Inspector Gadget (film)
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| Inspector Gadget | |
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| Directed by | David Kellogg |
| Produced by | Roger Birnbaum |
| Written by | Andy Heyward |
| Starring | Matthew Broderick Rupert Everett Joely Fisher |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures |
| Release date(s) | July 23, 1999 |
| Running time | 78 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $75,000,000 |
| IMDb profile | |
Inspector Gadget is a 1999 live-action film based on the popular animated cartoon series Inspector Gadget. It starred Matthew Broderick as the title character, along with Rupert Everett as Dr. Claw, and Michelle Trachtenberg as Penny. Two new characters were introduced, Brenda Bradford (Joely Fisher) and the Gadgetmobile (D.L. Hughley). This film was produced by Caravan Pictures and Walt Disney Pictures, and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution. It was filmed almost entirely in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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[edit] Plot
John Brown is a security guard for robotics expert Brenda Bradford. Sanford Scolex attacks the lab, killing Brenda's father and stealing valuable equipment for "the Gadget Program." John, who is smitten with Brenda, gives chase. The ensuing car crash brings a confrontation with Scolex, who uses an explosive to blow up John and his car. A bowling ball in the backseat of said car flies into the air and through the sunroof of Scolex's limo, crushing his hand. John is rushed to intensive care, with Brenda feeling that he is 'the perfect candidate' for the Gadget Program.
John is rebuilt using cybernetic parts, and is dubbed 'Inspector Gadget'. The woman behind the procedure is Brenda herself, who explains that such a thing was the entire purpose of the Gadget Program. Unfortunately, the hardware and software that now make up John's body aren't working properly, and he has difficulty controlling his gadgets. Meanwhile, Scolex is built a new, mechanical claw as his hand, and dubs himself 'Claw' (saying that it needs to be "...one word, like Madonna"). He then proceeds to build an android from the equipment stolen, but it refuses to function. The reason is that an integral control chip was left behind, and without it, the equipment is useless. Scolex hires Brenda as his worker (expressing feelings for her in the process), and is amused to discover that John is the 'lucky duck they plucked for the Gadget Program'.
John investigates and discovers that Scolex was indeed that man behind the crime. But upon sneaking into Scolex Industries, he is kidnapped, and Scolex takes his control chip and destroys it, leaving John for all intents and purposes, dead (since his body, now more machine than human, needs the chip to function). Scolex sends RoboGadget, an android clone of John, to destroy the city, while dumping Gadget's body in the dump. Brenda realizes Scolex murdered her father, and races to save John. Kissing his cheek, John miraculously comes to life, and, as Penny says, has the heart to move: with that, the chip doesn't matter.
After a chase through the city between the GadgetMobile and Scolex's equally tricked out limo, John battles RoboGadget, who, despite his gadget being geared towards combat than detective work, quite literally, loses his head (it actually falls off, and John tosses it in the river). Activating his trademark Helicopter Hat, John flies to the roof of Scolex Industries, where Scolex is preparing to make his escape. After John disables the 'copter', both crash to the plaza below, where police await to arrest John. Penny arrives with a reformed minion of Scolex, who confesses the entire plan. Chief Quimby clears Gadget of all charges, and Scolex is arrested.
[edit] Response
The film grossed $103 million worldwide [1] with a budget of $75 million. Many fans of the television cartoon were appalled at the movie. Gadget is no longer bumbling and clueless, but actually does detective work and solves the case. Penny, who was the real brains of the family in the cartoon, does her part to help, but ultimately is a secondary character. Brain is an ordinary dog rather than a talented canine capable of donning disguises.
Fans also say the movie was much darker than the cartoons, and was cheesy since it poked fun at himself (Scolex is perfectly aware that he is evil). They say that the idea of a RoboGadget was terrible, and his terrorization of the city had no purpose other then to create more humor (at one point, RoboGadget walks on extended legs and spews fire from a flamethrower, in a parody of Godzilla. There is even a Japanese man screaming "This is why I left Tokyo!"). The introduction of Brenda Bradford and GadgetMobile was also viewed by fans as pointless.
