Rating: 
Summary: Oh, the humanity... er, cyborgity!
Review: A little known tidbit about the history of Philadelphia: Channel 48, once known under the call letters WKBS, liquidated their assets in 1983 due to increasing problems with their transmitter lease. The station signed off on August 29 -- but not before going out with a bang. Using the last of their resources, their final half-hour was used to broadcast the first episode of a never-before-seen cartoon, one that would serve to change, in it's own small way, the cultural landscape of America.That cartoon was Inspector Gadget. (Incidentally, a Google search of the program's airdates lists the earliest known broadcast of the series as September 5, 1983. Channel 48 may not have bothered to log it's final program to the FCC -- but trust me, I was there. They had it first.) The continuing adventures of the bumbling cybernetic detective hold a special place in my heart because of this strange and fateful day. Channel 48 was a beloved station -- for many of my school years they broadcast Pink Panther for two hours every day(!) as well as such wonderous cult 'toons as Tenessee Tuxedo. It was a crushing blow to my young heart to bid farewell to that old, treasured friend, but their maverick decision to end with the very first broadcast of Gadget was an fond, fitting tribute. I watched Gadget on Channel 17, who picked it up the following year, religiously. Often I would rush home from school, determined not to miss the antics of the robotic constable, the case-cracking skills of his behind-the-scenes niece Penny and her dog Brain, and the sinister growl of the menacing Doctor Claw: "I'LL GET YOU NEXT TIME, GADGET!" So it was with a deep and abiding love that, when I spotted this film on the used DVD rack at my local record shop, I gladly forked over the twelve bucks to revisit my childhood one last time. But instead, I ended up feeling like my inner child had been spanked and sent to bed without dinner. Dear Lord, this movie is terrible. Really, truly, terrible. Not a single redeeming quality about it. French Stewart may be the worst comedic actor known to humanity, accurately desribed by a friend of mine as "Like Kramer from Seinfeld, except not funny" -- I honestly think Carrot Top would have been a better choice, and I HATE Carrot Top. And though Eliane Hendrix provides that safe Disney level of mildly enticing sex appeal, her patently robotic acting is only barely forgiven by the fact that, well, she's LITERALLY playing a robot. And that incessantly unfunny car! Can we please have a modern comedy which doesn't try to infect some form of satirically cliched, urbanized Chris Rock Lite stupidity into it? Tupac is rolling over in his grave right now! It's terrible. Disney has once again ruined the beloved characters of literary history, as they did with Hercules, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and the Little Mermaid. Maybe I'm reaching a little there by putting Gadget in such notable, royal company, but if in my passion I take such liberties, I beg you all to forgive me my indulgence -- certainly it's not nearly as insulting as the liberty that Eisner and company have taken in turning our favorite stories into Technicolored tripe.
Rating:
Summary: Oh, the humanity... er, cyborgity!
Review: A little known tidbit about the history of Philadelphia: Channel 48, once known under the call letters WKBS, liquidated their assets in 1983 due to increasing problems with their transmitter lease. The station signed off on August 29 -- but not before going out with a bang. Using the last of their resources, their final half-hour was used to broadcast the first episode of a never-before-seen cartoon, one that would serve to change, in it's own small way, the cultural landscape of America. That cartoon was Inspector Gadget. (Incidentally, a Google search of the program's airdates lists the earliest known broadcast of the series as September 5, 1983. Channel 48 may not have bothered to log it's final program to the FCC -- but trust me, I was there. They had it first.) The continuing adventures of the bumbling cybernetic detective hold a special place in my heart because of this strange and fateful day. Channel 48 was a beloved station -- for many of my school years they broadcast Pink Panther for two hours every day(!) as well as such wonderous cult 'toons as Tenessee Tuxedo. It was a crushing blow to my young heart to bid farewell to that old, treasured friend, but their maverick decision to end with the very first broadcast of Gadget was an fond, fitting tribute. I watched Gadget on Channel 17, who picked it up the following year, religiously. Often I would rush home from school, determined not to miss the antics of the robotic constable, the case-cracking skills of his behind-the-scenes niece Penny and her dog Brain, and the sinister growl of the menacing Doctor Claw: "I'LL GET YOU NEXT TIME, GADGET!" So it was with a deep and abiding love that, when I spotted this film on the used DVD rack at my local record shop, I gladly forked over the twelve bucks to revisit my childhood one last time. But instead, I ended up feeling like my inner child had been spanked and sent to bed without dinner. Dear Lord, this movie is terrible. Really, truly, terrible. Not a single redeeming quality about it. French Stewart may be the worst comedic actor known to humanity, accurately desribed by a friend of mine as "Like Kramer from Seinfeld, except not funny" -- I honestly think Carrot Top would have been a better choice, and I HATE Carrot Top. And though Eliane Hendrix provides that safe Disney level of mildly enticing sex appeal, her patently robotic acting is only barely forgiven by the fact that, well, she's LITERALLY playing a robot. And that incessantly unfunny car! Can we please have a modern comedy which doesn't try to infect some form of satirically cliched, urbanized Chris Rock Lite stupidity into it? Tupac is rolling over in his grave right now! It's terrible. Disney has once again ruined the beloved characters of literary history, as they did with Hercules, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and the Little Mermaid. Maybe I'm reaching a little there by putting Gadget in such notable, royal company, but if in my passion I take such liberties, I beg you all to forgive me my indulgence -- certainly it's not nearly as insulting as the liberty that Eisner and company have taken in turning our favorite stories into Technicolored tripe.
