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‘Get Smart' provides a funny and satisfying diversion

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Last week I spent the entire week in South Texas at the coast with my grandson. We had an amazing time; I celebrated my birthday and I had the opportunity to relive my past as a surfer and beach bum. It was worth every minute, but I missed three screenings - one of which I will never see since, word is, it is one of the worst films ever. I refer to “The Love Guru,” and I can't post most of the adjectives used by my fellow critics to describe this “trash.” I'll get to see “Wanted” this week, so while I was in the Valley, I saw “Get Smart” - a film getting mostly mediocre reviews or worse, but I enjoyed it well enough. So did my friend, her husband, her 14-year-old daughter and my grandson who, while not completely cognizant of the higher level jokes, did sit still and laugh at the funny and action bits.

Based on the highly successful and long running 1960s television series of the same name, “Get Smart” follows Maxwell Smart (then played by funny man Don Adams), as he bumbles his way through cases. Now Smart (Steve Carell) - all 21st century updated - is an analyst who desperately wants to be a field agent at top secret government agency CONTROL. When a threat arises from international villains KAOS, the Chief (Alan Arkin) grants Max's wish and pairs him with sexy operative Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway), while legendary Agent 23 (Dwayne Johnson), whose face has become too well known, is relegated to riding a desk.

Truth is, “Get Smart” rides cleanly on the fence of amusingly watchable and wholly forgettable. It is not dull, nor is it captivating. It offers agreeable amusement for most of its too-long running time, but does have a few lagging points to be sure. Likeable characters have been developed, so perhaps a sequel looms in the future, but who knows? Not that a sequel would be a bad thing, because “Get Smart,” while not great art, is certainly never disagreeable.

While Adams, ironically given his surname, played Smart quite dimwittedly, Carell opts for a more intelligent version of the awkward and slightly inept Agent 86. The ever-beautiful Hathaway does justice to her spot as Agent 99. Unlike Barbara Feldon's incredibly patient and doting secret agent, Hathaway's 99 does not have much use for her new and excruciatingly inexperienced partner. The pair fills the screen with witty bickering banter much of the film, but the seemingly mismatched Hathaway and Carell have excellent on-screen chemistry and the actors' shared affection seeps through their scripted rivalry - making the final connection between the two totally plausible.

Doe-eyed Hathaway has come a long way since her “Princess Diaries” days and I like the evolution. Super-sexy Dwayne Johnson - in his first role without his wrestling name (The Rock) in the credits, is dazzling as the dashing and devious Agent 23; veteran actor Arkin and a cast of familiar comic faces round out an engaging ensemble cast, providing for some hilarious moments. Still, some aspects of humor border on stupid - beyond acceptable even in this sort of film.

As he wishes, Max finally realizes his long-standing dream as the Chief promotes him to field agent when he and 99 - who's recently undergone a complete surgical makeover - get coupled for a mission to foil the nuclear-blackmail plot of ruthless KAOS villain Siegfried (Terence Stamp - best known for his villainy in the Christopher Reeve “Superman” series). Stamp's villain is actually more villainous because of his past roles and not because he plays it up here.

The pairing of Carell and Hathaway makes the film and leads to a breathless series of sometimes absurdly death-defying adventures and mishaps, often spurred by Max's ill-advised bravado and endearing negligence; in truth, I enjoyed the ride just fine. It's not as good as a high-speed roller coaster, but it's not a spin on the teacups either.

Delightfully, this 21st-century update pays kind respect to all the original's catch phrases and running gags while re-imagining the spoof as an elaborate action comedy. Although not perfect by any stretch, the PG-13-rated “Get Smart” does provide a pleasing enough diversion. I am placing a C+ in my gradebook. I realize some will find it tepid at best, but it is not all bad and I think that fans of the original show - like me - will find it satisfactory.

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