The movie spawned a direct-to-video sequel, IG2. The sequel did even worse; fans, in a bizarre paradox compared to response to the first film, claimed the sequel failed because it is too much like the cartoon. The character, G2, a female robot Gadget, is introduced, to the spite of fans. Gadget once again becomes clueless, and Dr. Claw's face is never seen. In addition, Brenda Bradford vanishes, and all characters are portrayed by different actors, with French Stewart (Third Rock from the Sun) in the role of Gadget. The only exception to this was D. L. Hughley as the voice of the Gadgetmobile.
Disney's next Inspector Gadget film, Gadget's Last Case, would be animated, certain elements were maintained from the films, such as the bitter Chief Quimby and the Gadgetmobile, but Claw remains "unseen" in his original form, instead he uses a disguise to become more active in the movie and to show up and discredit Gadget as a superior law enforcer. Maurice Lemarche voiced Gadget here. The animation style would be adapted for Gadget and the Gadgetinis, where major changes again shook up the Gadget franchise
Buena Vista would next license Gadget next to CGI animation pioneers Mainframe Entertainment, where a strong effort was made to restore Gadget to his original Grey coat and Penny to her own original look...but fans were still disgusted with the constant use of the irritating Gadgetmobile and the Disney designs for Claw and Mad Cat left over from the previous animated movie and Gadgetinies series.
[edit] Gadget's gadgets
In the film, the following gadgets are seen, used by Inspector Gadget.
Gadget Airbag: Gadget's coat inflates with air. Destroyed by RoboGadget.
Gadget Arms/Gadget Legs/Gadget Neck: Gadget's arms/legs/neck stretch to amazing length. His legs are shown to contain spring mechanisms to increase his stride.
Gadget Balloon Inflator: A balloon appears from yet another of Gadget's fingers, and inflates itself.
Gadget 'Blades: Roller skates appear from Gadget's shoes.
Gadget Bubble Blower: A bubble wand appears from one of Gadget's fingers and blows bubbles without the need for any sort of wind.
Gadget Breath Freshener: A breath spray sprays from Gadget's pinky finger.
Gadget Chopper: Also called Gadget 'Copter, a helicopter propeller emerges from Gadget's hat. Destroyed by Dr. Claw.
Gadget Ear: Gadget's ear pops off and attaches to an object. Gadget remains connected to the ear via a yellow cable, and can still hear through it.
Gadget Grappling Hook: A grappling hook fires from Gadget's hat.
Gadget Hand: An extra hand appears out of the top of Gadget's hat. Chopped off by RoboGadget's twin scythes.
Gadget Helicopter: 1 propeller comes from Gadget's hat.
Gadget Hat: The black band on Gadget's hat displays a flashing heart, as well as Miranda Rights
Gadget Hooker Cleaner: A vacuum cleaner that cleans up the evidence.
Gadget Lightbulb: A lightbulb sprouts from Gadget's hat while he thinks.
Gadget Lighter: A lighter lights within Gadget's thumb.
Gadget Loudspeaker: A microphone for an unseen loudspeaker appears over Gadget's mouth.
Gadget Magnifying Glass: A magnifying glass drops from Gadget's hat over his eyes. It can increase the magnification to 3 levels.
Gadget Oil Slick: A tube sprouts from underneath Gadget's arm, and fires oil. But oddly enough, it actually fires toothpaste (despite the fact it is still activated by the phrase 'Go Go Gadget oil slick')
Gadget Parasol: A parasol unfurls from Gadget's hat.
Gadget Pen: A pen emerges from one of Gadget's fingers.
Gadget Pez Dispenser: A Pez Dispenser pops up from Gadget's finger.
Gadget Phone: Another trademark gadget, Gadget's hand becomes a telephone. He speaks into the pinky, and hears through the thumb. It also has its own phone number.
Gadget Rocket: Gadget's shoe opens are the toe, and fires a rocket.
Gadget Scissors: A pair of scissors pops out from Gadget's finger. It can snip itself via a spring mechanism.
Gadget Skis: Skis appear from Gadget's shoes. Destroyed during a chase, as the friction of a road was too much for the skis.
Gadget Spanish Translation: Translates 'Si' to 'Yes'. It is possible the Gadget Translation gadget can translate languages other than Spanish, but this is not seen.
Gadget Suction Shoes: Suction cups pop out from the soles of Gadget's shoes. They are amazingly powerful, and able to suspend Gadget from the ceiling for an extended period of time.
