We’ve been talking a lot lately about the terrible direct to video sequels that certain studios have been using for a quick and easy cash grab. For the most part it only bothers me when it involves a classic movie franchise getting brought back out of the vaults only to be dragged through the mud, but this latest DTV title from Warner Bros related to the upcoming Get Smart movie is possibly the stupidest idea I’ve heard yet. So here’s their plan: a mere ten days after the new Get Smart film hits theatres (June 20th, 2008), they will release a spin-off sequel on DVD called Get Smarter: Bruce & Lloyd Out of Control, starring Masi Oka (Heroes) and Nate Torrence (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip).

Clearly the original film’s main stars Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway will not be involved, and since these characters Bruce and Lloyd are not (as far as I know) part of the Get Smart canon, I have to question whether it will have any connection at all to Get Smart. So in other words, they’ve once again succeeded in reducing a classic franchise to nothing more than a brand name that they can slap on generic low budget comedies to make money. What remains to be seen is whether or not a spin-off will confuse moviegoers, and possibly hurt the theatrical run of Get Smart itself. “Our initial concern was that we wanted to make sure we wouldn’t be sending a confusing message to audiences… This lets consumers have something else original quickly after enjoying the film,” said producer Charles Rovin. To be honest, I was looking forward to the Get Smart movie, but now this, combined with the fact that Mel Brooks was not involved and the fact that the script has apparently drawn comparisons to Johnny English, and I am no longer very enthusiastic. Maybe Steve Carell can still save it.