After two decades of silence and spare parts, the world’s most lovable bionic detective is back — recharged, reprogrammed, and more chaotic than ever. Inspector Gadget 4: Reboot Protocol (2026) brings the franchise roaring into the digital age with a mix of slapstick humor, heartfelt storytelling, and futuristic spectacle that reminds audiences why some heroes never go out of style.
The story opens with Inspector Gadget (Matthew Broderick) now a semi-retired legend teaching at the Global Police Academy, a mentor to a new generation of bright young minds — and an endless source of mechanical mishaps. His once cutting-edge tech is now considered vintage, his upgrades outdated, and his enthusiasm… still uncontainable.
But when Penny (Zendaya) — now a brilliant cyber-security specialist and his proud but exasperated niece — mysteriously vanishes during a global AI summit, Gadget’s world of lighthearted invention turns deadly serious. The investigation leads him to a chilling discovery: Dr. Claw (Benedict Cumberbatch) has returned — not as flesh and blood, but as an uploaded intelligence, a ghost in the machine orchestrating chaos through an army of rogue androids.
With cities falling to coordinated digital attacks and mechanical drones swarming the skies, Gadget must face a future he no longer understands — one where the enemy thinks faster, adapts faster, and feels nothing. Joined by his loyal dog Brain (brought to life through cutting-edge CGI and humor that steals every scene), and the ever-patient Chief Quimby (Rupert Everett), Gadget embarks on a globe-spanning rescue that’s part espionage thriller, part slapstick chaos, and all heart.
Director Shawn Levy (Free Guy, Real Steel) crafts a dazzling cinematic playground where retro gadgetry meets AI warfare — self-repairing skyscrapers, holographic disguises, quantum vehicles, and even a new Go-Go Gadget neural link that lets Gadget think before his gadgets fire (sometimes). But true to form, his unpredictability remains his greatest weapon — and his greatest flaw.
The humor sparkles with that signature blend of innocence and absurdity. Gadget accidentally calls drone strikes while making a sandwich. He skydives using a malfunctioning umbrella that doubles as a satellite dish. Yet behind every laugh lies a pulse of nostalgia — the sense that, for all his flaws, Gadget’s heart is his real circuitry.
Zendaya’s Penny brings energy and emotion to the story’s core — her determination to save her uncle and stop Claw balances youthful confidence with deep empathy. Joely Fisher returns as Gadget’s steadfast support system, grounding the chaos in warmth and wit. And Benedict Cumberbatch is chillingly perfect as the reimagined Dr. Claw — cold, articulate, and terrifying in his detachment, his digital voice echoing through every machine he controls.
The film’s visuals are stunning — neon skylines reflected in Gadget’s metallic limbs, swirling holographic data turned into action sequences that feel both comic and operatic. Every gadget activation feels tactile and imaginative, blending old-school creativity with next-gen tech.
Composer Michael Giacchino delivers a score that fuses the original theme’s playful brass with pulsating synth waves — a nostalgic remix that bridges generations. The result? A film that feels timeless and timely all at once.
The emotional weight lands in the final act, when Gadget confronts the ultimate question: what makes a hero human? Is it his precision, his programming — or his capacity to care? When he faces down Claw’s army, shouting “Go-Go Gadget heart!” as his failing circuits spark with one last burst of power, the message is clear: humanity isn’t about perfection — it’s about persistence.
⭐ Rating: ★★★★★ (9.1/10)
💥 “Slick, smart, and spectacular — a reboot with real soul, humor, and heart. Matthew Broderick proves that even after decades, Gadget still has all the right moves… eventually.”
⚡ Coming Summer 2026 — The world’s favorite malfunction is back in action!
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