Customer Reviews

Inspector Gadget 2

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I'm not too sure what all the bad reviews are all about for this film. After "reviewing" them myself, I'm gathering that most think that this movie isn't quite "up to par" with previous Gadget movies. However, if you're like us and have only seen this one, then you'll love it! It's just full of neat surprises and look out for the toddlers in your house - they will just LOVE it. This is the only full-length movie my little one ever sat through and asked to watch again! He just loves all the gadgets and silly things the Inspector does and says. He's seen it so many times now that he can quote it and sing the songs. French Stewart has a natural aptitude for physical comedy and it really comes through in this movie. I appreciated seeing him in something besides "Third Rock from the Sun." This is definitely a little boy movie (toddler age) and older, and fun for girls too (Gadget's niece Penny is there to help solve the case).

I wouldn't pass on this one just because of expectations. Just watch it for what it is - it isn't a movie masterpiece but it wasn't intended for such acclaim. It was made to just sit back and have fun for an hour or so and that's what it does in a very wonderful, imaginative way. Highly recommend!

With bold cartoon colors and gadgets and gizmos a plenty, this will keep the kids entertained for hours and hours as they play it over and over again. This time round Inspector Gadget is played by French Stewart - he's just perfect for this role - he's boldly cartoonish and so clumsy you just can't help but love him. His antics and gadget 'glitches' will make you laugh and the special effects really bring it to life. With everything from eye-popping spring loading gadgets to the return of the much loved wise-talking Gadgetmobile.

This one is especially for the kids - with a very welcomed 'G' rating - The DVD is packed with extras that even the Mum's and Dad's will enjoy, such as the bloopers and deleted scenes. I've already preorderd one for my niece's birthday - she's 7 and a big fan of the Inspector Gadget cartoons. - I know this won't disappoint.

Inspector Gadget is bored. He's been so effective at fighting crime, there's no more crime for him to fight in the city of Riverton. He's been so effective, that the police department is proud to unleash G2, a new, all robot upgrade in the form of a female detective. While smitten with love at first sight, Gadget is crushed when G2 is assigned the case of the escaped Dr. Claw. With Penny's prodding's, he conducts his own investigation, but his glitches keep ruining the day. Will he keep his job? Will anyone ever catch Dr. Claw?

With all new actors (except D. L. Hughley as the voice of the Gadetmobile), this movie feels completely different from the first live action movie. On the plus side, they stuck more to the conventions of the cartoon series, such as hiding Dr. Claw's face. However, this movie doesn't have the humor of the original, relying mostly on slapstick to get laughs. While it works, adult fans of the original will be disappointed. The villain's plan is one of the most original means of committing a crime, and I loved watching the results once I finally figured out what they were up to.

Kids were obviously the target audience of this film, and they'll love watching Gadget bumble into one mess after another. Adults will be entertained as well, even if not to the extent that the first film led us to hope for.

I enjoyed Inspector Gadget 2. I watched the first one with
my grandchildren and we got together again for # 2. It was
a fun time for all, as we watched Inspector Gadget try to
outshine his new lady love.
Full of great special effects, lots of gadgets and action, this
movie held the attention of the children, which is a plus in my
book. If you just want to relax, giggle a little, and not have to let our brain work overtime to figure out a movie, this one is
for you and your entire family.

A very enjoyable family comedy. Sort of like the first inspector movie -- but double the gadgets. Double the gadgets means double the fun. If you put an extra "y" in fun, you know what that spells -- "funny".

It is extra funny. If you are six years old like me, I bet that you will like both inspector gadgets on DVD. I say buy them both.

This was a funny movie. I could watch it several times a day! All the gadgets are the coolest!

This was a funny movie. I could watch it several times a day! All the gadgets are the coolest!

I have to tell you, I don't understand anyone wanting matthew broderick back as inspector gadget! I thought the first movie was terrible and that he was so unconvincing and wooden in the role! French Stewart, on the other hand, hits just the right balance of robotic-ness and humanity and imbues the character with much more heart AND light-heartedness. Gadget and his bumbling through life are quickly endearing. His dexterity with physical humour shines brightly (and i don't think we've seen the last of it from this actor).

Elaine Hendrix ("The Parent Trap", "Superstar", etc.) does a wonderful job here as the new, improved, Gadget on the block, G2, who gets her "heart" from Gadget Version 1.0. her customing is brilliant with her electric blue eyes being brought out by her metallic blue leather gadget-suit.

The movie really MOVES, sounds and looks like a comic book come to life and, therefore, it's quite successful. A fun ride parents will enjoy taking with their kids. i know that we have enjoyed it more than once already! : )

I have hit an all-time low. I have rebooted my film lifestyle. Prior to watching "Inspector Gadget 2", I was willing and absolutely able to watching anything that came through the system. I was up for any low-budget feature, no matter what country of origin, I was up for good, the bad, and the ugly, AND I was even up for those direct-to-home features that make nearly every cineophile shudder. This was my life, up until about a week ago. I found myself trudging through both "Inspector Gadget" as well as the cartoon voiced by Don Adams, and the direct-to-Disney sequel, "Inspector Gadget 2". It was after this viewing that I eliminated all the upcoming films in my list, opened a fresh page, and started from scratch. I am going to begin (after I finish watching "The Longest Yard" remake and original) watching more classic, foreign, and contemporary independent films. I want to bring the level of control back and impress those with more of a knowledge than whom was a better Inspector Gadget, Mathew Broderick or French Stewart - alas, friends, I do know the answer to that, and I am not proud enough to shout it on the highest mountain. It is embarrassing that I have to nominate one "Inspector Gadget" film over the other, but a critics work is never done. I have no favorite when it comes to this franchise, I have no favorite when it comes to stories that completely demolish the structure of the cartoon of which it is based. In closing, I have no favorite at all when you have two films that are only connected by the titles they share.

