Hollywood Movies

Steve Carell Interview - Get Smart at Wonder Con 2008

with Rebecca Murray

Steve Carell ('The Office') takes on the role Don Adams made famous in 'Get Smart,' playing Maxwell Smart in the movie version of the classic television show. Carell did his own take on the character while keeping in mind he had big shoes to fill.

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Transcript: Steve Carell Interview - Get Smart at Wonder Con 2008

Rebecca Murray from About.com Hollywood Movies at the 2008 San Francisco Wonder Con.

Steve Carell ('Maxwell Smart' in Get Smart)

I always viewed Maxwell Smart as not a stupid man, just different – a little klutzy. How do you view him?

Steve Carell: "I totally agree. I don't think he's bumbling or silly. He's not a Clouseau character. I see him as very proficient, maybe a bit earnest. But I think the best word to describe him would be counterintuitive. He always seems to land on his feet, whether it's the way he intended to land or not. But he always seems to…things seem to work out for him in the end. I think that's the joy of that character is that he's not a bumbler. He's not an idiot. He actually is quite smart. He's very proficient. And in this movie, it's kind of an origin story. He starts out as an analyst as opposed to a spy, aspires to be a spy but just can't get past that part of it. And, obviously, in the course of the film he's promoted to spy, and then he can try out the things he's been practicing for years."

How difficult was it to deliver those lines that Don Adams made famous?

Steve Carell: "Really hard. Yeah, honestly that was the toughest part of the movie because they are so iconic. It's hard to hear them any other way but the way he says them. And you don't want to say them a different way just for the sake of saying it differently. You want to say them, I hate to use the word organically, but you want to say them in relevance to the situation. So, that's the way I tried to look at them and however they came out was based on whatever situation we were then."

Did you ever view yourself as an action hero-type guy in the movies?

Steve Carell: "Day one. I knew as a little kid that I would be doing action movies because I think I'm just... I have the looks for it. I have the physique. I think when people look at me it registers that I am tough. I'm sort of a hard-as-nails, kick-ass kind of guy. So yeah, it was just begging, begging for me to come in and be an action hero. Not in a million years, and it was a ball. It was so much fun to do. From the cast to Pete (Segal) the director, it's probably the most fun I've ever had doing anything. So it's been a great time."

I'm sure we're going to have fun watching it.

Steve Carell: "I hope so. You know, I think it comes across how much fun everybody is having. I hope people like it."