GET SMART (2024) – Intelligence Just Got Dumber (Again)

In a world ruled by code and chaos, one agent still doesn’t know how to use AirDrop

Get Smart (2024) reboots the classic spy comedy for a new generation, delivering a slicker, sharper, and no less ridiculous take on espionage in the age of artificial intelligence and total surveillance. While still honoring the goofy charm of the 2008 film and the 1960s TV series, this updated adventure reimagines CONTROL and KAOS in a digital battlefield where laughter and danger go hand in hand.

Maxwell Smart (now played by John Mulaney) is still the well-meaning, accident-prone analyst who somehow keeps saving the world through sheer luck, odd brilliance, and indestructible optimism. Promoted to Agent 86 (again), Max is pulled out of a desk job and dropped into a mission involving rogue AIs, deepfake dictators, and a KAOS plan to hijack the world’s data through quantum espionage. Helping him (and often saving him) is the ever-capable Agent 99 (Ana de Armas), who balances high-kicks and eye-rolls in equal measure.

The chemistry between the leads is magnetic, combining Max's slapstick sincerity with 99’s no-nonsense brilliance. Supporting characters like the deadpan Chief, a sarcastic AI named SIGGIE, and a villainous influencer-turned-cyberterrorist named Byte Lord keep the comedic tempo buzzing throughout the film. Expect exploding pens, invisible shoes, and a gloriously unnecessary chase scene involving motorized scooters through the streets of Rome.

Directed by Paul Feig, Get Smart (2024) is a colorful blend of classic parody and modern satire. It pokes fun at everything from tech bros to spy movie clichés, all while delivering genuine action sequences with surprising polish. Despite its comedic core, the film sneakily explores themes of identity in the digital age, the meaning of human intuition, and whether it’s smarter to trust code or chaos.

Ultimately, Get Smart (2024) reminds us that intelligence isn't about having all the answers—sometimes, it’s about asking the dumbest questions at just the right time. Silly, self-aware, and sincerely entertaining, this reboot doesn’t just get smart—it gets smarter by embracing the stupid.