"Inspector Gadget 2" is possibly one of the worst sequels to dawn the direct-to-DVD call tag at the bottom of the box. Using nothings from the original film (not the same characters, not the same style, not the same comic timing), this film is one that you have to watch alone, not standing right next to the original Broderick vehicle. French Stewart (he is always squinting ... why?), with the aid of director Alex Zamm try to bring the original concept back the the series without any known budget. Stewart brings a new Inspector to the film, a more arrogant, snobbish, seems to be tormented by life, protagonist that cares nothing for those surrounding him. He is a character that we cannot love, no matter how many times we have to sit through one viewing of this film. What is interesting about Stewart is that he is actually closer to the the animated Gadget than the original. Zamm also tries to create a Dr. Claw that is closer to the original - but the trouble occurs with the fact that the two share very little screen time and thus there is no real chemistry between the two. Claw used to always monitor Gadget's doings, in this one, there seems to be a haphazard care as to what either is doing. Penny still doesn't have her book and Brain still isn't getting anyone out of trouble. Where is the consistency here? Too add to the mix, we are introduced to a new character "G2", the newest upgrade to the Gadget line. Like anything this riddled with clichés, there is an initial problem with the two of them, but eventually a spark misfires and Gadget is introduced to yet another love interest. Considering the problems anatomically with this couple, there is no further spark between them. The only reason the two are put in a this film are to be together, not for any other purpose. There is no sense of individualism, just flimsy cause followed by an effect that could have been predicted before the opening credits ended.

"Inspector Gadget 2" has not seen the best reviews, nor will it get a good one from me - it tried, but ultimately it failed. There was no purpose to create this erroneous sequel. Disney was hoping to cash in on the Broderick fan base, the younger generation that knows no better , or just to make some extra dollars to pad their bottom line, but there was no reason to resurrect this already problematic series. I hated Elaine Hendrix's mesh between "Robocop" and "Judge Dredd". She was funny at parts that were not meant to be funny, and chokingly bad at parts that were meant to draw sympathy from the audience. Perhaps it was the writing, or the campy way that it was filmed, or the cheesy ploy to get audiences to laugh, but this sequel just left me out to dry. If I had to speak positively about this film in any way, I would have to comment on the CGI which did improve a bit with this lower-budget film. I thought the idea of "freezing-time" was a fun concept equal to what Claw would do, but again, we seemed to lack the spunk and originality of the cartoon. I would never consider this franchise a remake of the cartoon, but instead their own unoriginal spin-off.

I blame Disney a bit for this film because cutting corners and cost is not an excuse for making poor films. If Broderick or even the horrid Everett could not reprise their roles for this sequel, it should have just stopped there. Don't push a circular peg into a square hole, but instead we continued to push and found cheap replacements for the original. This is a very kid friendly moment that if I were 3, would probably find visually entertaining, but from a company that prides itself on making Oscar-worthy animation, I expect a higher level of distrobution. French Stewart should stop working while he still is remembered for his humorous work on "Third Rock from the Sun", while the rest of this cast shouldn't even bother with another feature. I think it is bad enough that they couldn't even get Cheri Oteri back, cause, you know, she's expensive.

Overall, I have to say that "Inspector Gadget 2" is a blunderment of a film, and the one star review that I am giving it is generous. There is no need for these types of films to enter into mainstream cinema. It dulls the senses for those hoping to find engrossing cinema out there, and proves that a mind isn't necessary to watch French in action. As a cinematic community, we have to put a stop to this. Zamm attempted to retain some of the originality of the cartoon, but couldn't compile a cast good enough to bring the humor, form, grace, and talent of the animated series to light. There was no chemistry between anyone, and when the clichés began to cause a horrid avalanche, I was caught with nowhere to hide. As I attempt to think of another film that likens to how poor this film was, nothing comes to mind. So, with that said, I have restarted. You will see me soon reviewing better films where my mind can be used, instead of trash like this were jell-o sliding on a stick would be more entertaining. If I had to end with a thought in mind, it would be this - Claw never showed his face, this can be learned from watching the pilot "Inspector Gadget" where he had a mustache, so you shouldn't be able to see his face in the films. It is simple. It would be like creating the Smurfs live-action where they were a shade of orange instead of blue. You just don't do it. So, when it comes to this film - just don't do it. You will be happier, and no so bitter like myself.

Grade: * out of *****

A straight to video live-action movie based on a cartoon? It sounds like a forgettable idea, but "Inspector Gadget" is actually masterful for its harmlessness - no gadgets or people were harmed in this flick. Here, the glitch-ridden Gadget inexplicably manages to keep Riverton so safe, that he's got nothing to do. With the evil Dr. Claw behind bars, Gadget is stuck pulling over speeders - including one who (of course) turns out to be Chief Quimby's mom. When Claw escapes - leaving hints that he's got a big job planned - Gadget goes on the case. Unfortunately, the Chief gives the job to Gadget's replacement - an all-woman, all-robot enforcer called "G2". For Gadget, it's love at first scan, but G2 has no interest. Gadget manages to only get in the way while Claw grows ever nearer to his goal of robbing the federal gold supply locked away in Riverton.

If it's not a laugh a minute, it's still fun for your kids, and it won't put you to sleep either. The FX aren't quite cutting edge, but they're not horrible either. In short, "Gadget 2" looks like it was more fun to make than to watch, but still fun to watch anyway.