Inspector Gadget

John Brown is a well-meaning but clumsy security guard who is grievously injured in an explosion set by a mysterious villain. Scientists rebuild him with an array of mechanical parts and hidden tools, and the media dubs him Inspector Gadget, a part-man, part-machine crimefighter. Accompanied by his clever niece Penny and their resourceful dog Brain, he starts using his new abilities to follow leads and confront henchmen, coping with malfunctioning tech and unexpected public attention. The movie mixes slapstick, family-friendly moments, and action as the trio closes in on who planned the attack, without giving away how the final showdown plays out.

Released in 1999, the live-action Inspector Gadget was directed by David Kellogg and adapts the classic animated series. The screenplay credits include Kerry Ehrin, Zak Penn, and Dana Olsen, with Matthew Broderick starring alongside Rupert Everett and Joely Fisher.

The film did not garner major industry awards or Academy Award nominations. It received only limited recognition from fan-driven outlets and short-lived pop culture lists, and it tends to appear in opinion pieces, DVD-era retrospectives, and reappraisals rather than awards coverage among cult film circles.

As a high-profile turn of a beloved 1980s cartoon into live-action, the movie became a nostalgic curiosity for audiences who grew up with the original show. Its costume and gadget effects drew attention, and it remains a reference when people debate cartoon-to-live-action adaptation choices, and later fan discussions.

Critical response leaned mixed-to-negative, reflected in a 4.498/10 average from 1,284 votes, with reviewers praising its family-friendly energy and comic set pieces but faulting the uneven tone, thin plotting, and inconsistent humor. Major themes include identity after bodily change, the role of technology, and familial loyalty between Gadget and Penny.