NOW IN THEATERS

GET SMART
Rated PG-13
Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Terence Stamp, Alan Arkin

Brian’s Rating       

One of my weekly rituals as a child was watching Get Smart, one of the few television comedies for which my parents and I had equal affection.

We followed the adventures of bumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart, watched his innocent romance with Agent 99 unfold, and worked his quotable dialogue into everyday conversations.

It was a kinder, simpler world, well-suited for Get Smart’s brand of humor. Those who have never seen the TV series created by Mel Brooks will be somewhat shortchanged by the 21st century film version, but the writers do an excellent job of bringing the audience up to speed quickly.

Steve Carell and the lovely Anne Hathaway are expertly cast and there are enough laugh-out-loud moments to distinguish Get Smart as one of the better comedies of the summer.