GET SMART
Some laughs, but too much crude humor for the theater.
Should You Watch It?
GET SMART has enough real laughs to explain why today’s young people might enjoy it. Steve Carell plays Maxwell Smart well, and the film offers a lively spy mission, comic action and the familiar setup of CONTROL battling KAOS.
But the movie’s pleasures come at a steep cost. Too much foul language and off-color dialogue is neither funny nor useful, and it repeatedly stalls the plot. The scatological humor may turn even a devoted junk-popcorn viewer’s stomach. Strong comic violence, sexual comments, alcohol use and a hero’s deception add to the concern.
The film has merit, but the source review finds its enjoyment nearly ruined by its content and shortcomings. For discerning adults, wait for home, where you can control the experience.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESMaxwell Smart is an analyst for CONTROL, a super-secret U.S. spy agency fighting the evil crime syndicate KAOS. He longs to become an agent like his idol, Agent 23.
After KAOS attacks CONTROL’s headquarters and exposes nearly every agent, the Chief promotes Max and pairs him with Agent 99. Together, they must stop a nuclear blackmail plot while facing their own friction and the dangerous KAOS operative Siegfried.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means GET SMART delivers some genuine laughs but falls short of the beloved television original. Steve Carell plays Max well, and the movie has enough comic energy to attract younger viewers.
The writing loses some of the original show’s great punch lines. Agent 99 is less appealing and more abrasive, changing her relationship with Max. Siegfried, once one of television’s funniest villains, is made too serious and unflappable. The film also wastes a cameo by Bill Murray. It is a serviceable comedy, but a disappointing adaptation.
The Worldview
GET SMART presents a light Romantic worldview that humanizes evil while retaining some moral content. Max works for a supposedly righteous agency against an evil crime syndicate, and the story centers on stopping blackmail and nuclear destruction. Yet the film also includes the hero kissing an evil henchman to divert his attention, along with lying, stealing and extortion.
The movie includes politically correct humor involving characters meant to resemble President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. These jokes are part of the film’s comedic approach but do not add moral clarity. The broader worldview treats evil chiefly as a comic obstacle rather than examining its deeper spiritual reality.
The film’s moral content can prompt discussion about truthfulness and the difference between opposing evil and becoming careless about the means. Scripture says, “Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Light Romantic worldview that humanizes evil, with some moral content and some lazy politically correct humor regarding characters that are supposed to resemble President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, plus hero kisses evil henchman to divert his attention; about 31 obscenities (including four light ones) and 10 light profanities, plus some off-color, scatological humor and dialogue including scene where jet pilot vomits into bag and a minor character gives someone the finger; strong comic, action violence such as fighting, people shot, man hit on head with fire extinguisher, some groin hits, car chase, car crash, man dragged, man tossed out of car into river; some light sexual comments and off-color humor, plus man kisses evil henchman to divert his attention; a joke in one scene about an embarrassing case of rear male nudity; alcohol use; no smoking; and, hero lies at one point, plus stealing and extortion by bad guys.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Max wants to become a spy like his idol. What makes a hero worth imitating, and how should we test the examples we admire?
Philippians 3:17 · 1 Corinthians 11:1The film uses deception during a dangerous mission. When, if ever, does protecting someone differ from lying? What does Scripture teach about truthfulness?
Ephesians 4:25 · Proverbs 12:22The movie treats evil as a source of comedy. How can humor help us face wrong without making wrongdoing seem harmless?
Isaiah 5:20 · Ephesians 5:11The story involves stolen nuclear weapons and extortion. What responsibilities do people have when their power could harm others?
Micah 6:8 · Luke 12:48The Final Word
GET SMART has good laughs and a capable lead, but its crude humor, obscenities and comic violence undercut too much of the experience. Discerning adults who still want to watch should wait for home, not take the family to the theater. WAIT FOR HOME — ADULTS ONLY. For cleaner choices, see.
