Ian Nations The shorter answer is what they got right: His hat and trench coat look good, and the theme song is great. Here's the long answer: 1. The tone is all off. The original cartoon was pretty straight-laced, with most of the comedy coming directly from Gadget's bumbling in the process of trying to solve a problem, with the henchmen and Brain serving as foils for his incompetence. Penny is the real hero of the show, and her plot rarely has much humor in it. And Dr. Claw is depicted as straight-up seriously evil. The contrast between him and Gadget with the unknown element of Penny is what made the show fun. This movie is one big, long, cartoony joke. Stock cartoon sound effects are used all the time, most of Gadget's gadgets are silly gags (toothpaste, bubbles, rubber chickens, etc.), there's weird comical transitions between scenes, pointless cameos, bright colors, and there's no real threat or menace in the movie. It's tone is similar to that of the George of the Jungle movie, which doesn't fit Inspector Gadget. 2.Gadget is not an arrogant, over-confident, bumbling hero in the tradition of Maxwell Smart or Inspector Clouseau. He's shy, soft-spoken, and nervous. He starts off as a security guard who dreams of being a cop, which means this is an origin story (which the cartoon never needed). Oh, and he spends most of the movie going by "John Brown." Broderick is terribly casted. 3. Penny is barely in the movie, and she certainly isn't the one who saves the day and does all the real work. She's barely even a supporting character (that role is replaced by another chick). I don't think she even has her computer/book. She has one brief scene where she "believes" in her uncle or something and that's the depth of her involvement. 4. Gadget has a romantic interest that pretty much fulfills the Penny role as the competent support behind Gadget. She's almost as central to the story as Gadget, but she's just a cliche love interested mixed in with a cliche scientist/creator role. And she's not even attractive, really. 5. Brain is in the movie even less than Penny, and does even less to further the plot. I get that they were going for a more "realistic" approach (and semi-talking bipedal dogs who solve crimes are anything but realistic), but in a movie that's as silly and nonsensical as this, I don't know why they felt the need to avoid an unrealistic portrayal of a dog (and neglect a central character in the process). 6. The Gadgetmobile is no longer a cool van that turns into a cool police car and has a few cool gimmicks that primarily serves the purpose of getting Gadget form Point A to Point B in style. It's now a sentient Oldsmobile with eyeballs and a sassy, wisecracking personality and a voice that sounds like a discount Chris Rock. It "transforms" by growing a rocket ingine and going fast. It's treated more like Benny the Cab than the Batmobile, it in no way resembles the Gadgetmobile from the cartoon, and it eats up way too much screen time (again, much more than Penny or Brain). 7. I saved the worst for last: Dr. Claw is TERRIBLE in this movie. He's not only not at all like the cartoon Dr. Claw, he's the COMPLETE opposite. He's not even called Dr. Claw (the character specifically denies the "Dr." when his title is suggested by a henchmen). Dr. Claw in the cartoon s a character we never see, with a terrifying voice, no sense of humor, and leads a multinational terrorist organization. All we ever see is his gloved hand, often petting his cat. Claw in the movie is portrayed by Rupert Everett (a handsome British actor with a non-threatening voice) who never hides his face (after the opening scene), goes by his real name rather than "Claw" (a name he assumes only because he literally has a metal claw that never existed int he cartoon), spends a great deal of time cracking jokes, and is the CEO of a company (yes, he's now a cliche evil corporate businessman). His ultimate goal is to create an army of Gadgets for some reason. They missed the mark so hard on this character, and the movie's tone suffers primarily for this reason. He mugs form the camera rather than hiding in the shadows, his voice is the opposite of what it should sound like, he has one or two henchmen, Madcat is barely in the film (and I think never named), he's goofy, he's suave, he's anything BUT the original Dr. Claw. It's so bad it can't even be ignorance. It seriously seems like their goal was to create the LEAST Dr.-Claw-like character they possibly could, and they succeeded. Ugh, remembering this movie has made me depressed. DON'T WATCH IT!
+kangarookirby The sequel addressed 1 2 3 and 7, while treating 5 more respectfully (Brains has a major impact on the plot as Penny's sidekick, although without acting as the foil of Gadget). It also has a really low budget which made most of the special effects so uncanny that it does feel like a live-action cartoon. A definite improvement over the first.
I had an inspector gadget toy as a kid where his hat was a propeller and his leg extended and shit. I cant remember what the other parts did, I usually lost them. His suit opened up into false electronics and machinery I believe, I thought it was the coolest shit ever.
That was the McDonald’s toy . Each happy meal came with a piece of gadget and if you collect them all you’d have the whole gadget action figure . Was a brilliant way to bring kids in to eat there and one of the best happy meal toys at least in quality
How did his leg shit? That must have been weird. What was the temperature of the "coolest shit ever"? If cool enough, shit can be used as a hammer (just clean up any chips before they thaw).
I read your comment and immediately knew you were talking about the McDonald's toy collection. That was my favorite toy I had ever gotten from McDonald's. I unfortunately never finished getting all the parts.
One thing I really appreciate about this is how the melody is passed between different sections of the orchestra. It starts with horns and a harpsichord, then the strings volley back and forth with the harpsichord. Next is a xylophone with the wind section. The "Go Gadget Go!" section the horns take control, supported by strings. Finally, the strings and harpsichord take the last "verse" and the horns come back for the finale. It makes the entire composition really bouncy and playful.
