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There isn't much to Get Smart that hasn't been done before, but it stands as a tribute to the 1960s TV show of the same name, starring Don Adams and Barbara Feldon. I've only seen a few clips of re-runs, so I have to admit I don't have much to say about the similarities or dissimilarities between the movie and the original show. Based on what I've seen and what fans of the show have told me, there are several tributes to the show in certain classic prop elements like a telephone booth passageway, a shoe-phone, and even famous phrases. I'm sure fans of the original show will be pleased to see the filmmakers have kept some of the elements that made Get Smart so popular in the 60s, consulting with character creators Mel Brooks and Buck Henry.

Funny man Steve Carell, plays Maxwell Smart, an analyst for a secret U.S. government agency called CONTROL. After KAOS, a global crime organization, attacks CONTROL headquarters and the identities of its spies around the world are compromised, the Chief (Alan Arkin) must promote Max to a field agent—his life-long dream. Now designated as Agent 86, Max is partnered with veteran vixen Agent 99, played by the doey-eyed Anne Hathaway.

Of course, Agent 99 is perturbed that she must work with a former pencil-pushing analyst with no experience in one of the biggest and sensitive missions CONTROL has faced. But Max, although a bit clumsy, is thrilled to be out on the field, and what he lacks in experience, he makes up for in enthusiasm. Together, they must stop KAOS' nefarious nuclear plans, headed up by its chief operative, Siegfried (Terence Stamp) and his oafy sidekick, Shtarker (Kenneth Davitian).

Max is an old-fashioned soul, a caring and reserved gentleman. He's concerned about thinking things through and doing the right thing, making sure that there is a clear distinction between good and evil, between the "bad guys" and the "good guys." Related to his decent goodness is a brief, almost out-of-place message in the beginning of the movie: that in order to defeat our enemies, we must see them first and foremost as people, and respect their humanity. Yes, we must never forget that they are truly the "bad guys," but they are also people who made bad choices, people who take cream with their coffee, people who laugh and cry, etc. This message really isn't consistent with certain plot elements and drowns in the surrounding hoopla, but there are a few instances that act as commentary for that premise.

For instance, an evil henchman reveals he's just a regular guy with marriage problems, and in another instance, sidekick Shtarker comments out loud, "I would quit, but [Siegfried] is married to my sister!" Both bad guys and good guys alike show moments of fragile humanity amidst their daring deeds in espionage.

Agent 86's past as an overweight analyst and Agent 99's tough, no-nonsense exterior as a shell for regret both work well as portraits for the fragility and insecurities of every day people. Carell is a perfect choice for an eager and bumbling agent who must prove himself a worthy secret agent in the most dangerous of circumstances. We root for him in most of his movies because there's an everymanness to Carell's characters that cause us to laugh and relate. It's great that he's not a totally incompetent fool either.

Max seemed to be a lot more inept in the original TV show than in this modern film version. By making Max a brilliant intelligence analyst before becoming an agent, the movie gives believability to the crazy situations Max gets himself into. Hathaway, a long way from her Princess Diaries roots, is decent as the jaded and beautiful partner, portraying moments of genuine sincerity and some butt-kicking strength.

Don't get me wrong here; the movie isn't about stellar performances and profound drama. There's a lot of lowbrow humor and silly dialogue, but it's an entertaining romp. And if you're looking for a laugh, Get Smart has a lot to offer with fun visual gags, some quippy dialogue, and even humorous action sequences. Unfortunately, a few of the jokes fall flat if you've seen any trailers for the movie. Some of the funniest moments are dulled to light hokey humor because we've seen the gags too many times. But still, veteran comedy director Peter Segal steers the movie right and we are treated to some big stunts, hilarious moments from a solid ensemble of characters.

I think Get Smart probably suffers the most in its story's familiar formula, with secret agents, double agents, mysterious villains, funny fist fights and big explosive finale. In fact, when I first saw the trailers and posters for Get Smart, I couldn't help but think of the similarities with Jackie Chan's The Tuxedo (2002), also starring an unlikely secret agent and his beautiful partner fighting crime, which interestingly, may have found inspiration in the Get Smart TV show. In any case, Get Smart may follow in the footsteps other comedy-spy movies, but it does a fine job of it, respecting its roots, and standing on its own as an enjoyable movie-going experience.