Film adaptations of popular TV programs have never been big box office or critical successes. Peter Segal’s re-imagining of the successful 1960’s spy spoof Get Smart hopes to buck the trend, and somewhat succeeds in doing so.    

Steve Carell is perfectly cast in the role of Maxwell Smart, a thorough yet bumbling analyst at the super top secret government agency known as Control, who wants nothing more than to go out into the field.

Control’s arch nemesis is the devious terrorist network Kaos, led by Siegfried (Terrence Stamp). When the news breaks that Kaos have created and distributed nuclear weapons to unstable dictators, Smart is charged with the mission to stop Kaos’ plans for world destruction, only after the identities of the rest of Controls’ agents have been compromised. Playing the straight man (or woman in this case) to Carell is Anne Hathaway who plays Agent 99, a super spy partnered with Smart.

Get Smart is a satisfactory globe trotting action comedy (with unfortunately more emphasis on the action) which features throwbacks and references aplenty to the hit TV show, yet comes off surprisingly as non-nostalgic.

The films strength (and indeed drawcard) is Carell, who gives an astute comedic performance which hits the popular characters clueless and satirical wit, while bringing a physical presence as well. There are several hilarious scenes featuring Carell in mind numbing slapstick mode, some of which showcase his ability to convey pain with hilarious results.  

The films weakness however lies in the casting of Anne Hathaway, who has the looks and the sex appeal (director Peter Segal gives her legs more attention than anything else) yet does not project a fun vibe for Carell to play off, the chemistry between the two literally and virtually non-existent.

Terrence Stamp, Dwayne Johnson and Alan Arkin round out an on pitch cast, Arkin especially throwing in some great zingers.

The film features decent enough satire of the current political landscape, along with several predictable jabs George W. Bush who is given a good smack down through James Caan’s inept president.

However, needed was more humour and less action. For some reason Segal and co. seem to be competing against the Bourne movies and the likes of Casino Royale, which is exactly not the type of espionage film Get Smart should be aiming hoping for.