Max seemed to be a lot more inept in the original TV show than in this modern film version. By making Max a brilliant intelligence analyst before becoming an agent, the movie gives believability to the crazy situations Max gets himself into. Hathaway, a long way from her Princess Diaries roots, is decent as the jaded and beautiful partner, portraying moments of genuine sincerity and some butt-kicking strength.

Don't get me wrong here; the movie isn't about stellar performances and profound drama. There's a lot of lowbrow humor and silly dialogue, but it's an entertaining romp. And if you're looking for a laugh, Get Smart has a lot to offer with fun visual gags, some quippy dialogue, and even humorous action sequences. Unfortunately, a few of the jokes fall flat if you've seen any trailers for the movie. Some of the funniest moments are dulled to light hokey humor because we've seen the gags too many times. But still, veteran comedy director Peter Segal steers the movie right and we are treated to some big stunts, hilarious moments from a solid ensemble of characters.

I think Get Smart probably suffers the most in its story's familiar formula, with secret agents, double agents, mysterious villains, funny fist fights and big explosive finale. In fact, when I first saw the trailers and posters for Get Smart, I couldn't help but think of the similarities with Jackie Chan's The Tuxedo (2002), also starring an unlikely secret agent and his beautiful partner fighting crime, which interestingly, may have found inspiration in the Get Smart TV show. In any case, Get Smart may follow in the footsteps other comedy-spy movies, but it does a fine job of it, respecting its roots, and standing on its own as an enjoyable movie-going experience

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