Here’s why they did, Disney owned the producer DIC Entertainment at the time of production. They bought in Their composer to orchestrate this well, they did a bang up job
I think the best part of the movie was the theme since it pretty much brought you back to the cartoon. I love Matthew but I didn't care for the movie much
This version of the theme really honoured the spirit of the original. I can't say the same for the movie. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it - but it's a guilty pleasure.
I haven't watched the Original Series in like forever I think I watched a little bit of it but this movie is zany and it doesn't take itself too seriously it's great
What he did to that guys balls….I’m not even kidding I talked with my therapist about it like multiple times. Granted I was in third grade lmfao but It haunted my nightmares
IMHO, the Inspector Gadget theme tune is the best theme tune ever made, by the great Shuki Levy. John Debney did a superb rendition of it here - faithful to the original, yet giving it a bigger sound for the big screen. Truly wonderful :) The only thing (arguably) missing is the very last note that played at the end of the original theme tune! :-)
"Robot" "I think he's an android" "I thought he was a cyborg" "No way with all those gadgets there's no room for organs" "Yea but you're on a show that breaks the laws of physics all the time* *BOOM* "See? That should've killed him"
Yes, I think there's really good potential for a movie here. If they do make a remake, it should be written and or directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the guys who brought us Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 21 Jump Street, and The Lego Movie. Also for the casting, I can either see Jim Carrey, Robert Downey Jr, or Steve Carrell in the role for Gadget. I wouldn't mind if they made Penny a little older than 12, so maybe someone like Peyton List or Chloe Moretz. And for Dr. Claw, they should get the guy who did the voice of Megatron in the Transformers movie.
Mauricio Vasquez I was probably thinking either Jim Parsons or Tom Hanks would voice Gadget, though you do have a point using a young female Disney Channel star in the role for Penny. As for the role of Chief Quimby, maybe get John O'Hurley to do it.
The movie felt more like a terrible, kiddiefied version of Robocop than anything to do with Inspector Gadget. We didn't need an origin story, and should have left the mystery on if he was an android, a cyborg, or just a regular human who carried lots of techno gadgets.
Agreed. The biggest problem with the film (and the recent cgi cartoon) is that Penny and Brain are supposed to save the day, while Gadget in a clumsy fool who gets all the credit for it. That's the main joke and premise of the entire show. If you take that away by removing Penny from the story to make Gadget a real hero, or by making Penny a sidekick who works alongside her uncle Gadget, you destroy the entire premise, and a huge chunk of the comedy along with it.
This came out right after I finished 8th grade. It was my first real experience of being completely disappointed by a new version of something I had loved as a younger kid. We didn’t really talk about reboots then, but that’s what it was. I even remember going on a message board and complaining that my childhood had been ruined. I’m glad it happened though, because someone on there pointed out that just because I didn’t like the reboot didn’t mean I couldn’t still enjoy the prior version, so I’ve been spared the “childhood ruined” response during the 25-year barrage of reboots that has followed.
Yep, still have the actual figure and it's been 14/15 years. I remember eating a ton of happy meals to get it, I got the left leg 3 times in a row, that sucked. Good times indeed, the summer of 1999 was awesome.
This was a well made film. Disney cut a lot out after test screenings. But it was a more grounded and somewhat darker take. The performances were amazing as well. Rupert Everett was my favorite as a kid.
Inspector Gadget was actually good. It was a good origin story. You saw wha Gadget was like before he became all cyborg, you got to see how Doctor Claw Became Claw (I actually like how it looks like a claw) and John Debney's score was awesome.
MAnuscript421 I agree. It wasn't quite the same as the show (the sequel did better in that regard), but I still enjoyed it (and I still enjoy it today). It was good for an origin story, and it had some good jokes and funny bits in it that I still get a kick out of every time I watch it.
Only thing missing is the synthesizer samples from Shuki Levy's original IG theme song. Was a shame they never got him involved with the film's score. John Debney did a great job regardless.
Amen to that! Sadly enough, the sequel actually did a better job! Making Claw intimidating and secretive, as well as having him actually run a criminal syndicate!
That being the case, I'd love to see Nostalgia Critic review that one. I never saw it because I was so turned off by the first film, and I don't want to waste time or money seeing the sequel now.
I agree! The original 2D cartoon version would make more money. Look at what happened when they made the live action Rocky and Bullwinkle: flopped at the box office. Even more than that, the storyline was dull, PLUS where were the other characters to the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, like Sherman and Mr. Peabody, the Fractured Fairy Tales, Bragg Mc Bragg, Fearless Leader, and Toodle the Turtle?
Well a reboot is in the works for Disney +, it currently has some SNL writers but we know nothing yet like who's directing and who's going to be our new Inspector Gadget.
This song is awesome. Also people only hate this movie and many other movies because the Nostalgia Critic said its bad. I like him but just because he thinks something sucks it doesn't mean you should jump on the bandwagon.
No, the movie REALLY does suck, regardless of the Nostalgia Critic says on it. Tell me, besides this awesome rendition of the theme song, does the movie get ANYTHING right from the original cartoon??
