For specific showing times, please refer to theatre notices.

By Ivan Lin 　Translated by Ann Lee

Get Smart　2008/06/20

Opportunities are always there for those who are ready

Rating: PG-13　Action/Comedy/Crime

Imagine that you work hard every day, schmoozing with clients and kissing up to your boss. After you put all of your effort into your job without ever getting a promotion and you feel like you just can't take it anymore, that's the exact moment your boss demands even more of you. If you ever feel like your job is headed in this direction, I prescribe the quirky movie remake of the television series "Get Smart". You might not get a promotion from it, but you'll have a whole lotta fun.

The leading man of "Get Smart", Max (Steve Carell), is a secret agent known as Agent 86. He is an eager analyst who is an expert in detecting sounds, fluent in multiple languages, adept at remembering minute details, a weapons expert, and a brilliant profiler. It's apparent that Max devotes his entire life to his job and his pipe dream to work with the stalwart superstar, Agent 23 (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson), with whom he can travel the world, meet beautiful, exotic women, destroy the enemy, and become the hero once and for all.

After a few letdowns, Max is finally called on thwart the evil plans of KAOS, not with hunky Agent 23, but with sexy, smart Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway). As the KAOS plan for world domination thickens and grows, so does the partnership of blundering Max and his partner, Agent 23.

"Get Smart" is great for people who feel tossed around and underappreciated at work, or those who have a stingy boss. Although we don't have to risk our lives to save the world like Max does, his small triumphs are really triumphs for everyone who is not quite respected in the workplace. Plus, fighting for clients, increasing sales numbers, and bending over backwards to please your boss sometimes does feel equal to the pressure in an action movie.

The movie really teaches us to think positively and wait for good opportunities to pounce. If you're up for life's big challenges to everyday doldrums, then "Get Smart" will not only make you laugh but might also inspire a chat with your friends afterwards. And, of course, you get to see classic funnyman Steve Carell and the lovely Anne Hathaway in, well, secret agent outfits—and who wouldn't like that?.