Inspector Gadget 2

Inspector Gadget 2 is a 2003 American live-action sci-fi comedy film and stand-alone direct-to-video sequel to the 1999 film Inspector Gadget, based on the 1983 cartoon series of the same name before the latter.

Unlike the first film, Inspector Gadget 2 is considered a more faithful adaptation of the original animated series. The characters' personalities were altered to be more in line with their cartoon counterparts and Dr. Claw's face is never shown. Gadget and Claw are never referred to as "John Brown" and "Sanford Scolex", their respective civilian names from the first film (though Claw's communicator is still labeled as "Scolex Industries").

With the exception of D. L. Hughley, who returned as the voice of the Gadgetmobile, none of the actors from the 1999 film reprised their roles.

Unlike the first film's negative reception, however this film received mixed reviews from critics and fans of the original animated series with a 40% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Plot
A glitched Inspector Gadget once again has to fight his arch-nemesis, Dr. Claw, with the aid of a female Gadget: G2.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) Misleading title: By its name, this movie is supposed to be a sequel of the 1999 film, however, this movie introduces too many new elements and conserves very few elements from the original, the plot lacks of continuity with the first one, plus the new cast and the new location, makes this movie feel like more a reboot than a sequel.
 * 2) For some reason Claw still has his claw instead of a robot arm like in the cartoon.
 * 3) Awful acting.
 * 4) A very poor rendition of the Inspector Gadget theme, a stark contrast to how well it was done in the first film. There is only a better rendition in the trailers.
 * 5) Terrible CGI. It looks blatantly and obviously fake throughout the entire film.
 * 6) Shameless product placement, just like in the first film, for Pop Tarts, Eggo Waffles, Kellogg’s, McDonald’s, Pringle’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Grundig, Apple Mackintosh, and Coca-Cola.
 * 7) Most of the story is weak.
 * 8) Brenda Bradford, the scientist from the first film who saved Gadget's life twice, was removed, probably to make G2 the new love interest of Gadget.
 * 9) * By the same way, several minor characters from the first movie don't appear for any explained reason.
 * 10) Chief Quimby is an unlikable jerk unlike in the first film where he was more like his cartoon counterpart, who was gruff but well-meaning. In this, he's somewhat incompetent and is partly responsible for Dr. Claw getting away with certain thefts by putting only one officer on the case (G2) and firing Gadget even though he proved his innocence (with the circuit override chip).
 * 11) The slapstick tries to come off like mh:greatestmovies:Who Framed Roger Rabbit and mh:greatestmovies:The Mask, but fails miserably in doing so.
 * 12) The scene where Gadget and G2 swap chips creates a big continuity error with the first film, where Claw killed Gadget by destroying his chip, only for Brenda to revive Gadget with the power of love. Shouldn't they both have been killed by swapping chips?

Good Qualities

 * 1) The movie is a slight improvement over the first movie, with a slightly better grasp on the source material than the first one, such as Dr. Claw's face being hidden the whole time (Even though you can see parts of his face at some moments), Penny is a blonde and an active character, and Inspector Gadget is wacky, odd, goofy and says his catchphrase Wowsers!
 * 2) French Stewart gives a better performance as Gadget than Matthew Broderick in the first film and he does pull off the emotional scenes as well.
 * 3) D.L. Hughley reprises his role as the voice of the Gadgetmobile, being the only actor from the first film that reprises his role.
 * 4) There are some scenes that are amusing.
 * 5) There is less product placement in comparison to the first film and even when it is shown (such as McDonald's), it isn't blatant or in your face.
 * 6) The idea of a female Inspector Gadget sounds interesting; G2 herself is a cool character, too bad that she had a lot of wasted potential.
 * 7) The ending song Up, Up, Up by Rose Falcon it's pretty good.
 * 8) Is a prequel of the original 80s animated series.

Trivia

 * Matthew Broderick was in talks early on to reprise his role as Gadget, but ultimately backed out.
 * Elaine Hendrix (G2) performed her own stunts, including the fight scene against Claw's minions.
 * The film location was entirely set in Brisbane, Australia, most notably was South Bank Parklands and William Jolly Bridge.