Disney's Inspector-Gadget 001

***Inspector Gadget*** is a 1999 American superhero comedy film directed by David Kellogg and written by Kerry Ehrin and Zak Penn from a story by Ehrin and Dana Olsen. Loosely based on the 1980s animated television series of the same name, the film stars Matthew Broderick as the title character, Rupert Everett as Dr. Claw, Michelle Trachtenberg as Penny, and Dabney Coleman as Chief Quimby. Three new characters were introduced such as Dr. Brenda Bradford (played by Joely Fisher), Mayor Wilson (played by Cheri Oteri) and the Gadgetmobile (voiced by D. L. Hughley). The film tells the origin story of Inspector Gadget as he attempts to foil an evil plot concocted by the series villain, Dr. Claw. It was filmed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Los Angeles, California, with the castle-like main tower of Pittsburgh's PPG Place playing a central role.

## *Disney's Inspector-Gadget 001*

File:Profile - An Title Card for Disney's Inspector-Gadget 0001.jpg
Produced by Caravan Pictures and DIC Entertainment (which was owned by The Walt Disney Company at the time of production), the film was released theatrically by Walt Disney Pictures on July 23, 1999. It was the last film produced by Caravan Pictures, before the company merged into Spyglass Entertainment. It was also dedicated to the memory of production designer Michael White, who died on January 19, 1999, in Los Angeles during production of the film at the age of 36.
The film had a worldwide gross of $134 million against a $90 million budget, while also receiving negative reviews from critics, who gave some praise towards the acting, but criticized the screenplay, visual effects, editing, humor, and lack of faithfulness to the source material (particularly when Dr. Claw shows his face). It lost the studio approximately $30 million. It was followed by the 2003 direct-to-video sequel *Inspector Gadget 2*, though only D. L. Hughley reprised his role as the voice of the Gadgetmobile.

## Plot

John Brown lives in Riverton, Ohio, with his niece Penny and her pet beagle Brain. Dreaming of becoming a police officer, John works as a security guard for the Bradford robotics laboratory. Artemus Bradford and his daughter Brenda are designing a lifelike robotic foot as part of the Gadget Program, designed to add android officers to the Riverton Police Department. Sanford Scolex, a tycoon, uses a robotic tank to break into the Bradford laboratory and steals the foot to build an army of androids from its technology and assassinating Artemus in the process. John chases after Scolex's limousine in his hatchback, but John's car gets flipped over due to an oil slick from Scolex's limo, and both vehicles crash into a billboard. After Scolex fakingly surrenders, John is left for dead by getting blown up in his upside down car by Scolex's Dynamite stick disguised as a cigar, but a bowling ball launched by the explosive blast from the destroyed car lands in the limo and crushes Scolex's left hand. Scolex receives a mechanical claw from his associate Kramer, taking on the alias "Claw."
Brenda decides to make John, who nearly died from the fiery car explosion, the first test subject for the Gadget Program. John is transformed into a crimefighting cyborg, with the alias of "Inspector Gadget," who is powered by a control chip. John is given an orientation from Brenda, which goes horribly awry and is also given a lesson from a guru. The lesson ends in failure, however, when John accidentally emasculates the guru. He is helped by the Gadgetmobile, a robotic car with a chatty AI, and, despite initially struggling to use his new gadgets, Gadget manages to stop two criminals who were trying to rob a car.
At a charity ball, Scolex approaches Brenda, having known her at Harvard, inviting her to work for him in her own laboratory. Brenda accepts, unaware that Scolex plans to steal her technological ideas and designs. Unimpressed with Gadget, police chief Quimby assigns him to menial assignments rather than investigate Artemus’ murder. Upset at not being taken seriously, Gadget investigates on his own, finding a piece of scrap metal, which he later connects to Scolex, with help from Penny.
Claw uses Brenda's research to build his own android, "Robo-Gadget," sending him out on a rampage across Riverton to frame the real Gadget. Gadget himself infiltrates Claw's lab to recover the foot but is caught and deactivated when Claw breaks his chip. Claw's minion Sykes dumps Gadget in a junkyard, then is tasked to dispose of the foot. Brenda encounters her own robotic doppelganger, Robo-Brenda, who confirms Claw stole the foot and murdered her father. Brenda, Penny, Brain, and the Gadgetmobile track Gadget to a junkyard. A kiss from Brenda awakens Gadget, proving his will can control his new body, regardless of whether the chip is needed or not.
After dropping Penny and Brain off at home, Gadget and Brenda chase Claw and Robo-Gadget's limo. Gadget and Robo-Gadget fall off the roof and duel on a bridge until Gadget removes the latter's head, tossing it into the river, though Robo-Gadget's body runs off. Brenda crashes the Gadgetmobile into Claw's limo but is taken prisoner. Claw tries to escape in a helicopter, but Gadget appears using his helicopter hat to intercept. Claw destroys it, and Gadget is stuck hanging from the landing skis. Gadget deconstructs a pen that is in his finger (one of his gadgets) and launches the metal ink chamber, sending it bouncing around and making it hit the button on Claw's claw, causing it to clamp shut and break the joystick of the helicopter and send the helicopter out of control. Brenda leaps out of the helicopter onto Gadget's back, but they fall down the side of Scolex's skyscraper, using a parasol to land safely. Claw parachutes down but lands in the Gadgetmobile and is captured by it. The police arrive to arrest Gadget, but Penny appears with a repentant and reformed Sykes, who confesses his boss' crimes to the police. Saluted and acknowledged by Quimby as an actual member of the police force, Gadget departs with Brenda and Penny, as Claw vows revenge as he is taken away by the cops. Gadget begins a relationship with Brenda.

Security officer John Brown is a security guard, who one day dreams of becoming a real Police Officer. In the meantime, he is charged with guarding a science lab operated by Brenda Bradford, and her father.

One evening, a break-in occurs, in which a top-secret robotics project is stolen, and Brenda's father is killed. John gives pursuit of the getaway vehicle, which houses famed millionaire Sanford Scolex, and his assistant, Sikes.

The chase lead to both vehicles being damaged, with Scolex tossing an exploding cigar into John's car. The ensuing explosion blows a bowling ball out of John's car, and into Scolex's limo, crushing his hand.

John's injuries are numerous, and Brenda wishes to apply the 'Gadget program' that she and her father were working on, to help mend John. John is then outfitted with a number of different gadgets, that leads to at first be terrified, until Brenda explains that his new and improved self can help make a difference in people's lives.

Brenda helps Gadget get acclimated with his new self, and explains about the advanced control chip that powers his body. Without it, John would not be able to function. Brenda also provides Gadget with a jive-talking vehicle, dubbed The Gadgetmobile.

Meanwhile, Scolex has had an assistant named Kramer, fashion a claw-like arm in place of his crushed hand, and considers changing his name to 'Claw.' The item that they stole from the Bradford's lab (a robotic foot) proves unable to respond to Kramer and Sike's tinkering, leading Scolex to think that something extra must be needed to make it work.

