Inspector Gadget
Directed by David Kellogg
- action
- adventure
- comedy
- family
The story
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.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated live-action comedy with a cartoonish gloss: primary reds and yellows, glossy late-nineties studio polish, and a Metropolis-style city of skyscrapers and sleek corporate interiors lit like a toy set. Camera work is brisk and wide, with lots of slapstick-friendly framing that lets pratfalls and gadget gags play out in full view, and the score is bouncy, brass-tinged and relentlessly upbeat. The mood is goofy, warm and unthreatening, the kind of thing that suits a lazy Saturday afternoon, a family movie night, or a light background watch while doing something with your hands. Pacing is busy and episodic, with frequent quick gags and a sitcom-like rhythm rather than sustained tension. Emotionally it is sweet and open-hearted: a clumsy, kind-natured man gains confidence while bonding with his young niece and her dog, and the villainy stays loud and silly. Violence is cartoonish and bloodless, with explosions, chases and mild peril but no gore, and nothing frightening for young viewers. It suits families with kids, fans of slapstick and gadget-heavy adventure, and anyone who wants pure, uncomplicated fun.
More films like Inspector Gadget
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Inspector Gadget and we’ll explain which ones fit you.
