Opening Day: 19 June 2008

Synopsis:

Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) is on a mission to thwart the latest plot for world domination by the evil crime syndicate known as KAOS. When the headquarters of U.S. spy agency Control is attacked and the identities of its agents compromised, the Chief (Alan Arkin) has no choice but to promote his ever-eager analyst Maxwell Smart, who has always dreamt of working in the field alongside stalwart superstar Agent 23 (Dwayne Johnson). Smart is partnered instead with the lovely-but-lethal veteran Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway). Given little field experience and even less time, Smart--armed with nothing but a few spy-tech gadgets and his unbridled enthusiasm--must thwart the doomsday plans of KAOS head Siegfried (Terence Stamp).

Movie Review:

The one person who makes this movie one notch above other run off the mill comedies out there is a certain Steve Carell.

Sure, he was not that hilarious in Evan Almighty (2007) and we almost thought he was turning into a serious actor in Dan in Real Life (2007). But as Agent 86, Carell gives a spot on performance which had us adoring his deadpan personality long after the end credits rolled. For the record, he wins the the girl too. Ah, why do things like that happen only in movies? And to someone who is as slapstick as Carell?

The premise of the movie is straightforward. Maxwell Smart works in CONTROL as a boring analyst (no offence to my academic friends out there), and gets promoted to an agent after he passes a test with flying colors (or so he thinks). Of course, the glamour of being an agent comes with a price. Before he knows it, the funnyman is given the task of saving the world. It involves conspiracies, espionage and other perilously treacherous matters. It doesn’t help that he has a thing for his female counterpart Agent 99 played by the luminous Anne Hathaway (Brokeback Mountain, The Princess Diaries). And not to mention a whole motley crew of supporting characters to make this movie fun and zany.

Let’s see, there’s Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (The Game Plan, Gridiron Gang) who plays Agent 23 with his larger than life biceps. The wrestler’s spot on comedic flair is getting increasingly amusing. Then there are respectable veteran actors like Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine, Rendition) and James Caan (Misery, Dogville) who lend credibility to this breezy summer popcorn flick. Also, check out the cheeky appearances by Bill Murray (Broken Flowers) and Masi Oka (TV’s Heroes) which makes the already hilarious picture even more entertaining.

You’d be kept amused by the actors’ witty performances, especially by Carell who engages you with his deadpan one liners and poker faced expressions. The man has got what it takes to be a real funnyman. Move over, Jim Carrey.

Directed by Peter Segal (50 First Dates, The Longest Yard), this movie is based on a 1960s television series created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry. Writers Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember (Failure to Launch) may not have adapted this classic favorite with the necessary contemporary touch, but it’s got a nostalgic old school charm to it. The laughs of this come in quick spurts, which are good enough to keep viewers chuckling throughout this 110 minute movie. Besides, there are some decent action sequences which involve adrenaline filled fight choreography, expensively loud explosions and intense chasing scenes. There are some bits which you may have seen in the trailer, but you’ll still guffaw at them when they play out on screen.

The comedy may be frivolous. The movie may be unimportant. But it’s so crazy, madcap and wacky, it makes us forget about the oh so serious matters that plaque our everyday lives. And we think that’s good enough to make this movie a nice fluffy date on a weekend.

Movie Rating:



(The movie is pure entertainment - It’ll be difficult not to be amused by Carell and his antics)

Review by John Li