Gadget is first made known by the City's Mayor, and Police Chief Quimby. Even though Gadget is assigned to the Police, Quimby still dislikes the idea of a machine being shoehorned into his department, and relegates Gadget to community projects...like rescuing cats from trees.

After the announcement, a gala celebration is held, wherein Gadget accompanies Brenda to the festivities. At the event, Scolex appears, and offers Brenda her own facilities and funding. Though Gadget reminds her of her and her Father's work on the 'Gadget Program,' Brenda gladly accepts Scolex's offer, unaware of his plans to steal her technological ideas and designs.

Gadget is also upset that he is not being taken seriously, and sets out to find out who killed Brenda's father, with the help of his niece Penny, and her dog Brain. A mechanical piece at the scene of the crime contains the initials 'SI,' leading Gadget to Scolex Industries.

In the meantime, with Brenda working for him, Scolex has stolen several of her ideas, and crafted two robotic clones of his own: one a bimbo-like clone of Brenda, and another that is an evil clone of Inspector Gadget. While Scolex keeps Brenda's clone for himself, Robo-Gadget is sent out to terrorize the public.

Gadget manages to break into Scolex's facility, but is captured when he tries to recover the robotic foot stolen from Brenda's lab. Gadget is then eliminated when Scolex has the 'Gadget Chip' destroyed, leaving his assistant Sikes to dump Gadget at the City Dump.

In the aftermath, Robo-Gadget goes on a mad rampage, prompting Brenda and Penny to try and find the real Gadget. Using the Gadgetmobile, they find him in the dump, but without the chip. However, due to Gadget's caring and emotions, he manages to start back up, and everyone decides to go after Scolex.

After dropping off Penny and Brain at home, Brenda and Gadget find Scolex's limo, containing both Scolex and Robo-Gadget. Gadget wrestles Robo-Gadget into the streets, and the two have a battle until Gadget finally wins.

Gadget activiates his Gadgetcopter, and heads to Scolex's building, in time to see him flying away with Brenda. Gadget manages to disable the helicopter, and safely recovers Brenda.

In the aftermath, Scolex and his assistant Sikes are arrested for the murder of Brenda's father, and as the Police arrive, Quimby acknowledges Gadget as an actual member of the police force.

As Scolex is led away, he vows to get Gadget 'next time,' as the Inspector and Brenda head off.

John Brown (Matthew Broderick) is a security guard in Riverton who lives with his niece Penny (Michelle Trachtenberg) and her dog Brain, and dreams of being a real life police officer. One night John is securing the parking lot of the Bradford Laboratory which is owned by his love interest Dr. Brenda Bradford (Joely Fisher) and her father, Artemeus (Rene Auberjonois). A scientist and businessman named Sandford Scolex (Rupert Everett) and his henchman Sykes (Mike Hagerty) send machines to break into the lab, steal the Bradford's cyborg components and kill Artemus. John chases Scolex's limousine in his car but winds up flipping his car over by a trap from Scolex and orders the villain to step out of the limousine and surrender. Scolex does but throws an explosive cigar at John's car causing it to blow up and accidentally crushes his left hand with a bowling ball during the process.
The next day Brenda Bradford saves John's life by rebuilding in John Brown's body at the hospital making him the first cyborg Police Inspector for the Riverton Police Department known as Inspector Gadget. She also gives him the Gadgetmobile (voiced by D.L. Hughley) which both help Gadget capture two escaped prisoners. As time goes on, Gadget grows closer to Brenda, but she does not return her affections to him or seem aware that he likes her. Meanwhile Scolex has his second henchman Kramer (Andy Dick) build him a claw to replace his left hand and goes by the name Claw and when he learns that Gadget is getting promoted Police Inspector at a ceremony for capturing the thieves he attends and meets Brenda and asks her to come work for him to which she does, not knowing that he's the man who killed her father.
Gadget wants the case of Artemus' murder but Chief Quimby (Dabney Coleman) denies it to him because he's not a real police officer so Brown decides to take the case himself and finds a silver coin in the murder evidence which has SI on it and tries to figure out what it stands for. Meanwhile Scolex and his henchmen build a robot clone of Gadget called Robo Gadget who terrorizes the city and makes everyone think that he's the real Inspector. Soon Gadget realizes that SI stands for Scolex Industries and that Sandford Scolex is the one who murdered Artemus and rushes off to the Scolex building to tell Brenda, then he sneaks in to infiltrate the lab by finding the stolen foot but he is captured by Claw and his henchmen.
Claw removes the Neuron Synapse Amplifier chip that is the main source of Gadget's function, destroys it and has Gadget dumped in the junkyard. Meanwhile Brenda learns that Claw built a robot clone of her called Robo Brenda who reveals to her that Scolex stole the cyborg components and she realizes that Claw killed her father and rushes off to find Gadget.
Claw has Robo Gadget set fire in the city and scare people, but luckily, Gadget comes back to life in the junkyard and is rescued by Brenda and Penny. He manages to catch up to Scolex's limousine and fights RoboGadget on the streets. During the fight, Gadget pulls off his evil double's head and throws it into the water, leaving the rest of the body to wander the streets without a second thought. He then uses his Helicopter Hat to fly off and save Brenda who has been taken hostage by Claw.
The villain tries to escape with Brenda in his helicopter and kill Gadget, but the Inspector saves her and together they land into a pond nearby where they share a kiss.
Claw eventually comes down by parachute and lands in the Gadgetmobile where he is locked in a cage. The police arrive as do Penny and Sykes.
Penny tells Chief Quimby that Claw created an evil version of her uncle to destroy Riverton to which Sykes says is true and gives Quimby the robotic foot. Claw and Sykes are arrested and John is promoted a hero and in the end shares a kiss with Brenda outside his house and the Gadgetmobile chases a Beetle Bug Car. During the credits it is shown that Robo Brenda became an aerobics instructor, Sykes gets free from prison and becomes a member of a group for minions, Robo Gadget's body is still moving on the streets without his head until finally bumping into the screen, Penny receives a communicator watch along with Brain wearing a translator collar and Gadgetmobile gets married to the Beetle Car. He also addresses the audience till the end of the credits.