[edit] RoboGadget's gadgets
The following gadgets belong to RoboGadget. Since he was built by Dr. Claw, his gadgets focus on various types of weapons as opposed to Gadget's gadgets being used for crime fighting and police work.
Gadget Flamethrower: A flamethrower appears on his head, and fires high-powered flames.
Gadget Guns: Twin machine guns replace RoboGadget's hands.
Gadget Hammer: A wooden hammer, it is not seen where it appears on RoboGadget's body.
Gadget Legs: The same as Gadget's Gadget Legs, they can extend. It is not seen if RoboGadget can extend his arms/neck as well.
Gadget Scythes: Scythe-like blades replace RobotGadget's hands.
Gadget Tarantula: A tarantula crawls out of RoboGadget's mouth.
[edit] The Gadgetmobile
The Gadgetmobile is designed by Brenda Bradford. Among other things, it can camouflage itself, has a radar system to track Gadget's location (and other people as well), can extend its tires upwards, and has a powerful engine. It also has a talking personality. The Gadgetmobile openly breaks the law constantly (it is a particular fan of backturns), but claims it's okay: "Speed limits are for cars, not the Gadgetmobile".
[edit] The Cartoon
[edit] Differences
- Inspector Gadget and Dr. Claw are given real names (John Brown and Sanford Scolex). As well, Dr. Claw is fully visible, except for the opening scenes where only his mouth can be seen. Note that John Brown was the given name of a passionate Abolitionist before and during the American Civil War, and that the term scolex refers to the detachable, independent part of a tapeworm.
- Gadget is not clueless, and, while clumsy, does succeed in solving the case.
- Brenda Bradford is never mentioned in the cartoon, while in the movie, she is Gadget's love interest.
- Although a minor detail, many fans pointed out that Michelle Trachtenberg is brunette, not blonde, which the Penny in the cartoons was.
- GadgetMobile, while still voice activated, is an actual character. A small screen displays a virtual representation of the GadgetMobile's 'head', and the car expresses extreme distaste for being paired with Gadget, who he (Brenda, who builds the car, says it is actually a he) sees as a rookie cop. Much like Penny would do in the cartoon, the GadgetMobile clues Gadget in to things he overlooks (such as that the "bowling shirts" two men are wearing are actually prison uniforms, and that they did not lose their keys to a car, they were trying to break in).
- Mad Cat is thin and smoothed down rather than being puffed up and fat (though in Inspector Gadget 2 he returns to this state)
- Gadget's catchphrase "Wowsers!" is spoken as "Wowser!" in the film.
- Scolex's company is "Scolex Industries". The organization "M.A.D." of the cartoons is never mentioned.
- The cartoon was not produced by Disney (although Disney held the rights to the series during the time it owned DiC Entertainment).
[edit] Explained facts that were left unexplained by the cartoon
- Claw being a multi-billionaire weapons developer in his civilian identity as Sanford Scolex
- Gadget being involved in an accident that leads to his necessary transformation into a cyborg
- Brain's com-link being invented by Penny
[edit] Trivia
- A scene in the hospital contains an audible reference to the Three Stooges, "Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard" which is also heard in the music video for Weird Al's Like A Surgeon.
- At the end of the film, Sikes joins the "Minions Anonymous", where he meets many famous assistants/henchmen (listed with various jokes in the credits): Mr. T, Jaws (Famous Guy with Metal Teeth), Odd Job (Famous Villain with Deadly Hat), Tattoo (Famous Identifier of Sea Planes), Tonto (Famous Native American Sidekick), Igor (Famous Assistant to Dr. Frankenstein),Kato and Nick Nack.
- Don Adams, who voiced Inspector Gadget in the cartoons, makes a cameo voicing Brain. At the end of the film, Penny is seen trying to contact Brain using the com-link, but he does not attempt to answer and a recorded message from Don Adams is heard instead.
- The Gadgetmobile breaks the Fourth Wall when he says "It's a Disney movie".
- The Scolex Industries headquarters was the main building of PPG Place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- At one point we see Dr. Claw's minion asleep when he should be monitoring the security cameras. In fact, one of his monitors shows Homer Simpson asleep in front of his own monitors.
- When the minion wakes up, Homer does too.
- When Kramer produces his working prototype of the evil Inspector Gadget, he calls it "Prometheus". Andy Dick had previously appeared in an episode of Star Trek Voyager, as a Holographic Doctor on the starship Prometheus.
