 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Get Smart
- Review Date: June 16, 2008
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Silly and fun, but edgier than the classic TV series.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that kids are more likely to want to see this broad spy comedy because of stars Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson than because it's based on the classic TV show (though that might be a draw for some parents). The movie version is a bit edgier than the series -- it's got some swearing (including "bitch" and a couple of "s--t"s) and a good bit of action -- but it's by no means for adults only. The physical humor will definitely appeal to kids, though because of the frequent use of guns and other weapons by both the good and bad guys -- sometimes with relish -- the movie is most appropriate for older tweens and up. Expect a few cheap-shot jokes made at the expense of the overweight and some political barbs, though the latter will likely go over the head of younger viewers.
What's the story?
Forget the underlying plot in GET SMART, the modern-day cinematic adaptation of the classic TV series. What passes for one -- something about evil organization KAOS' attempts to bomb Los Angeles, with a preamble about weapons theft in Russia -- is rudimentary at best and confounding at worst. The movie is really the triumph-of-the-underdog story of Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell), a brilliant-but-nerdy analyst at secret government agency CONTROL who finally gets his wish to become a field agent when headquarters is attacked and the identity of all of CONTROL's operatives -- except for Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) -- is compromised. It's up to Max and 99 to stop the bad guys and save the day ... provided they can learn to work together.
Is it any good?
You could quibble about the movie's uneven plot, but why let that get in the way of a good time? Carrell doesn't so much slip into original Get Smart star Don Adams' shoes (which do make a satisfying appearance) as put a cerebral sheen on them, playing Max (aka Agent 86) as delightfully eager to please and not entirely inept. Not really inept at all, in fact.
The rest of the cast also attacks the admittedly lightweight material with zest. Hathaway gives 99 a little sex appeal -- but she has the brawn to match, too -- and as superstar Agent 23, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson clearly has muscle power, but he's also surprisingly subtle and effective. But it's Alan Arkin, as the chief of CONTROL, who makes a particularly delicious impression, making what's essentially a one-dimensional character into a complicated curmudgeon who still proves he has the goods when the time comes. (Also keep your eyes peeled for plenty of inspired cameos.) With teamwork and some truly impressive gadgetry -- which really is half the point in a movie like this -- the cast manages to elevate the material. In the end, it feels like Get Smart only missed greatness by "this much."
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about why so many TV shows get made into movies. What do you think the appeal is for filmmakers? For studios? Does nostalgia translate into big audiences (and big profits)? Why do some succeed and others fail?
What shows would you like to see turned into movies? Why?
Why does Max want to be an agent so badly? What motivates him? What about his idea that our enemies are real people, too? Can you think of any other movie spies who have that perspective?
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- Teens & kids
Teen, 13 years old
April 6, 2011
AGE
very good for tweens
very funny movie a little sex talk but very entertaining
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Teen, 15 years old
March 21, 2010
AGE
Don't watch the movie; just go see the original
Being a fan of the original series, of course I hated the movie. No one can act like Don Adams. He was simply a comedy genius. Not even Bill Dana (who played CIA Agent Quigley in the season 5 episode "Ice Station Siegfried") could get Max played right. It's simply not to be done. Don Adams, and only Don Adams, was born to say "would you believe..." Now, don't get me wrong, Steve Carell's a great actor, but he's JUST NOT MAX!
Lay off, filmmakers, and let people see the original! That goes for you, too, colorizing people, leave the black and white shows black and white!
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Kid, 9 years old
March 3, 2011
AGE
Steve Carrel is so funny! He is my favorite charactar, except for agent 99, who rocks. The movie is funny and awesome! WATCH I!!!!!!!!!!
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Teen, 13 years old
February 3, 2011
AGE
One of my all time favourite movies! Full of slapstick and verbal humour, insanely funny, and full of great characters. Agent 99 and Max are some of the funniest movie characters ever. Example...
"Freeze!"
"Freeze."
*pause*
"No you freeze!"
"You freeze."
"I told you to freeze-"
"Freeeeeze times infinity!"
"Oh my god..."
I totally recommend this to anybody who likes a good funny movie, because it's serious at times but then it gets broken by some comic relief from Anne Hathaway or Steve Carrell. Amazing movie, its a must see!
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Teen, 14 years old
February 17, 2011
AGE
This movie, despite all it's innappropriate content, is a must see for the whole family. It truly is an extremely funny movie. I laughed all way through.
Suggested MPAA Rating:
PG-13 for crude and sexual humor throughout, some language, and comic action violence.
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Teen, 14 years old
December 14, 2010
AGE
Very funny Steve Carrol movie. Violence is not too intense, cars catch on fire, bullets fly in the air, and fist fights occur.
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Adult
March 20, 2009
AGE
A good movie with Sexual Innuendos.
This is a great movie but you need to be warned about the sexual content. There is a scene that resembles gay man sex but it's not really happening. Sexual Innuendos are quite common but they are not graphic. This movie is funny, but is a little stupid. If you don't like goofball comedies you won't like this one. Otherwise, this is a good movie.
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Kid, 10 years old
May 17, 2011
AGE
good for kids
I loved it great for kids.
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Kid, 12 years old
February 20, 2011
AGE
Get Smart Seriously Do It IOr Do U Have No Brain?
a little bit of violence but as long as you are 10 or older i think it is ok to watch it!!
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Kid, 12 years old
January 29, 2010
AGE
The inappropriate humor outweighs the appropriate humor.
This remake of Get Smart does not live up to the TV show. Not only does the funniness go down, but the crude and sexual humor goes up. There's LOTS of inappropriate jokes and suggestive scenes, plus a lot of language and mild violence. Wait until teenage years to see this one, but it's not really worth it. A WAY more funny, less inappropriate alternative for the spy-spoofery genre would be the Steve Martin 2006 Pink Panther.
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| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Peter Segal |
| Cast: | Anne Hathaway, Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Steve Carell |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 100 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 20, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | November 3, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | some rude humor, action violence and language |
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