One day in Riverton, Ohio, Jonathan "John" Brown (Matthew Broderick) is working as a police officer when he notices an out-of-control bus with no brakes, with scared people screaming for help inside. He then notices kids walking a dog from school on the street, so he throws the dog away and saves the kids and pulls the bus back and stopping it, thus saving the day. However, the dog is still in danger and John saves it in time by grabbing it and giving it back to the kids. A witness named Brenda Bradford (Joely Fisher) congratulates John and tells him he's a hero. However, the entire thing turns out to be a dream as John and his niece Penny (Michelle Trachtenberg)'s dog Brain wakes John up by licking him in the face. In reality, John works as a security guard at the laboratory run by the robotics scientist Brenda and her father Artemus (René Auberjonois) in Riverton, Ohio. John wishes to join the Riverton Police Department, with full support from Penny and Brain.
Brenda and Artemus create a life-like robotic foot which they can control through thought as a prototype for the Gadget Program. However, tycoon Sanford Scolex (Rupert Everett) attacks the lab, kills Artemus, and steals the foot in his plan to replicate the technology, create an army of machines, and eventually conquer the world. John chases Sanford, but they are both severely wounded, with John being blown up in his car with a stick of dynamite thrown by Sanford whilst the criminal's left hand is crushed by a blue bowling ball blasted out of the latter's car, making him scream loudly in pain. John is rushed to intensive care, with Brenda deciding to turn him into a completely cybernetic man using a computer chip that powers John's in-built gadgetry (à la *The Six Million Dollar Man*) since she feels that he is "the perfect candidate" for the Gadget Program.
John, now with the name of Inspector Gadget, joins the police squad, which irritates Chief Quimby (Dabney Coleman). He is also accompanied by his talking, intelligent car the Gadgetmobile (voiced by D. L. Hughley) and is forced to do community service assignments when wanting to investigate the Bradford case. Meanwhile, Sanford has been given a prosthetic claw and he renames himself Dr. Claw ("One word. Like Madonna.") after his minions try to give him different names, intending to build the first of his mechanical army using Brenda's technology and hires her to join his business. Unsatisfied with his mediocre work, Inspector Gadget decides to take up the Bradford case in secret and with help from Penny and the Gadgetmobile, he realizes that Dr. Claw is behind Artemus' murder. As he sneaks into Claw's headquarters, Claw completes an evil replica of Gadget named RoboGadget (Matthew Broderick) after hacking into Brenda's systems and stole her research. Gadget is captured by Claw and his minions Kramer (Andy Dick) and Sykes (Michael G. Hagerty), who shut down (and apparently kill) Gadget by removing and crushing his computer chip before dumping him in the junkyard.
RoboGadget goes on a mad rampage across the city whilst Brenda, Penny, Brain, and the Gadgetmobile come across Inspector Gadget in the junkyard. Brenda manages to revive Gadget by kissing him and the group rush to Riverton to stop Claw and RoboGadget. Gadget confronts RoboGadget and they fight across a bridge until Gadget pulls a cord on his counterpart's neck, which makes his head fall off whilst his body runs off. As RoboGadget tries to convince Gadget into letting them be partners and rule the world together, Gadget ignores him by replying he should've quit while "he was a head" and throws the robot's head into the nearby river, apparently killing and drowning it. Soon, Brenda is taken captive by Claw, who tries to make his escape in a helicopter. Gadget appears using his helicopter hat, but he's shot down and suspended from the landing gear of Claw's helicopter above the city. Gadget and Brenda are able to get away by using an umbrella to sail safely to the ground, with Claw following by using a parachute. He is then promptly arrested by the police when Penny appears with a now-reformed Sykes, who hands over the robotic foot to Chief Quimby. Gadget and Brenda become a couple, but Dr. Claw promises Gadget that they'll meet again in the future.
Over the closing credits, RoboBrenda is seen teaching "robo-aerobics", RoboGadget's body is seen running around the streets and then it runs into the camera, Sikes is now in a support-recovery group. and Penny is now equipped with a wrist-monitor, trying to make contact with Brain (voiced by Don Adams). Finally, the Gadgetmobile tells the viewers what happened to him after the end (while also claiming that it was his movie, despite the title being *Inspector Gadget*).

## Cast

* Matthew Broderick as John Brown / Inspector Gadget and Robo-Gadget
* Rupert Everett as Sanford Scolex / Dr. Claw
* Joely Fisher as Dr. Brenda Bradford and RoboBrenda
* Michelle Trachtenberg as Penny Brown
* Dabney Coleman as Chief Frank Quimby
* René Auberjonois as Dr. Artemus Bradford
* Cheri Oteri as Mayor Wilson
* Andy Dick as Kramer
* Michael G. Hagerty as Sykes
* Frances Bay as Thelma
* J. P. Manoux as The Mayor's Sycophantic Assistant
* Brian George as The Sore Guru
* Richard Penn as Fantastic Doctor
* Sonya Eddy as Hospital Secretary
* Andy Heyward as Mr. D.I.C.

* Matthew Broderick as John Brown (Inspector Gadget) and RoboGadget
* Rupert Everett as Sandford Scolex (Dr. Claw)
* Joely Fisher as Dr. Brenda Bradford and Robo Brenda
* Michelle Trachtenberg as Penny
* Dabney Coleman as Chief Quimby
* Cheri Oteri as Mayor Wilson
* Mike Hagerty as Sykes
* Andy Dick as Kramer
* René Auberjonois as Dr. Artemus Bradford
* Frances Bay as Thelma
* J.P. Manoux as the Mayor's Assistant
* Brian George as the Guru

* Matthew Broderick as Inspector Gadget/John Brown/RoboGadget
* Rupert Everett as Dr. Claw
* Joely Fisher as Brenda Bradford
* Michelle Trachtenberg as Penny Brown
* Andy Dick as Kramer
* Cheri Oteri as Mayor Wilson
* Michael G. Hagerty as Sykes
* Dabney Coleman as Chief Quimby
* René Auberjonois as Artemus Bradford
* Frances Bay as Thelma Bodkin
* Cliff Emmich as Out of Control Bus Driver
* Jennifer Ingersoll, Haley Harper, Vichany Sam, Ivory Dilley, Brielle Blount, and Hailey Peitzman as In Terrible Jeopardy Young Girls
* Brian Tibbetts as Amazed Boy on Bike
* W. Bob Gaynor as Robotic Foot Dancer
* Richard Penn as Fantastic Doctor
* J. P. Manoux as Mayor's Sychophantic Assistant
* Sam Brown as Officer McMurphy
* Brad Blaisdell as Officer Johnson
* Sonya Eddy as Hospital Secretary
* Katsy Chappell as Kathleen M. Darcy as Nurses in Hallway
* Brian George as Sore Guru
* Alexander Witt as Wet, Green Businessman
* E. J. Callahan as Hot Dog Vendor
* Chad Parker as Assistant Car Thief
* Frank Masi as Period Photographer
* Mary Chris Wall as Snoopy News Anchor
* Linda Cevallos and Lora Lyn Peterson as Showgirls
* Jim Thiel and Jeff Thiel as Twin Bartenders
* Matthew Murray as Scared Witless Autograph Kid
* Mark Leahy as Angry Father of Kid
* Rick Lafonde as News Reporter
* Tadao Tomomatsu as Bewildered Japanese Tourist
* Adrienne Wehr as Waitress on Bridge
* Richard Rauh as Man "Without" Toupee
* Will Blount, Josh Kuhn, Kyle Ross Collinsworth, Jesse Yoshimura, and Michael Fossat as RoboBrendaerobics Rhythmless Group

### Voices

* Don Adams as Brain Note: This is Don Adams' last voice role before his retirement.
* D. L. Hughley as the Gadgetmobile

