* EVIL ARCHVILLAINS Gadget's foe is the one-handed ''Claw'' (Rupert Everett), a megalomaniacal tycoon who wants to borrow Gadget's bionic technology to create a robo-race that can conquer the world.
* DISTRESSED DAMSELS ''Gadget'' has Joely Fisher as the doctor who rebuilt the Inspector and is now helping him catch the villain who murdered her scientist father.
* POP CULTURE IN-JOKES ''Gadget'' has a Bond homage -- a cameo appearance by Richard ''Jaws'' Kiel -- as well as countless other bits that try to cop a cheap laugh by sampling somebody else's famous movie moment.
* SUPER-KEEN ACCESSORIES Honoring his animated origins, Gadget sports a different tool in every finger, arms and legs that elongate, and, oh yes, shoes that shoot fireworks -- but only when he's, um, in love.
* PLANES, TRAINS, AUTOMOBILES Gadget rides in a computerized car that talks an annoying, KITT-like blue streak.
The plot of ''Gadget'' doesn't develop, the characters don't develop, the MOVIE doesn't develop. It just lunges forward, en route to a not-so-grand finale, during which all that gadgetry blows up real good. And that's how a seemingly foolproof high concept became just another big, dumb movie that, on video, doesn't retain any of its bigness.


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