Steve Carell’s Get Smart in theaters Friday

Dense, but never stupid. Confounding, but never infuriating. Self-absorbed, but never cold-hearted. From The Daily Show to Dan in Real Life Steve Carell’s performances have created almost as much quirky empathy as laughs, and as Maxwell Smart, a secret agent in way over his head, the 45-year-old actor may have found his definitive role. Just having Carell in the same room with gravely serious Terence Stamp is hilarious. Pitting them against each other as archenemies is genius. Anne Hathaway co-stars as Smart’s superspy partner, Agent 99, and Alan Arkin and Bill Murray also make appearances. Rated PG-13. (Courtesy Warner Brothers Pictures)