* D.L. Hughley as Gadgetmobile
* Don Adams as Brain

* D. L. Hughley as the voice of the Gadgetmobile
* Don Adams as the voice of Brain

#### Cast notes

During the "Minions Anonymous" scene in the credits, the henchmen include Mr. T (who is credited as himself) and Richard Kiel (who is credited as the Famous Big Guy with Silver Teeth, in reference to his role of James Bond's enemy Jaws), as well as Richard Lee-Sung as the Famous Villain with Deadly Hat, Robert N. Bell as the Famous Identifier of Sea Planes, Hank Barrera as the Famous Native American Sidekick, Keith Morrison as the Famous Assistant to Dr. Frankensomething, John Kim as the Son Before Second Son, Jesse Yoshimura as the Bane of the Bumbling, Idiotic Yet Curiously Successful French Detective's Existence, and Aaron Meyerson as himself.
In the party scene, the party guests are played by executive producer Andy Heyward as Mr. D.I.C., Evelyn Heyward as the Trophy Bride, Amy Derrick as the Zoftig Woman, William Smith as the Little Man, David Page as the Flat Top Guy, Jacob Avnet as Flash, Dorothy Davis as Go Girl, and Huck Hackstedt as Mr. Gadget.
Matthew Broderick (Inspector Gadget) and Dabney Coleman (Chief Quimby) previously worked together in *WarGames*.

## Reception

The film received generally negative reviews from critics and viewers alike, with many people criticizing the differences from the original cartoon series and the use of real products in the film. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a score of 21%, based on 62 reviews, with the consensus reading: "Despite an abundance of eyecandy, the film doesn't amount to much." On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 36 out of 100, based on 22 reviews.
Lawrence Van Gelder of The New York Times stated that it "wastes a lot of good talent". In his review for the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert said that fans were angered when Dr. Claw reveals himself in the movie.
Despite the negative reception from critics, the film was a moderate box office success with a worldwide gross of $134.4 million worldwide on a budget of $75 million. It made $75.9 million in its first four weeks. In the UK, it grossed just over 7 million.

## Sequel

A sequel titled *Inspector Gadget 2* was released on March 11, 2003, starring French Stewart as Inspector Gadget. Only D.L. Hughley reprised his role from the first film.

# TV Tropes

*Inspector Gadget* (1999) is a Live-Action Adaptation of the namesake animated series from Walt Disney Pictures, directed by David Kellogg and starring Matthew Broderick, Michelle Trachtenberg, Joely Fisher and Rupert Everett.

The movie opens with an origin story for the titular hero (Broderick). Originally a human security guard named John Brown, he dreams of one day being a respected police officer, though he is continually rejected due to his lack of experience. He also has designs on Brenda Bradford (Fisher), a scientist that works at the cybernetics lab he's employed for. After the lab creates a prototype for a computer chip that can control lifelike robotic limbs, Brown's life changes as Corrupt Corporate Executive Sanford Scolex (Everett) breaks into the lab, kills Brenda's father Artemus (René Auberjonois), and makes off with the prototype foot. When Brown pursues him, the resulting car chase ends with Scolex blowing up his car and leaving him with extensive tissue damage. In the aftermath, a bowling ball from Brown's car flies into the air and lands Scolex's own left hand, crushing it to pieces and leading to him getting a selection of cybernetic replacements. His favourite replacement (because it looks cool) is a metallic crab-claw. He dubs himself "Claw." As for Brown, Brenda decides to make him the prototype for the "Gadget Program" and repairs his damaged body by converting him into a cyborg with numerous odd and zany functions—and his own talking wisecracking car the Gadgetmobile (voiced by D.L. Hughley). Now dubbed "Inspector Gadget," he realizes his dream of joining the police force - though his generally goofy and awkward nature and lack of control over his new hardware makes him something of a walking disaster area. Meanwhile, Scolex still has designs on the technology that created him, as he plans to use it to build an unstoppable robot army to take over the world...

It was successful enough for Disney to produce a direct-to-video sequel, *Inspector Gadget 2* (2003), though none of the original cast returned (except for D.L. Hughley who reprised his role as the Gadgetmobile).

## The film provides examples of:

* Abnormal Limb Rotation Range: Happens a few times to Gadget.
* Actor Allusion:
	+ Matthew Broderick as Robo-Gadget doing an impression of a certain rampaging reptile.
	+ "Just Claw. One word. Like Madonna." Rupert Everett and Madonna are famously best friends in real life.
* Adaptation Dye-Job:
	+ Penny is brunette in this movie, while she was blonde in the cartoon. The sequel would make her a blonde again.
	+ The colors of Gadget's outfit are different than the cartoon as well. His hat is changed from gray with a light gray band to brown with a black band. His coat is beige instead of gray (though the sequel would make it gray again). His pants and shoes are both black, as opposed to his blue pants and gray shoes from the cartoon. He also wears an assortment of different colored ties, though he does wear a blue one at one point.
	+ While his face was never shown in the cartoon, Claw's action figure depicted him with white hair. In the film, he has black hair.
* Adaptation Expansion: We actually learn both Gadget and Claw's real names (okay, Claw's name was eventually revealed in the cartoon) and backstories, with the story of how they got their robotic add-ons taking up the better part of the first act.
* Adaptational Location Change: In the cartoon, Gadget resided in the fictional Metro City. In the film, he lives in equally fictional Riverton, Ohio.
* Adaptation Name Change:
	+ In the original cartoon, Claw's birth name was Edward Claw. Here, it's Sanford Scolex. Also, he only goes by "Claw" instead of Dr. Claw, though the "Doctor" part would be used in the sequel.
	+ Similarly, Inspector Gadget, whose real name here is John Brown, went by the name of Augustin Tamare (not that the show ever revealed that one, either) in the original cartoon.
* Adaptation Origin Connection: Granted, the original cartoon never really gave origin stories for Inspector Gadget and Dr. Claw to begin with, but this film chose to make John Brown's conversion into a cyborg have a connection with Sanford Scolex's hand getting crushed and having it replaced with a robotic claw. John Brown is injured in an accident caused by Scolex. However, the explosion also sends a bowling ball flying out of Brown's car and crushes Scolex's left hand as he is closing the sunroof. Yet another thing to note is that Brown was rebuilt as a cyborg as part of the Gadget Project and Scolex's interest in using the technology for his own ends was what caused Brown's accident in the first place.
* Adaptational Hairstyle Change:
	+ Gadget is depicted with short, clean cut hair in the films as opposed to the longer, shaggier style he has in the cartoons.
	+ Penny either wears her hair down, or in braids instead of in pigtails like in the cartoons.
* Adaptational Intelligence: Gadget is far more competent in the movie than in the cartoon, and doesn't rely entirely on Penny and Brain.
* Adapted Out: Dr. Claw was the leader of an international crime syndicate known as M.A.D. in the cartoon, but his evil organization is nowhere to be seen. Instead, he is aided by a thug named Sykes and a bumbling scientist named Kramer.
	+ In the sequel Claw does display a logo that looks very similar to the M.A.D. Logo though.
* Age Lift:
	+ Penny was a prepubescent girl in the original cartoon. Here, she's a teenager.
	+ While Claw's face wasn't shown in the cartoon, his action figure's white hair suggested that he was at least middle-aged. Sanford Scolex seems to be a relatively young man.
* Air Vent Escape: John enters Scolex's building through the vent system.
* Alliterative Name: Sanford Scolex for Claw. Brenda Bradford as well.
* Alternate Continuity: It is clearly not canon to the original cartoon because of the huge amount of differences from the source material.
* Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: "Inspector Gadget apparently has gone berserk in the downtown Riverton area... reports indicate that he has already caused a major traffic accident, destroyed private property, and set fire to an elderly man's beard."
* Artificial Limbs:
	+ Interestingly, in the film, Gadget takes some time to get used to them and even comments "it doesn't feel like me." Shortly after being activated, he accidentally extended his neck into the hospital ceiling.
	+ Also Dr. Claw's, well, claw.
	+ The robotic foot that Dr. Bradford was working on at the start of the film, although it isn't attached to anyone.
* Artistic License – Linguistics: Lampshaded by Claw when he has Gadget at his mercy:

Claw: COMPRENDE!?
Gadget (sarcastically): Yeah. I comprende.
Claw: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I *comprendo*. Yo *comprendo*. Conjugate the verb, for pity's sake! Pull out his NSA chip before he butchers another language.
* Aside Glance: Gadget reacting to his own bad pun.

Gadget (to Robo-Gadget's disembodied head): You should've quit while you were ahead.
* Author Appeal: The bizarrely hyper quick cuts and odd Big Lipped Alligator interludes seem to be a favorite of David Kellogg.
* Better Than New: Brown was originally human. Then his body was busted and he was remade into a Super Soldier.
* Big "SHUT UP!": Claw yells this to Kramer.
* Borrowed Catchphrase: Chief Quimby says "Wowser" after Gadget captures Claw.
* Bowled Over: RoboGadget tosses a cop who slides across the floor into another room, knocking over a bunch of other cops. The sound effect of bowling pins being knocked down is played.
* Break Them by Talking: "Have a cocktail! Don't you know bad robots have more fun?"
* Breaking the Fourth Wall:
	+ The Gadgetmobile tells Gadget to buckle up, because "It's a Disney movie!"
	+ There's also the scene where Claw tells Gadget that he's been watching too many Saturday morning cartoons... and then looks directly into the camera, followed by Gadget doing the same thing, *and then* Kramer leans into the shot *for no other purpose than to look into the camera as well*.
* Brought to You by the Letter "S": Most of Gadget's equipment and other related items bears a stylized "G"- presumably the symbol of the Gadget Program.
* The Cameo:
	+ A post-credits gag has Mook #1 Sykes attending Minions Anonymous, where other attendees include "Hat Throwing Minion," "Minion Who Identifies Seafaring Aircraft," Kato, Tonto, Igor, "Minion with Metallic Teeth," and Mr. T. The latter two are played by their actual actors Richard Kiel and Mr. T himself.
	+ Don Adams has a vocal cameo as the voice of Brain in a mid-credits scene.
* Camera Abuse: The GadgetMobile ejects a bug that got caught in his grill and it splatters against the camera.
	+ During the end credits when the headless RoboGadget runs into the camera.
* Catchphrase: "Wowser!"
* Cat Up a Tree: John is tasked with rescuing several of these while on the police force. Though he feels like the job is beneath him, he nonetheless rescues 13 kittens before asking to be reassigned to the Bradford murder.
* Creator Cameo: Andy Heyward- head of DIC Entertainment and one of the original series' co-creators- makes a cameo as a party guest, credited (appropriately enough) as "Mr. D.I.C.". He and his wife Evelyn (credited as "Trophy Bride") can be seen in the background when the camera zooms onto Gagdet's tethered ear stuck onto a sculpture.
* Character in the Logo: The logo had Gadget's silhouette inside a gear.
* Chekhov's Gun:
	+ When Robo-Gadget is first activated, a close-up of him shows a tarantula in a plastic sphere in his body. During his fight with Inspector Gadget, he unleashes this tarantula as a weapon.
	+ After pulling out Gadget's NSA chip, Claw presses the red button on his claw, crushing it to pieces. When trapped on Scolex's chopper, Gadget launches a pen chamber into the cockpit, which hits the red button, causing the claw to break the controls.
	+ When Gadget punches the Gadgetmobile's monitor, the car tries to sock him with an Extendo Boxing Glove. Gadgetmobile later uses it on Claw after he parachutes into the front seat of the car, knocking him into the backseat so it can cage him.
* Chekhov's Skill: Gadget puts the training he received from the guru to good use in the film's climax. His skill with a pen-gun *would* have counted as this in an earlier draft (at least if the novelization is anything to go by), but the relevant scene was either cut or not filmed at all.
* Chewing the Scenery: Coincidentally while Claw is screaming about eating brownies... and waffles.
* Chubby Chaser: Brenda implies that she was one: she tells Scolex that she "liked him better fat".
* Comedic Underwear Exposure: From Gadget during his fight with Robo-Gadget. Thankfully, he's wearing boxers.
	+ Also from Scolex, who loses his briefs to Brain while escaping with Brenda.
* Composite Character: Sykes is one for the various hulking, dim-witted henchmen from the cartoon show.
* Cool Car: The Gadgetmobile. Now a 1960s Lincoln Continental, it can talk, it has a giant booster rocket and a *Skittles compartment*.
* Corrupt Corporate Executive: Scolex/Claw, who will resort to *cold-blooded murder* to further his goals.
* Covered in Gunge: Used so much (toothpaste is the main example), you wonder if it's a private fetish on the part of a producer/director.
* Cut Lex Luthor a Check: Double subverted. Claw *does* plan on selling the gadget technology so anyone with enough money can have an army of obedient Super Soldiers but decided to send the first to terrorize the city 'and have some fun'.
* Damsel in Distress: Brenda in the final act of the film.
* Darker and Edgier: At least one person gets killed and another critically injured in a series of violent acts that set the plot in motion. Is there any wonder why the MPAA rated the film PG? (Aside from the accidental language, namely, "obtaining the balls", and other innuendo, of course.)
* Delayed Safety Feature: Played for Laughs when Gadget and Brenda fall off a skyscraper. He frantically tries to find the keyphrase for his parachute and eventually ends up with a Parasol Parachute. They land safely, and then the actual parachute opens.
* Demoted to Extra: Penny; despite being the true hero of the original series and frequent appearances throughout the movie, she rarely plays a part in the main plot of the film until the actual climax, with most of the screentime going exclusively to Gadget, his love interest, or Dr. Claw.
* Design Student's Orgasm: The opening credits sequence.
* Destroy the Product Placement: An early scene has Scolex cause John's car to crash into a Yahoo! billboard, causing it to topple onto the former's limo. The "Yahoo!" jingle even plays as it falls.
* Didn't Think This Through: Not from Gadget, but instead from Scolex, who went out of his way to build a robotic version of Brenda who was programmed with a Motor Mouth for reasons we dare not explore. She ends up blabbing everything to the real Brenda without a second thought.
* Disabled in the Adaptation: Despite the name, Dr. Claw doesn't actually have a claw in the cartoon, he just wears spike gauntlets. Here, he lives up to his namesake, having a claw replace his left hand after it's crushed.
* Disney Death: Happens to John when Claw removes the chip that powers his robotics and dumps him in the dump. He is revived by The Power Of Life after Brenda kisses him.
* The Ditz: Inspector Gadget, but slightly less so than in the cartoon. The Mayor of Riverton also has shades of this.
* Doorstopper: The manual to John's robot upgrades is at least two feet thick — and it's just volume one.
* Dream Sue: At the beginning of the movie, Gadget imagines himself as a super cop. Apparently this happens regularly, as pointed out by Penny.
* Dull Surprise: "Dull" is stretching it a bit, but Brenda nonetheless reacts remarkably well at the appearance of her robotic lookalike, designed by the man who hired her. And this is all before she even finds out what he did to her father.
* Emerging from the Shadows: Claw's reveal.
* Enormous Engine: The jet engine deployed by the Gadgetmobile.

