Get Smart Review

I saw a midnight showing of Get Smart last night, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it. No, it’s not a brilliant movie, it’s not even a great movie. But it’s a fun movie. The kind you enjoy watching, the kind you’ll watch a lot, on days when you’re bored and want a good escape. Anne Hathaway is hot as 99, Steve Carell is charming as the eponymous lead, and Dwayne Johnson is delightfully cheery as the suave 23. 

It’s actually not as much a comedy as it is an action flick: which actually, I think plays better. The fact is, that classic TV does not really translate well to updates, and by sidestepping the issue all together, they sort of allow for a new interpretation of who Maxwell Smart is, and Carell definitely brings a sort of humanity and pathos to his clown, as he always does. So, if you’re a diehard fan, don’t expect to see the classic series translated perfectly to a film; things have changed. But if you’re willing to give it a try, frankly, it’s a lot of fun, and a great summer movie. It practically demands that you see it in shorts and sandals. (An odd thing to say about a spy movie, but I am almost certain that this is the correct way to watch this film. If you could watch this movie at the beach, it would be perfect.) 

All in all, I really liked Get Smart. And I can’t say that for a lot of… wait, yes I can. I can say that about a fuck-load of films. Oh well. In any case, it’s good. Go see it, and regress a little. Be a kid. Have fun. Don’t worry about any current events references. Lean back in your seat, put your feet up, and eat some candy.

Just Add Water: The McLaughlin Group

I’m totally famous. I’m the tall drink of water on you, the viewer’s, far right. 

Lifestyle Update

I move into my new apartment in New Haven tomorrow. I am looking forward to it, though not to all the chaos. Ah well. 

In other news, I’ve started watching series four of Doctor Who. Still a fan. Tennant is by far and away my favorite Doctor. Donna’s alright, but no Rose or Martha. As I think about it, I like Martha more and more, though her cameos on Torchwood weren’t so hot. (Not her fault. Torchwood kind of blows.) 

In music, I’m getting an album entitled Drums of Death, a collaboration between DJ Spooky and Dave Lombardo, the virtuosic drummer for Slayer. I heart Slayer. I heart hip-hop and ambient. I’m pretty excited to see what comes out. 

That is all. Good evening. 

Weezer, Memes and Pork

I’m a little late reporting on this, but talk about an attention grabbin’ title! Whooo-ee! Anyway. This video’s relatively amusing, filled with cameos from all teh inturwub celebrities that made it into the public consciousness. Your mom probably sent you a link to one of these a year later. Here’s the video. 

I’m not sure how I feel about cameos/quoting as our main source of humor these days. Last night I spent part of the evening with one of those poor souls who like to laugh, and like to make other people laugh, but just aren’t funny, and his main weapon, as far as entertaining us went, was quoting any number of lines from popular comedies or whatever. 

It works for a while as a good bonding activity, but our reliance on forging bonds and making people laugh through others’ work is a bit distressing to me. I realize we’re not all Oscar Wilde, but surely making seven Family Guy quotes in a conversation is too much. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey, Peter! Remember that time you did something kooky that I then told a bunch of people? We’re havin’ fun now!

 

 

Don’t get me wrong. I like pop culture references and parodies as much as anyone. More, probably. But there’s a line that we’re approaching as a culture, and I’d rather not cross it. Anyway, no more ranting. I’ll lay into Dane Cook, that arrogant (I can’t decide between ass-hat and clown-shoes as my hyphenated epithet of choice, so choose whichever you like more) another day. 

All best to you and yours, 

His Highness.