The Nude Bomb

As another IMDb contributor has noted, it seems very strange that Universal wanted to make a Maxwell Smart movie -- in fact, at the time, there was talk of doing a series of Smart movies a la Inspector Clouseau -- and then went out of its way to remove nearly every element that made "Get Smart!" so funny. Nearly all of Don Adams' supporting cast (esp. Barbara Feldon and Edward "Chief" Platt) are absent here, as are rivalling spy agencies CONTROL and KAOS, as well as *any* of the show's writers or producers. Happily (with the exception of the deceased Platt), they'd all get it right nine years later, for the TV-reunion-movie "Get Smart, Again!" Indeed, as of this writing, that movie is the only "Get Smart" item available on DVD; better that than "The Nude Bomb," at least.

"THE NUDE BOMB" looks and feels like a cheap attempt to resurrect a 60's TV show for 80's Movie audiences - a la "Star Trek". And it is. But there's nothing terribly wrong with the film, if only that it jettisons practically every character the "Get Smart!" show created and introduces an all-new spy agency for Maxwell Smart (Don Adams) to work for. The film might make die-hard fans a little disappointed, but casual viewers probably won't care.

The plot makes very little sense - a evil fashion designer blackmails the clothes-wearing world with potential, full-blown nudity via The Nude Bomb - and it seems to zig-zag in an half-hearted attempt to string together as many mildly-silly gags, low-budget set pieces and James Bond-ian spoofs into it's brief running time. For a very tenuous plot point, Agent 86 ends up cavorting through many of the attractions of the Universal backlot in a lengthy chase scene that plays out as a mid-film "When In Southern California, Visit Universal Studios" advertisement. It serves less to the story than as a very visual and perhaps only reason why this film was greenlit by executives in the first place.

But it does have it's charms. Pantyhosed Vittorio Gassman is a good villain, and of course Don Adams is a treat. Adams' energy and delivery does about as much as British director Clive ("What's New, Pussycat?") Donner to keep this thing moving. Agent 86's gadgets are inspired, and Don's bell-bottom slacks collection are also quite funny, although probably in only retrospect.

"THE NUDE BOMB" has a breezy pace, is relatively sunny and undemanding. The film and has some funny moments, including a nifty opening credit sequence and some zingy one-liners - and for that Maxwell Smart gets a pass - but of what could have been? Missed it by THAT much.

Like the Austin Powers movies, "Get Smart" is a spoof of spy movies like the James Bond series, and "The Nude Bomb", made at the height of the Cold War, in the early 1980s, concerns Maxwell Smart, Agent 86, the guy with the shoe phone, pursuing the madman who has developed a bomb that, if exploded, would render everyone without clothes. This is an underrated movie and works well even with the absence of the original supporting cast from the 1960s television series. Almost, but not quite as funny as "The Naked Gun". 8/10

There were two remakes of Get Smart. The Nude Bomb came first and while keeping the premise of the TV show it virtually abandoned the story line of the series (if you remember Maxwell Smart had married 99, had twins, and lived in an average apartment). The Nude Bomb plays as a spoof of James Bond movies. James Bond films ALREADY are a spoof so that was a bad idea. The film didn't realize that the cold war was over. Terrible, terrible Turkey. Don Adams would reunite with most of the Get Smart gang in the much superior Get Smart...Again! which picks up the original story line as it has progressed in the future and spoofs the fact that the cold war and spy era is virtually over. Sorry about that Chief.

Having watched "Get Smart" and "Get Smart, Again!" I have finally laid my hands on this follow-up to the greatest TV-series spoof comedy of all times and it turned out just fine. Not as true to the original as "Again" was nine years after "The nube bomb" but still pretty decent. The idea though of having a KAOS villain built a bomb that when blowing up makes everyone naked is very silly, even by "Get Smart" standards but the overall humor, surprisingly good action sequences, superb performances by Don Adams' Agent 86 and (I can't call her new 99) Agent 22 and naturally tons of references makes this movie a worthy watch for the fans of the series and parody comedy in general.