Gadgetmobile: Better buckle up, Penny. This car's got only two speeds. "Fast" and "Whoo! What was that?"
* Everyone Can See It: John's feelings towards Brenda are so obvious, both the GadgetMobile and Penny see it, to John's surprise.
* Evil Is Hammy: You can tell Rupert Everett is having an absolute blast as Claw.
* Evil Plan: Acquiring Gadget Technology so he can sell it on the black market and acquiring his crush.
* Evil Tower of Ominousness: Scolex's tower, portrayed by the highly ornate One PPG Place in Pittsburgh.
* Extendo Boxing Glove: The GadgetMobile uses one on John after John tries to take control of him. He also uses it on Scolex at the end of the film.
* Failed a Spot Check: No one, be it strangers on the street or the chief of police, notices RoboGadget's obviously fake teeth, odd movements and motors making noises and think he's the real Gadget.
* Fainting: Kramer faints as he's asked to essentially murder John Brown.
* Faux Affably Evil: Claw, who goes from suave and debonair to boastful condescension at the drop of a hat.
* Fingore: Claw has the fingers of his left hand crushed early in the first film.
* Fire-Breathing Weapon: RoboGadget's favorite gadget seems to be the flame thrower that comes out of his sleeve.
* Forgot About His Powers: Gadget doesn't think to use his iconic Gadget Copter to bypass Robo-Gadget's You Shall Not Pass! ploy on the bridge. Nor does he think to use it when Robo-Gadget has him clinging to one of the bridge's supports, a good 100 feet in the air, by his fingertips. The worst part is that, after Gadget has defeated Robo-Gadget and gotten back to ground level, what's the first thing he does? "Go-Go Gadget Copter!"
* For the Evulz: In revealing his evil plan, Claw seems quite eager to see the raw chaos that would be unleashed through his robotic warriors upon selling them to the highest bidders; Aside from exacting revenge on Gadget for the loss of his hand as well as the implication that he might have been teased for being fat in his youth, he has no other deeply personal motivations for his crimes.
* Frame-Up: Scolex creates Robo-Gadget to terrorize Riverton and pin the blame on the real Gadget. Unfortunately for Scolex, Quimby is convinced otherwise when Penny and Sykes tell them the truth.
* Gadgeteer Genius: Brenda and her father who worked together to create the technology for creating Inspector Gadget.
* Good Prosthetic, Evil Prosthetic: Gadget has an entire cybernetic body stuffed with all manner of bells and whistles, yet it's otherwise indistinguishable from the human form. Meanwhile, Claw is mostly human, but has replaced his left hand with a sinister, ferocious-looking, stainless-steel pincer that's as much a weapon as an appendage (to be fair, he *does* have a more conventional-looking prosthetic hand he can use when he's out in public).
* Grammar Nazi:

Scolex. Gadget (sarcastically): Yeah! I *comprende!*
(Scolex winces in barely-controlled fury)
Scolex: No, no, no. I *comprend-o. Yo comprendo.* Conjugate the verb, for pity's sake. Kramer, pull the NSA chip before he butchers another language!
* Grappling-Hook Pistol: John has one that comes out of his hat. He uses it twice throughout the film: One to stop an escaped convict, and the second time to scale a building to warn Brenda about Scolex.
* Gratuitous Italian:
	+ Scolex often uses the Italian words "Arrivederci" and "Ciao".
	+ Also, the Brazilian dub uses this for the "comprende" dialogue quoted above, replacing it with "capisce"/"capisco".note If *comprende* was kept, the joke would fall flat because the word is only one letter away from its Portuguese equivalent (comprender = compreender)
* Groin Attack: John Brown AKA Inspector Gadget mistakenly does this to the guru while trying to train his new cybernetic body (he was blindfolded so that he could "visualize his goal"), after the guru tells him to focus on "obtaining the balls" — as in the metal balls on the floor.

Guru: Ungrip! Ungrip! Turn it off! TURN IT OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOFFFFFFFFF!!!!!!!
Chief Quimby: Well, I guess six million dollars doesn't buy what it used to.
Brenda: Excuse me.
*[As hospital workers put the guru in an ambulance, with a huge ice pack on his crotch]*
Guru: He is not a man, you know. He is a monster!
* Happy Place: Kramer attempts to go to one of these when he is asked to remove the chip that powers John's robotics, essentially killing him. As he goes to perform the deed, he closes his eyes and imagines himself on a beach with dolphins. It doesn't work and he faints.
* Hard Truth Aesop: Scolex tells Gadget that "in the real world, evil quite often prevails," which is a pretty hard truth for those who had to suffer injustice in reality. Fortunately, Gadget proves him wrong.
* Heroes Want Redheads: John Brown/Gadget is infatuated with the redheaded Brenda Bradford.
* Heart Symbol: Appears on Gadget's hat.
* Hook Hand: Dr. Claw.
	+ "No no, just... 'Claw'... one word. Like Madonna."
	+ "Too bad Hook's already taken, huh?"
* Human Hammer-Throw: RoboGadget does this to a poor civilian at one point.
* Hyperspace Arsenal: Inspector Gadget's robotic clone Robo-Gadget does this to scare a child that mistakes him for the real Gadget.
* I Am the Noun: Gadget says "I am the Police."
* Idea Bulb: A literal one pops out of John's hat, with the first notes of Jeopardy! Thinking Music, during his training when he's thinking of what gadget to use to foil jewelry thieves.
* Idiosyncratic Wipes: Scenes are transitioned with various technological things, like wireframe versions of Gadget's equipment or various mechanical objects.
* Imagine Spot: Done with thought balloons.
* I'm Going to Disney World!: Used by Claw and Gadgetmobile.
* Impersonating an Officer: Robo-Gadget, who isn't so much impersonating a police officer as he is downright smearing the police officer's good name by committing all sorts of crimes–and takes it so far that Chief Quimby would've arrested the real Gadget had Penny and Sykes not revealed that detail about Claw's Evil Plan.
* Implied Death Threat: When asking Kramer to remove the chip, Claw warns him that he will be "building himself a new head."
* In Name Only: Save for a few shared names and the fact that the main character has bionic implants, but otherwise bears little-to-no resemblance to the 80s cartoon.
* Insistent Terminology: GadgetMobile resents being called a "car". He's a crime-fighting machine.
* Inspector Oblivious: He wouldn't be Inspector Gadget if he weren't. In his first day back on the job, he unwittingly helps two escaped convicts break into a Dodge Viper.
* Instant Soprano: Happens to the guru trying to train John after his accidental Groin Attack.
* Insult Backfire: Claw, when told he looked better fat.

