The first ten minutes or so of Get Smart are kinda unsatisfying, and I guessed “here we go, another preview that makes the dvd seems stronger than it is”. But it improves a lot after that point, mainly after the beginning face-off of Max with Agent 99

I’ve perpetually thought Anne Hathaway to be one of the prettiest Hollywood actors and she didn’t break me here either. Steve Carell has strong comic timing, he may on occasion remind people of Leslie Nielsen in The Naked Gun and Spy Hard style, but outside of that he finagles to make Max a authentically likable and human character, not just an animated cartoon.

The relationship Max and 99 have shaped at the end of the dvd video looks to be based to a greater extent on a friendly relationship than anything else.

Max and Agent 99 have some profound fight scenes, choreographed by fight scene mastermind James Lew. For a finale of action they include a stunning and manic chase sequence as well. By an action point of view I could say it easily outperforms that of last Bond films, though the comedy does not make it near as serious

You truly have a simple Bond fashion plot. You have the good guys who are after the bad guys for doing bad affairs…such as killing the President.

Yet after passing the field agent exam Max is not granted to go outside in the field of battle as his chief (Arkin) tells him that he is the best psychoanalyst they have and that he needs him to stay put. Notwithstanding Max is boosted to a field agent when the evil guys find out all of the names and addresses of the live agents and start to eliminate them, with the help of agent 99 (Hathaway) and agent 23 (The Rock/Dwayne Johnson) Smart is sent to take out the bad guys.

In honesty I didn’t imagine the movie would be as serious as it was. Carell has tremendous comedic timing, but supplying some very cool Bond Q-gadgets and a lot of action, it really does feel like a gratifying action flick. Also, the interpersonal chemistry with Hathaway and Carell was a perfect couple.

I really give this film a thumbs up. Great action, solid acting, and a wonderful girl (Hathaway), Get Smart is a success. It takes a unusual twist to comedies that make up more serious dvd movies and did it well.