Get Smart, Again!

How come that a extremely good series would not have its twenty years later revival. A must for the real fan. I enjoyed it, but somehow it was like seeing a bunch of old clowns, repeating old jokes (well, I guess it was exactly that), but the jokes were not funny anymore.

If you didn't like the series, this is not the movie for you. If you liked the series, as much as I did, this is a must, but don't set too high your expectations, it's a thing for remembering and enjoying.

Goes a long way in making up for the abysmal THE NUDE BOMB nine years earlier. Dedicated to the memory of Ed Platt who died in 1974, Max is reunited with "99" and all the old favorites, Siegfried and Agent 13 as he takes on the awesome task of putting the Chaos "weather machine" out of action.

With wife "99" gone domestic and the twins in college, Max tries to handle his assignment without 99's knowledge as "working mothers" are not allowed to spy. Predictably, the wheels fall off for Max, and it is left to "99" to save the day, after which she joins him in his assignment.

The old magic is still there and both Adams and Feldon reprise their roles effortlessly. Ed Platt as chief is sorely missed, but wherever he is now, watching this would have brought a smile to his face.

Given that the premise of the film is that Smart, Agent 99 and the rest of the (still alive) rag-tag Control agents are reactivated to fight Kaos, one really has to be a fan of the original series to enjoy the movie.

I can't remember how old Don Adams was when he started the series, but, make-up aside, in this production, he looks 70s-ish. Barbara Feldon still looks amazing, and Bernie Kopell as "Siegfreid" doesn't seem to have aged a bit.

HOWEVER, if you're not a fan of the original series, this is not for you. There are constant references back to the series but, there are many one-liners referring to the current (at the time of release) US government.

They only work as comedy/irony if applied to the Govt of the time. Nothing ages as fast as political satire - unless that satire is timeless. And this ain't. Still...

Poke fun at the intelligence gathering community, because if we don't, who will?

I saw The Nude Bomb in 1980, and was highly disappointed. This made-for-TV movie is better. It doesn't totally recapture the goofiness of the original series, but it makes a good effort. All of the crazy characters are back with the exception of The Chief (the actor who played this character passed away in the mid-1970's). There are some scenes in this movie where the characters look as if they haven't missed a step from who they were in the original series. I would suggest skipping The Nude Bomb entirely, and watching this one instead.

"Get Smart, Again" rights the ship that had listed badly with "The Nude Bomb" nine years earlier.

For whatever reasons, the late great Don Adams and Robert Karvelas as Larribee were the only series regulars to star in the earlier film (Bill Dana and Joey Forman had small roles).

This time around, the gang's all here, except Ed Platt who died in 1974, and they haven't lost a step. All those dumb, idiotic, wonderful jokes are there; the timing is there; the characters are there. It's all there and it's all wonderful.

For fans, this is a joyful trip back down memory lane. Viewers new to the insanity will be curious to check out the classic series.

"Would you believe...." Yes, we would.