Movie #296 - Idiocracy

Idiocracy
2006 - Rated R - 1 hr 24 min
Director: Mike Judge
Starring: Luke Wilson, Maya Rudolph, Dax Shepard, Terry Crews, David Herman, Justin Long

This movie is both hillarious and terrifying.  What would happen if stupid people kept reproducing and smart people stopped?  What if eventually the scales tipped in favor of mankind's less intelligent?  Not only would Darwin rollover in his grave, but the events portrayed in this movie might actually happen.

Luke Wilson and Maya Rudolph participate in an army program that freezes them, then gets shut down, leaving them in their pods for 500 years before they are accidentally opened up and set loose into the world.  Society is filled with idiots and the world is suffering.  Wilson now finds himself the smartest man in the world, a title which brings great responsibility.  Can he help save the crops and solve all the world's problems in one week? Or will he be executed, Colosseum style?

This movie is mostly low-brow comedy, but I think it's pretty funny.  And Terry Crews as president is just about my favorite thing in the entire movie.

Movie #223 - Get Smart

Get Smart
2008 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 50 min
Director: Peter Segal
Starring: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin, Terrence Stamp, Terry Crews, David Koechner, James Caan, Bill Murray, Patrick Warburton, Masi Oka

Another tribute to a TV show back in the day... but this reboot is blessed with the awkward comedy of Steve Carell.  He actually does a good job here, not too wacky, and comes out on top in the end.  The weird pairing of younger Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) with his older Agent 86 is explained away as a cosmetic procedure done in the line of duty to make her look younger.  But I bet those kissing scenes were still awkward to shoot.

Meanwhile, I love Alan Arkin, who makes a great department head. And Dwayne Johnson's bad guy turn is done pretty well. All in all, a fun one to watch and a nice tribute to the original.