Claw: *BRING ON THE BROWNIES! WHEEL IN THE WAFFLES! I'M READY TO BINGE!*
* In the Name of the Moon: Gadget would like to say something heroic like 'in the name of justice' to activate his gadget abilities. Brenda says he could (thus fullfilling this trope) but it wouldn't activate the gadget abilities.
* I Work Alone: Gadgetmobile says this... before promptly working with Gadget to stop some car thieves.
* Jerkass Has a Point:
	+ Quimby is an Obstructive Bureaucrat who refuses to let Gadget work on the Bradford case. However, he makes the very true point that, contrary to the name he was given, Gadget is *not* actually a police inspector, or even a trained officer. He is just a security guard turned into a publicity stunt that Quimby now has to put up with.
* Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Although Quimby can be amoral towards Gadget, he's ultimately a good guy who's willing to help his friend wherever necessary.
* Kicked Upstairs: John Brown, a security guard with two years of experience and not the brightest bulb around, is promoted to Police Inspector upon his lifechanging revival.
* Killed Off for Real: Artemus Bradford, courtesy of Scolex. However, this occurs off-screen.
* Killer Robot: Scolex designs RoboGadget as a robot whose sole function is to terrorize the city and make Inspector Gadget look bad.
* Lame Pun Reaction: In addition to the instance between Gadget and RoboGadget (see Aside Glance above), there's this exchange between Scolex and Kramer.

Scolex: Now all I need is a dashing appellation.
Kramer: What's that? A hillbilly in a tuxedo?
Scolex: No, you idiot! It's a nickname.
* Large Ham:
	+ Rupert Everett as Claw, so very much.
	+ And Robo-Gadget. Who knew Matthew Broderick could be such a wonderful Large Ham?
* Lean and Mean: Claw himself, who as we find out was formerly a Fat Bastard.
* Logo Joke:
	+ The Walt Disney Pictures castle is completely mechanical at the beginning; in addition, the arc of light that draws itself behind said castle is replaced by the top half of a cog.
	+ The end credits has the walking man from the Caravan Pictures logo, forming his Gadget-Copter and flying off. Kind of a metaphor considering this is the last film from the company.
* MacGuffin: Bradford's robotic foot. Scolex steals it at the start of the film to duplicate it's technology. John and Penny both try to retrieve it from Scolex later in the film to prove his guilt.
* Meaningful Name: A Scolex is the front end of a tapeworm.
* Male Gaze: As she retrieves his manual while explaining his mechanics, Brenda bends over with her butt in full view and this causes Gadget to screech like a monkey.
* Mad Scientist: Artemus and Brenda Bradford, whose company started Project Gadget, are heroic. Baxter, in the sequel, is more of a "mildly-eccentric scientist" in the employ of Riverton's police department.
* Mayor Pain: According to Mayor Wilson, Chief Quimby was calling her "Evil Gidget" behind her back.
* Mighty Roar: Robo-Gadget emits one during his rampage.
* Minion with an F in Evil: Sykes, who does a Heel–Face Turn after an emotional talk with Penny. Dr. Kramer as well, who gets incredibly uncomfortable at the idea of killing anyone and faints when he is asked to kill John.
* "Mission: Impossible" Cable Drop: Gadget does one in Scolex's lair when he tries to retrieve the stolen bionic foot.
* Mooks: Sykes and Kramer are Scolex's henchmen.
* My God, What Have I Done?: When Gadgetmobile lets Gadget know the two men he helped break into a Dodge Viper (because he thought they had locked themselves out) were actually jailbreakers, he says, "Wait a minute!" before he and the Gadgetmobile go after them.
* Mythology Gag: Scolex's very first appearance is set up almost *exactly* like how Claw typically appeared in the cartoon — facing away from the camera (with only his arm and hand visible, and a fancy-looking ring on his finger), watching a screen, with his Right-Hand Cat nearby. His voice is also very low and ominous, though not like the cartoon's almost-guttural voice.
	+ Scolex's skyscraper is shaped like a castle. In the cartoon, Claw's usual lair was in fact in a castle on a mountain somewhere. (Unusually, they didn't make the building appear like that— PPG Place was designed like that already, which may explain why they chose Pittsburgh as a filming location.)
* My Sensors Indicate You Want to Tap That: The Gadgetmobile knows how John *really* feels about Dr. Bradford.
* No Fourth Wall: "It's a Disney movie!"
	+ There's also the extremely awkward Aside Glance to the audience Scolex and Kramer make to the audience while mocking Gadget.
* Noodle Implements: Part of the rebuilding sequence involves a wheelbarrow of garden hoses.
	+ Where do you think the toothpaste comes from? Now, the Slinkies, Tinketoys and mousetraps on the other hand...
* Noodle Incident: Gadget mentions taking dance lessons at one point, but he's forced into some fancy footwork when Robo-Gadget fires at his feet before he can elaborate any further.
* Off with His Head!: Claw to Kramer when ordering him to remove Gadget's chip (though he gives him points for at least locating the chip before fainting): Claw: Do it, or you'll be building yourself a new head.
* Oh, Crap!:
	+ Artemus has a quick moment of terror when he realizes that Scolex is going to kill him.
	+ John utters "Oh, boy..." before Scolex's cigar explodes right near his Chevette. Barely an instant later, Scolex has one when the bowling ball crushes his hand.
	+ Gadget when he realizes that he unintentionally helped the jailbreakers get into the Dodge Viper so they can escape.
	+ Gadget has one when he unintentionally sets off the laboratory alarm at the worst possible time when he tries to recover the foot. Then, Sykes gets one when he wakes up to discover Gadget on the TV monitor. Gadget has another one seconds later when Sykes lowers the door to prevent him from escaping and when he encounters the robots that killed Artemus.
* Oil Slick:
	+ Subverted by Gadget, whose oil slick actually sprays toothpaste.
	+ Played straight with Scolex's limo, complete with "oil slick" button on the dash.
* Only One Name: "Just Claw. One word. Like Madonna."
* Overused Running Gag: The gag of the hearts popping up on Gadget's hat showing he's in love happens several times.
* Ow, My Body Part!: Sanford Scolex shrieks this as the bowling bowl crushes his left hand.
* Pedal-to-the-Metal Shot: Not a *pedal,* but pulling hard on the Gadgetmobile's "jet thruster release" handle has the same effect. Later on, Brenda slams down hard on the brake when they catch up to Claw's limo.
* The Pen Is Mightier: During the climax, Gadget manages to thwart Claw's escape by throwing a pen into the latter's helicopter, hitting his claw hand and forcing it shut, crushing the chopper's control stick.
* Police Are Useless: The cops are completely helpless to stop Robo-Gadget's rampage across Riverton. They've also been unable to track down Bradford's killer throughout the whole movie.
* The Power of Friendship: When Penny reaches out to Sykes near the end, prompting his Heel–Face Turn.
* The Power of Love: Gadget is brought back to 'life' with a kiss.
* Pre-Mortem One-Liner: Shortly after stealing the robotic foot from the Bradford laboratory, Scolex says "Arrivederci, professor" and kills Artemus.
* Product Placement:
	+ YAHOOOOOO-OOO! That's right, *Disney actually used the Yahoo yodel as the billboard falls on the limousine near the start of the film!*
	+ Gadget is featured on the cover of *The Sharper Image* catalog.
	+ The Gadgetmobile also dispenses Skittles and Coke products.
	+ One of the cars in the beginning belongs to *Pennzoil*.
	+ McDonald's.
	+ There is a Sony television at Sykes' room.
* Read the Freaking Manual:
	+ John's robotic upgrades comes with a comically oversized manual that John barely skims for a moment before deciding he has it all figured out. Of course this leads to John consistently summoning the wrong gadget or using it incorrectly. Brenda calls him out for this when he can't figure out the what gadget to call out when they're falling off a building.
	+ Apparently the GadgetMobile also has a manual and he calls John out for pressing his buttons before reading it.
* Remake Cameo: Don Adams, the classic voice of Inspector Gadget in the original series, voices Brain in a brief credits scene.
* Repurposed Pop Song: Youngstown's "I'll Be Your Everything," which existed before the film but still used a sample of the theme song for its hook. A newer version was recorded for the movie, with more uses of the sample and lyrics alluding to the plot, as well as some of the more suggestive lines removed.
* Research, Inc.: Bradford Labs
* Revenge: Inadvertent when presented onscreen, inverted when Gadget and Claw bring up that particular incident that "made" them:

