Get Smart – The Complete Series (1995)
Reviewer: Tom Leins
Issue 106 August 2008
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Get Smarter?
The Lowdown: Zach (Andy Dick), the bumbling son of Maxwell Smart and Agent 99, is promoted to the role of CONTROL’s star agent. Out of his depth, he is teamed with the sizzling Agent 66 (Elaine Hendrix) and the intrepid duo bid to stop KAOS from getting their hands on the world’s economy…
Review: The imminent arrival of the Steve Carell/Anne Hathaway Get Smart movie is bound to prompt interest in the classic TV show that inspired it. However, the upcoming movie isn’t the first attempt to try and capitalise on the enduring success of the Mel Brooks/Buck Henry 1960s original. After an enjoyable 1989 TV movie reunion, this lightweight 1995 reprisal was produced for the Fox network – to the disinterest of all and sundry. Don Adams and Barbara Feldon reprise their original 1960s roles, but they are effectively supporting players in their own revival, playing second fiddle to the resolutely unfunny Andy Dick.
Shamefully, the show failed to recapture the offbeat spy caper spirit of the original and limped along for just seven episodes before being dumped amid a welter of cast sniping. It is easy to see why, as the show fails on virtually every level. The wackiness isn’t wacky enough, the gags fall flat and the comic timing is woeful. Hopefully the new movie will recall the halcyon days of the original and brush this cack-handed misstep under the carpet.
When airing on Fox in 1995, Get Smart became the first franchise to air brand new episodes on four different networks. Alas, when trivia is the most fascinating thing about a show, you know that you are on the wrong track. The smartest thing that you could possibly do would be to give this lightweight curio a miss and hold on for the hotly tipped Steve Carell vehicle instead…
FILM: 2
EXTRAS: 1
DVD Info:
Certificate: PG
Starring: Don Adams, Barbara Feldon, Andy Dick, Elaine Hendrix
Directed By: Nick Marck, 1995
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0
Visuals: 4:3 Fullscreen
Running Time: 153mins
Price: £15.99
Special Features:
Episode Selection
