Strictly for kids, this 1999 live-action feature version of the popular cartoon series seems long even at 80 minutes. As a video, it's easier to take and appreciate for what works best in the story: the special effects. ... more »Matthew Broderick plays the security guard who is physically transformed into a multi-use cyborg with a zillion attachments, from stilts to helicopter blades to skis. A crimefighter in raincoat and fedora, and equipped with a nifty Gadgetmobile, the hero investigates the death of a man linked to the villainous Sanford Scolex (Rupert Everett). Scolex, who blames Gadget for having to wear a prosthetic hand, develops an evil robot twin of the good inspector, causing much mischief and giving Broderick an opportunity to poke fun at his own performance of the virtuous Inspector. The action is shaky, the script plods along, and the effects soon take over; Everett has to go to the extremes of hamminess just to be seen above it. But children of a certain age will almost certainly engage with the more clever stuff and forgive the rest. --Tom Keogh« less
"Inspector Gadget offers more than you'd expect from a superhero blockbuster with dazzling special effects and a well-written script. The casting is the true strength of the film. Matthew Broderick has always won critical acclaim, due to his superb acting versatility in films including War Games, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Cable Guy, and Godzilla. In his finest performance, Broderick transforms the two dimensional cartoon character made famous by Don Adams, from a security guard into a compassionate, crimefighting cyborg, made up of equal parts of "MacGyver" and "Robocop" with tear-jerking results."
Inspector Gadget - a movie that your family will enjoy!
Dennis A. Amith (kndy) | California | 07/04/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I know that the movie didn't do as well in the box office and that critics bashed it. The question is why I bought this DVD. I have a few reasons actually. #1) I was a big fan of the animated series as a child. #2) I like Disney films #3) It was on sale. Three major reasons and yet I even struggled to watch it because it was bashed on so much and it was only 78 minutes long.So, I was expecting a bad film but you know what. I enjoyed it. I actually liked the movie. It's definitely not below average. Matthew Broderick is actually a good Inspector Gadget. I think with the way movies are, many people tend to want to see a different Inspector Gadget, perhaps someone more violent. Well, if that's the case...there is the Criterion edition of Robocop with the added gory scenes that you can buy. This movie was made for kids as was the cartoon and I'm a kid at heart because I grew up with the show.One of the things you'll notice is that it's a Disney DVD with extra's. Yes, it's a miracle isn't it. The majority of all Disney DVD's don't have squat in them. This one has a 30 minute featurette on "Go Inside Inspector Gadget". It also has a music video from Youngstown and the trailer. Not bad Disney...keep adding more! Also, the sound is well done with the 5.1. Good use of the rear channels!One negative was the layer change. It was during a so-so important scene and that was not good to place it in that area of the movie. They could of put it somewhere else.Otherwise a good movie for the young ones. Just a little warning for parents with younger children: Seeing Broderick with his head backwards or seeing him get blown up may frighten your child. So, all in all an enjoyable movie for the family."
Go Go Gadget Dud...
Kent | USA | 09/03/2001
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Like most of us who heard about this movie, I was expecting great things when I went to see it. Oh, if only I had known better. Sure, I was mildy amused at times, but I found quite a few disappointments. First, the movie doesn't even follow the cartoon all that well. It has the names of the characters, but that's about it. Not to mention the characters were played by the wrong people. Good acting... but it doesn't fit the cartoon, dang it! -- There were some very nice special effects, but the movie's already pretty short and it doesn't show very much of what the Inspector can really do. I really wanted to see him utilize his capabilities. Lastly, being a Disney movie, they just had to throw in a ton of slapstick humor. Kids eat that up all the time, but it really isn't that funny. -- Overall, Inspector Gadget was a very promising film, but Disney spoiled it with all their inaccurate "gadgets.""
Inspector Gadget DVD Review: It's actually not that bad
Dennis A. Amith (kndy) | California | 05/27/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I was expecting a bad film but you know what. I enjoyed it. I actually liked the movie. It's definitely not below average. Matthew Broderick is actually a good Inspector Gadget. I think with the way movies are, many people tend to want to see a different Inspector Gadget, perhaps someone more violent. Well, if that's the case...there is the Criterion edition of Robocop with the added gory scenes that you can buy. This movie was made for kids as was the cartoon and I'm a kid at heart because I grew up with the show.One of the things you'll notice is that it's a Disney DVD with extra's. Yes, it's a miracle isn't it. The majority of all Disney DVD's don't have squat in them. This one has a 30 minute featurette on "Go Inside Inspector Gadget".?? ?It also has a music video from Youngstown and the trailer. Not bad Disney...keep adding more! Also, the sound is well done with the 5.1. Good use of the rear channels!One negative was the layer change. It was during a so-so important scene and that was not good to place it in that area of the movie. They could of put it somewhere else.Otherwise a good movie for the young teens. As for little children, not sure...seeing Broderick with his head backwards or seeing him get blown up may frighten the little children.Otherwise, this DVD is worth purchasing."
"Robocop" for kids!
John A Carrigan | Worcester, MA United States | 03/28/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Growing up, one of my favorite cartoon character was Inspector Gadget. One of the reasons why is because I always compared Inspector Gadget to the sci-fi movie "Robocop", a movie I still enjoying watching to this day. Because of this, I found myself liking Inspector Gadget even as an adult, primarily because I saw a lot of similarities between "Robocop" and "Inspector Gadget". If you have ever seen Robocop you will know exactly what I mean and if you have not, then consider these comparisons after watching Robocop: 1) both Robocop and Inspector Gadget were human beings before they became cyborgs. 2) As human beings, they were both law enforcement officials(if you consider a security guard a person who lays down the law!). 3) They were both "killed" by a criminal genius whom they were trying to arrest and then brought back from near death as cyborgs who take down every perp they encounter. 4) They both cling to what humanity they have left in them, mainly through the loved ones that they had in their human lives. 5) They both wind up combating the same man who tried to kill them as human beings and eventually bring him to justice. 6) They both have to deal with a heavily armed robot before they are able to take down their primary adversary. 7) They both come to terms with their existence as cyborgs. All in all, Inspector Gadget is nothing more than a child's version of Robocop, since there are way too many similarities for a movie watcher to miss."