Dwayne Johnson’s 2008 Action-Comedy Get Smart Faced Mixed Reviews but Earned Strong Praise From Roger Ebert

Dwayne Johnson’s 2008 action-comedy Get Smart arrived in theaters with major star power and a hefty budget, yet most critics responded with mixed or lukewarm reactions, calling it entertaining but not exceptional. The film, directed by Peter Segal and based on the classic 1960s spy-spoof series created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, paired Johnson with Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway, forming a high-energy trio that helped draw audiences.

The movie follows Maxwell Smart, played by Carell, as an analyst-turned-agent who teams up with Hathaway’s Agent 99, while Johnson appears as the ultra-capable Agent 23, a role many reviewers described as confident and scene-stealing. Despite the divided critic response, the film performed well commercially, earning over $230 million worldwide from an estimated $80 million budget (source).

Most critics felt the movie played things safe, with common remarks noting that its humor, gadgets, and spy-comedy formula didn’t push boundaries. Aggregators reflected this: Rotten Tomatoes recorded roughly a 51% approval, while Metacritic settled around 54/100, both signaling an overall “average” impression. Reviewers who were less enthusiastic pointed to predictable plot beats, uneven jokes, and a tendency to rely on action rather than sharp comedic writing.

However, legendary critic Roger Ebert broke from the broader consensus and offered a notably positive take on the film. In his review for RogerEbert.com, he described Get Smart as “funny, exciting, preposterous, [and] great to look at,” praising its polished production, lively pacing, and the cast’s charisma (source).

Ebert emphasized that the movie was more than a quick cash-grab adaptation, calling it an “A-level production” that respected the tone of the original show while updating it for modern audiences.

This contrast between Ebert’s enthusiasm and the broader critical shrug makes the film an interesting case study in how individual critics sometimes buck the trend. While many saw Get Smart as serviceable entertainment, Ebert highlighted craftsmanship and energy that others overlooked. His positive review continues to stand out because it comes from one of the most respected voices in American film criticism, and it shows how personal taste can diverge sharply from aggregated scores.

Dwayne Johnson’s involvement is also worth noting within the context of his career at that time. In 2008, he was transitioning more firmly into mainstream blockbusters, experimenting with comedic roles while building his action-hero reputation. His performance as Agent 23 earned a number of casual praises from audiences who felt he brought swagger and physical humor to the part, contributing to the movie’s broader entertainment value.

Audience reaction in general skewed more positive than critic reviews, with many moviegoers enjoying the chemistry between Carell, Hathaway, and Johnson. The movie’s financial success suggests that despite the critical divide, viewers found it fun, accessible, and packed with the kind of set pieces that made it an easy summer watch.

Today, Get Smart remains one of those titles that sits in the middle of Johnson’s filmography—neither a critical standout nor a major misfire, but a commercially successful project with a notable stamp of approval from Roger Ebert himself. It offers a good reminder that box-office turnout, critic scores, and individual reviews can all tell slightly different stories, and sometimes a single respected critic can shine a light on the strengths others missed.