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So-so

Avg. Critic Score: 54 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore^® based on all critic reviews

Information for Parents:

OK for kids 12+

Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

88

Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert
It's funny, exciting, preposterous, great to look at, and made with the same level of technical expertise we'd expect from a new Bond movie itself. And all of that is very nice, but nicer still is the perfect pitch of the casting. Read full review
83

Entertainment Weekly | Lisa Schwarzbaum
The unexpected star is Hathaway, looking cool as a runway model in the role originated by Barbara Feldon, lithe as a (pink) panther, and displaying great comic timing. Read full review
70

Washington Post | Stephen Hunter
As for Hathaway, she's a revelation. Those eyes are still as big as Beamer hubcaps, but she's able to show more edge than her previous goody-goody roles have allowed. Read full review
63

USA Today | Claudia Puig
Bright enough, but stops short of being clever. Read full review
63

Rolling Stone | Peter Travers
Director Peter Segal ups the ante on the action, aiming for Bourne more than Bond, but the stunts grow frenzied and increasingly flat. Read full review
50

The Hollywood Reporter | Kirk Honeycutt
This is a slap-dash effort whose producers threw money and stunts onscreen instead of the satirical gags and one-liners that made the old spy spoof so memorable. Read full review
50

The New York Times | Manohla Dargis
It flounders whenever it tries to weave the real world into its fantasia, partly because it isn't really about anything other than making money, partly because the spy-versus-spy battle doesn't entertain the way it once did. Read full review
50

Los Angeles Times | Kenneth Turan
Get Smart neglects the laughs and amps up the action, resulting in a not very funny comedy joined at the hip to a not very exciting spy movie. Talk about killing two birds with one stone. Read full review
50

Variety |
Helmer Peter Segal's formulaic takeoff is neither fish nor fowl, not quite faithful to the show, but not quite bringing it into the 21st century either. Read full review
25

San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle
Remaking Get Smart for the big screen might have sounded like a bad idea, but the movie shows it to have been something else: a REALLY bad idea. Read full review

Metacritic link View more reviews for Get Smart on Metacritic

Information for Parents

Common Sense Media says OK for kids 12+ Silly and fun, but edgier than the classic TV series.

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.

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?

The good stuff

Positive messages: Though it's pretty cartoony and silly, ultimately the movie has an underlying message about believing in yourself -- and trying to see the best in others. Agents make fun of one another, and one character betrays others. As part of their jobs, spies have to be somewhat deceitful, but for a good cause. Some jokes at the expense of the overweight.
Positive role models: Max is very earnest and dedicated to his job, working hard to achieve his dreams. He also makes a point of calling out that the bad guys are bad because of what they do, not what they are, and tries to see the good in people. Agent 99 is a strong, resourceful female character -- albeit a bit bossy and, initially anyway, dismissive of Max. Most of the supporting characters are pretty broad good vs. evil types, though one aggressive henchman does show a glimmer of humanity.

What to watch for

Violence: A fair amount, though it's generally not very scary or serious. Lots of gunfire (minor characters are killed, some abruptly), as well as physical fights, near explosions, and perilous situations (including an extended car/plane chase). Agents and bad guys use lots of technologically advanced weaponry, as well as the old standbys -- handguns and nuclear bombs.
Sex: Some light sexual innuendo/double entendres; an older woman propositions Max after misunderstanding a question; Max and Agent 99 flirt and banter; Smart can't help but stare at 99's behind as she shimmies through a trap; some passionate dancing; discussions about agents sleeping with each other; some kissing. Max's bare butt is briefly exposed when his pants rip.
Language: Language includes "damn," "goddamn," "bitch," "whore," "frickin'," "s--t," and "a--hole." Most of the stronger words aren't used particularly often, but they're memorable when they come up.
Consumerism: One prolonged shot of a truck with its brand -- GMC Yukon -- clearly visible. Mentions of Joe Montana and Ferrari; Glide dental floss and a Swiss Army knife hide some serious spy gear.
Drinking, drugs and smoking: Very minor social drinking.

Common Sense Media An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.