Film Snail

4.5

Inspector Gadget

PG·1999·78m

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Summary

John Brown is a bumbling but well-intentioned security guard who is badly injured in an explosion planned by an evil mastermind. He is taken to a laboratory, where Brenda, a leading robotics surgeon, replaces his damaged limbs with state-of-the-art gadgets and tools. Named "Inspector Gadget" by the press, John -- along with his niece, Penny, and her trusty dog, Brain -- uses his new powers to discover who was behind the explosion.

Cast

Matthew Broderick

John Brown / Inspector Gadget / Robo Gadget

Rupert Everett

Sanford Scolex / Dr. Claw

Joely Fisher

Brenda / Robobrenda

Michelle Trachtenberg

Penny

Andy Dick

Kramer

Cheri Oteri

Mayor Wilson

Mike Hagerty

Sikes

Dabney Coleman

Chief Quimby

D.L. Hughley

Gadgetmobile (voice)

René Auberjonois

Artemus Bradford

Frances Bay

Thelma

Mr. T

Himself

Richard Kiel

Famous Big Guy with Silver Teeth

Richard Lee-Sung

Famous Villain with Deadly Hat

Bobby Bell

Famous Identifier of Sea Planes

Hank Barrera

Famous Native American Sidekick

Keith Morrison

Famous Assistant to Dr. Frankensomething

John Kim

Son Before Second Son

Jesse Yoshimura

Bane of the Bumbling / Robobrendaerobics Group Member

Aaron Meyerson

Cliff Emmich

Out of Control Bus Driver

Richard Penn

Fantastic Doctor

J.P. Manoux

Mayor's Sychophantic Assistant

Brian George

Sore Guru

Alexander Witt

Wet, Green Businessman

E.J. Callahan

Hot Dog Vendor

Chad Parker

Assistant Car Thief

Frank Masi

Period Photographer

Mary Chris Wall

Snoopy News Anchor

Linda Cevallos

Showgirl

Loralyn Peterson

Showgirl

Andy Heyward

Mr. D.I.C. - Party Guest

Don Adams

Brain (voice)

Danny Nero

Police Officer (uncredited)

Crew

Director

David Kellogg

Characters

Bruno Bianchi

Characters

Jean Chalopin

Characters

Andy Heyward

Screenplay

Zak Penn

Screenplay, Story

Kerry Ehrin

Story

Dana Olsen

Reviews

r96sk

October 10, 2020

Another one rated too low, I assume that is due to it - so I read - not being "faithful" to the original television series. I have never watched that so I couldn't judge it in those terms, but as a film I enjoyed it I won't lie.

'Inspector Gadget' is very silly but self-aware, in a similar vein to 'Looney Tunes: Back in Action' and 'The Cat in the Hat'. I enjoyed those two films and, while this isn't as good as those, I liked this enough. I probably wont ever rewatch, but I can see younger audiences finding enjoyment with it.

There aren't, admittedly, any super noteworthy performances here, but that's not to say Matthew Broderick & Co. are bad in this - they give what's necessary. There's a few interesting cameos in there, too.

There are a couple of fairly amusing moments, but it's the dumbness that I think they do well - it's stupid and they know it. Like those other films I mentioned earlier, you're gonna annoy a lot of people by doing that so I can see why this gets hate - I don't think 44% is fair though, but each to their own of course.