June 12, 2008

Most TV shows, when they hit the big screen, leave fans disappointed.  Examples are: The Avengers, I Spy, The Nude Bomb, The Mod Squad, My Favorite Martian, Lost In Space, The Hulk (2003) and Star Trek, the Movie.  TV fans are starting to run from movie adaptations  The problems usually involve miscasting, not casting main characters, and bad writing.  Often would-be producers look for big names who are all wrong for the parts and then cast the worst possible choices. 

In the case of Star Trek I, released before most writers here were born, the movie reportedly produced long lines and excuses for lack of a better script, which rehashed the plots of three of the TV episodes.  Most fans gave Star Trek I a B rating out of nostalgia.  It took sequels to get it right and Star Trek IV remains the favorite of most Star Trek fans.

In The Avengers movie, most fans loved Uma Thurman, but not as Emma Peel.  Sean Connery was a saving grace, but he would have been better cast as John Steed.  Patrick MacNee was in the movie in an invisible cameo role.

In My Favorite Martian, the actors were top quality but the script was so bad that it relied on gimmicks rather than plot to pass the time. Martin was a complete idiot, contrary to his TV characterization.  Fans considered seeing Ray Walston, in a small part, to be the best thing about the movie.

I Spy had great acting but no rational relationship to the original show.  Note to producers: just because you have a black guy and a white guy in a spy movie and one of them is capable of doing some sport, doesn't mean you should call it I Spy.

Lost in Space had a great cast, but it was depressing.  Even though the one set of main characters got out OK, the other one didn't and you have a paradox.

The Mod Squad was also called depressing by fans.  Also, a TV sequel with the original cast, where the characters were talking about how they were too told to do anything, was called depressing.

The 2003 version of The Hulk had what fans considered a badly-done, creativity-lacking plot, with special effects that would have been more convincing if they had been created by accident by a gang of monkeys.   The current Hulk movie theoretically is an apology for the last one.  Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno made a number of made-for-TV Incredible Hulk movies, the last of which killed off Banner and the Hulk, a huge disappointment to fans.  Some fans said they couldn't watch the TV show reruns after watching Banner get killed.

There were two prior Get Smart movies.  Get Smart, Again, a made-for-TV movie, with much of the original cast, was true to the characters, the original plot lines and thrilled the fans.  The previously-made screen move, The Nude Bomb, bombed.  Not only did it pretend 99 didn't exist, but The Nude Bomb matched Maxwell Smart up with another woman, a real no-no to 86-99 fans.

Finally, movie producers have pulled off a big screen adaptation of a TV show that will thrill the audiences. From the start, it was clear that the producers gave some thought to the original show in their casting decisions.  There was only one role that was miscast and it wasn't one of the three main characters.

Steven Correll did his best to be not just Maxwell Smart but Don Adams as Maxwell Smart.  There were some changes.  Instead of being a seasoned clutsy Congrol agent, Max was a clutsy techie, filled with knowledge that would have slipped past the original Maxwell Smart. However, this change does not detract from the Max character. Don Adams has passed away and Correll appeared to be a good physical match.  The show takes Max through his first assignment as a Control field agent and his first assignment with 99, a little different and more international than their first assignment in the TV series.

Anne Hathaway is an excellent physical match for Barbara Feldon, particularly in the page wig.  The one change in the characterizations is that, instead of 99 pining after Max, he is pining after 99.  Hathaway's youth is explained away by her having had plastic surgery.  She used to look like Get Smart's Charlie Watkins.

Alan Arkin is an excellent replacement for Ed Platt, who died before The Nude Bomb was made.  He shows the leadership, compassion and tolerance of Max's clutsiness that Platt's chief had shown.

The one total miscast, miswritten role was that of Siegfried, played by Terrence Stamp.  Terrence Stamp is a great actor, but Get Smart fans did not want to see Siegfried played as an unfunny Russian.  Fortunately, for the viewers, the main characters continue to be Max and 99.  The scene-stealing highlight of the show was a cameo appearance by Bernie Kopel.

Hymie, played by Patrick Warburton, only has a brief appearance, and he is a Control-created robot instead of a KAOS robot who has been converted to good.  He may have more of a role in the next show.  Because of the change in his origin, any sequel with him would have to bring about the bond Hymie had with Max.

Bill Murray is perfectly cast as Agent 13, the agent who is assigned to hang out in trees and other impossible-to-fit-in places.

Dwayne Johnson did an excellent job in a role that wasn't in the TV series and won't be in any sequels.  James Caan brought some laughs in his role as the President.

The movie is strong on comedy, action and fun.  There is never a dull moment.  It's is a good show for individuals of all ages.  Even viewers who never saw the original series are bound to love this action-comedy. This is one of those shows vieweres will want to see again and again.

Copyright ©2008 by the Creative Youth News Team.  All rights reserved.

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