... strange.
http://i29.tinypic.com/sma8mc.jpg
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No sexual chemistry between Det. Frank Drebin and Capt. Ed Hocken? ARE YOU SERIOUS? This guy is out of his fucking skull. Police Squad rules.
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...because she's worrying about her corporate bloodsucker boyfriend staying out of jail (i.e. her cashflow)
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Problem is when somebody actually has an opinion about not liking something these days they get:
- Relax, have fun it's just a movie
- You don't know what you're talking about
- Hater
- Cry baby
...etc.
Toss in some Diablo Cody-esque profanity and, well, you get the picture.
Films are no longer allow to suck or be good because then you couldn't possibly know what the hell you are talking about. -
...Hathaway being "painfully miscast" in BROKEBACK. Did we watch the same movie? That phone call alone between her and Ledger is amazing, not to mention the little moments... I love her, and I think that's one of her finest roles.
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and in that skin tight leather things is reason enough for me to go.
And she was awesome in Brokeback. The Thanksgiving scene the dinner out, the quiet desperation and that last phone call. Brilliant work,way beyond nything she's been allowed to show before and she delivered. -
A man vanishes for three years, and the instant he returns, it's "plant!" city.
Gotta say, beaks, it's really good having you back. Where else am I supposed to get my just-this-side-of-academic-nerd postmodern musings on film from, if not you? Loving the new reviews - but come on - I need NERDIER! -
but the real george kennedy is sexier
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"Born to Ramble"
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Jun 20, 2008 1:19:21 PM CDT
I've actually seen some pretty funny trailers for this
by crichtonastronut
this couldreally be pretty good. "If I were CONTROL you'd be dead already."
"If you were Control you'd be dead already."
"Well, neither of us are dead so I must not be Control."
Henchman
"That actually makes sense." -
...is because she likes the women.
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Isn't it obvious? Daddy issues.
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It's like a warning no one is picking up on! These unfunny films want to lure guys with the hot chicks in hopes they won't notice the actual movies suck. You know it's true.
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Welcome home. Huzzah for Beaks! Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!
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You cheeky monkey, you used the word 'painfully' twice in your article.
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I buttfucked your mom and sister the other night , wasnt bad
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Come back to CHUD. You know where actual film discussion occurs.
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