When reviewing this movie look no further than the front liner and protagonist Maxwell Smart, played by well renowned actor Steve Carell. Carell was at the peak of his popularity at the time this movie came out, as he was in the middle of playing Michael Scott in The Office. He already had a hilarious reputation as an actor, and for me Get Smart took that to another level.
Carell is paired with veteran agent 99, played by Anne Hathaway, as she and Smart both work for the CIA and are tasked with stopping crime syndicate KAOS, after they attack U.S spy agency control. 99 is a savvy agent whose witty and completely capable in combat.
On the other hand, much like his name Smart has intelligence and is often boisterous about outstanding field exam scores. But in the field itself, which 99 makes clear to him is far different than a written test without any actual danger in front of you, Smart has some downfalls at first. His foolishness and absurd thought process in those moments that drives 99 up the wall provides a huge chunk of the unforgettable funny moments the movie has to offer.
The spunky core cast rounds out with Dwyane "The Rock" Johnson as Agent 23, and Alan Arkin as chief of operations for the CIA. In addition, the outrageously rude and sarcastic Siegfried, who plays the perfect funny enemy in this film, as he runs the operations of KAOS.
The poor ratings by movie critics could be a product of some loose ends in the plot. Even though it is meant to be an unrealistic and fun loving comedy that spins off of previous movies with the same concept.
But to answer any critique regarding the plot, I think the movie does a fantastic job of grabbing the audience emotionally, and turning the end of a loose and goofy comedy into a thrilling ending in which it demands the audience to be invested.
In an action packed last half hour of the film, Smart is putting in confinement by the CIA because he "falsely" sensed radio activity while he and agent 99 were in Russia probing a bakery. It turns out there was radioactivity in the bakery and agent 23 is exposed as a double agent when its discovered he probed the bakery earlier and made sure to overlook the dangerous activity inside.
Agent 23 immediately captures Agent 99 and tells the chief and Smart that if they follow him, he'll kill her. Smart pulls off all time heroics by saving 99 from being hand tied in 23's moving car. The two of them then proceed to discover a bomb planted by KAOS underneath a piano being used at a concert performed for the U.S President, played by James Caan, and stop a potential disaster.
Of course there's love and romance built in as Smart and Agent 99 end the movie dating, as their relationship sprouts while they're out in the field together. A fitting ending relationship wise considering 99 used to date 23, who turned out to be evil and Smart stopped him in his tracks.
Between the riveting action, excellent casting, and above all else the non stop comedy that makes Peter Segel's Get Smart a great film fitting for anyone in need of a good laugh.
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