"Get Smart"--a movie review

It's Friday, movie day for me, and the choice was very limited for opening movies being either "The Love Guru" or "Get Smart". I would have had to be really desperate to see the former so the latter won by default.

Just as there are some actors whose movies I wouldn't miss there are some that I wouldn't see even for free. On the latter list, to mention a few, are: Mike Myers, Will Farrell, Adam Sandler, Jack Black, (except when they are voices in cartoons)as I found they go for the crude, rude, vulgar jokes aimed at teen age boys that turns me off. By the same token I LOVE Jerry Lewis and Mel Brooks so sue me!!! LOL

I didn't expect much going in to see "Get Smart"--hopefully a few laughs. I never did see the TV series but I knew it was a 007 spoof and had been created by Brooks. I am sort of on the fence regarding Steve Carell having never seen The Office but enjoying him in The 40 Year Old Virgin and not being impressed with the 2 movies following that. After seeing this I am still on the fence regarding him though I was impressed with his dead pan humor and how well he looks in suits and tuxes! :O)

To me THE revelation about this movie was Anne Hathaway!! I've enjoyed her in previous movies but in this she really wowed me. There is one scene where she is avoiding laser beams that shows off all her beauty and sex appeal. I am sure there were body doubles and stunt people used in some of her scenes but she is a standout in many segment including a tango episode. It was a pleasure just looking at her on the big screen and she got the comedy down pat.

Another surprise, to me, was Dwayne Johnson who has gone from "The Rock" to being an excellent comedy performer and a believable actor.

There are some wasted cameos by James Caan, Bill Murray and, hopefully for a paycheck only, a bad guy performance by Terrace Stamp. Alan Arkin plays Alan Arkin which is neither good or bad.

There are a few other supporting players that add some sparkle to the film but I didn't get their names--one being a big, tall, huge villain and the other a fat woman who makes the audience laugh with her not at her in a very good dance sequence--she and Anne Hathaway are rival dancers in that tango sequence I was talking about.

The film, being a spy take off, has many gadgets used by the agents--some work and some don't--just as there are chases, plenty of special affects double bungling agents and lots of stunt work.

At times the story doesn't make sense but in a movie like this that isn't really important. Though fast moving it seems very long at 110 minutes.

The bottom line is, yes, I had a few out loud laughs and a few grins but this film is worth seeing if only for Anne Hathaway's performance!!!