Get Smart is a spy-fi comedy that delivers on all fronts. The acting is universally good. Steve Carell plays it straight as the often incompetent but sometimes amazing Agent 86. This comedy is mostly about talk humor and Carell is very good at this. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) made Carell famous but Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and Get Smart confirmed his talents as a comedian. The supporting cast includes Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson and Alan Arkin. The film was released just before Hathaway became very famous. She's very talented, no question about it. She's an excellent actress but the good part is that she's a good comedian, and she proved this several times. It seems that she's best at physical comedy. In this film Hathaway as Agent 99 again showed that she's a very attractive screen presence. Johnson does good work as Agent 23. He's funny and likable here, so I will mention that I liked him in just about every film he's been in. Alan Arkin is perfect as The Chief, playing a more serious and fatherly character. The film's plot is of no great importance but the humor is consistent. In fact, this is the most enjoyable American comedy since Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005). Peter Segal's direction is suitable while Dean Semler's cinematography is a definite standout. It's obvious that a good deal of money ($80 million) was spent on making the film, so the action scenes are exciting as well. Get Smart is easily worth recommending. It's not an Oscar contender but it did what it set out to do very well.
Review of Get Smart