Rating:
Summary: INSPECTOR GADGET 2
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: harmless fun
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Harmless and That's All
Review: Another direct-to-video sequel to the original "Inspector Gadget" is exactly what you expect. We have no Matthew Broderick, but French Stewart (imagine young Nathan Lane) as Inspector, and another one, a female version "G2" is added now. The concept of police detective with cartoonish gadgets to solve the case is not changed, and the story is again as corny and non-existent as before, but that we don't care. I liked the first one, but not this one. One of the reasons is that in this sequel Inspector becomes the "last-year's model" which means here that he suffers humiliation because of many "glitches." That is, when he says, "Go go Gadget, Helicopter," something differnet appears from the top of his head. And the film seems to believe that it can make us laugh. We may if we are all very small kids. To make matters worse, parents beware, some scenes are very annoying. Just one example. Somehow one famous fast-food compamy agreed with production placement, and at some party sequence this unlucky Inspector again and again experiences silly mulfunction (manupulated by the villain The Clow), and he sprinkles the fried potatoes all over the floor, and moreover, stomps on them spilling yellow mastard all over the place. Now if that's your idea of funny, see this one. In short, besides the conventional ideas you have seen in this kind of films such as Nancy Drew-like girl or fast-talking car, the film only offers the tired ideas of comedy that was used in the silent film era, like the Keystone Cops. The difference is, THEY are funny. The CGIs are suitably cartoon-like, I don't know whether its cheezy effects are intentional or not. (I see the name of Stan Winston in the end credit.) Some effects are certainly great, like the Matrix-like "freeze" shots, which is used in last year's "Clockstoppers" in which, by the way, the star of this film French Stewart can be seen. Finally, G2, the female Gadget. I don't know what they wanted to do with this idea, because what she does is nothing remarkable. Actions are introduced, but badly shot with undoubtedly bad CGIs) and badly edited, killing any moments that could be interesting with her presence. The film's ending suggests another sequel, which I politely decline to see. So, what's next? "G3: Gadget Kids"?
Rating:
Summary: Harmless and That's All
Review: Another direct-to-video sequel to the original "Inspector Gadget" is exactly what you expect. We have no Matthew Broderick, but French Stewart (imagine young Nathan Lane) as Inspector, and another one, a female version "G2" is added now. The concept of police detective with cartoonish gadgets to solve the case is not changed, and the story is again as corny and non-existent as before, but that we don't care. I liked the first one, but not this one. One of the reasons is that in this sequel Inspector becomes the "last-year's model" which means here that he suffers humiliation because of many "glitches." That is, when he says, "Go go Gadget, Helicopter," something differnet appears from the top of his head. And the film seems to believe that it can make us laugh. We may if we are all very small kids. To make matters worse, parents beware, some scenes are very annoying. Just one example. Somehow one famous fast-food compamy agreed with production placement, and at some party sequence this unlucky Inspector again and again experiences silly mulfunction (manupulated by the villain The Clow), and he sprinkles the fried potatoes all over the floor, and moreover, stomps on them spilling yellow mastard all over the place. Now if that's your idea of funny, see this one. In short, besides the conventional ideas you have seen in this kind of films such as Nancy Drew-like girl or fast-talking car, the film only offers the tired ideas of comedy that was used in the silent film era, like the Keystone Cops. The difference is, THEY are funny. The CGIs are suitably cartoon-like, I don't know whether its cheezy effects are intentional or not. (I see the name of Stan Winston in the end credit.) Some effects are certainly great, like the Matrix-like "freeze" shots, which is used in last year's "Clockstoppers" in which, by the way, the star of this film French Stewart can be seen. Finally, G2, the female Gadget. I don't know what they wanted to do with this idea, because what she does is nothing remarkable. Actions are introduced, but badly shot with undoubtedly bad CGIs) and badly edited, killing any moments that could be interesting with her presence. The film's ending suggests another sequel, which I politely decline to see. So, what's next? "G3: Gadget Kids"?
Rating: 
Summary: Great -- much better than the original!
Review: Everything about this movie surpasses the first one. It's funnier, it's faster, and it's much more interesting. French Stewart was perfect as Inspector Gadget. I like Matthew Broderick in many roles, but Stewart shows he really knows how this part should be played. In many ways, this sequel is much more faithful to the original cartoons than the first film, making Claw more interesting and the whole film more enjoyable. The effects were top-notch and they were matched by the script and the very talented, well-chosen cast. I can't say I liked the first Inspector Gadget film, but I really enjoyed Inspector Gadget 2.
Rating:
Summary: A RELAXING TIME
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A RELAXING TIME
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Go-Go get it! - Fun for kids of all ages!
Review: 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! : )
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