Gadget: I owe you one, Scolex. You blew up me *and* my Chevette. And I really liked that car!
Claw: Well, you crushed my *hand*, and I really liked that hand. *So Go Go get over it.*
* The Reveal: Claw's face is fully seen by the audience all throughout the movie, as opposed to it being constantly obscured in the cartoon. In his first scene, it is *barely* concealed by the shadows before he emerges with it fully uncovered.
* Robot Girl: Robo-Brenda..!

* Robot Soldier: Scolex plans to build an army of these using the technology from the Gadget Project.
* Rollerblade Good: Gadget's shoes can inexplicably turn into rollerblades with tiny gas-powered motors attached. The sequel ditches this for an even more implausible scooter, which comes out of Gadget's shoe.
* Rummage Fail: John fails to summon the correct gadget several times.
* Shotgun Dance: RoboGadget invokes this on John during their confrontation. "You know how to dance, don't you?"
* Shout-Out:
	+ The knob for the helmet voltage goes up to 11.
	+ Godzilla; when Robo-Gadget is rampaging through the City, he imitates Godzilla with his shadow. The scene also had a Japanese man running away from Robo-gadget, while screaming that this is why he left Tokyo.
	+ Minion Kramer's hair is reminiscent of another Kramer.
	+ Mayor Wilson says that Chief Quimby calls her "Evil Gidget" behind her back.
	+ The plot shares many similarities with *RoboCop (1987)*.
	+ "Let's see what you can do, Gadgetmobile, because I feel the need, the need for speed."
	+ Early on Gadget is described as "*Columbo* and Nintendo all rolled into one".
* Soft Glass: When Gadget tries to rollerblade his way out of the lab, Sykes lowers a glass door to prevent him from escaping. Despite shattering the glass, no visible injuries are present on Gadget.
* Something Else Also Rises: Among other things, Gadget's hat-based rocket launcher, which blows up a car when Brenda arouses him; his head, when Brenda shows up to the gala; and his foot-based rocket launcher, in the final pre-closing credits scene.
* Spit Take: Chief Quimby does this after drinking a cup of coffee after a kitten had been drinking from it.
* Spring Coil: John summons these in order to chase after a criminal.
* Sticky Shoes: John uses suction cup shoes to walk across the ceiling to retrieve the robotic foot from Scolex Industries.
* Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Played for laughs. Brown asks Chief Quimby when he'll be put on the big case. The chief assures him he has something for him to "cut [his] teeth on". Cut to a newspaper montage of Brown being a crossing guard and helping the sanitation department. Remember, Brown is a security guard who was rejected from the police academy early in the film, and is markedly incompetent even *after* being upgraded. In fact, it's the central joke of the character.
* Surveillance Station Slacker: Sykes is asleep in front of the security monitors as John is trying to steal the robotic foot from Scolex Industries. Well, until John sets off the laboratory alarm, at least...
* Swiss-Army Appendage: Claw can take off his mechanical pincher-hand and replace it with cosmetic ones for different occasions. Claw only uses one of them once, much preferring the titular claw.
* Tae Kwon Door: When John tries to escape Scolex Industries with the robotic foot, Sykes closes the door on him, which he bursts through.
* Talking Appliance Sidekick: The Gadgetmobile.
* This Is Gonna Suck: When John pursues Scolex, Thelma says "This isn't going to end well."
* Too Dumb to Live: Robo-Brenda, so much so that she actually flips herself off the *roof of a skyscraper*. She actually does survive, though.
* Translator Collar: Brain is shown to have one in the post credit scenes, which they for some reason forgot about and had to re-invent for the second film.
* Tropaholics Anonymous: Sykes' minion support group seen during the credits.
* Uncanny Valley: Invoked for Robo-Gadget — compared to the real Gadget, his skin is a bit more plastic-looking, his eyes are blank, his teeth are perfectly straight, white and aligned, his movements are stiff, and he has physical tics. It all acts as a tip-off this is *not* a real human being. Despite this, no one can tell he's not the real Inspector Gadget.
* Verbal Backspace: When Brenda is explaining to John how to summon his gadgets, he starts to tell her that he doesn't like the summoning phrase, until Brenda explains that it was her deceased father's idea, and then suddenly he loves it.
* We Can Rule Together: Robo-Gadget to the real Gadget.
* Wet Cement Gag: John lands face first in some wet cement while chasing after a criminal.
* What Happened to the Mouse?: Claw was captured, Sykes went to rehab... so what happened to Kramer? The novelization states he ended up in a hospital.
* Where the Hell Is Springfield?: Averted. Unlike the original series' ambiguous location of Metro City, this one is set in the equally fictional city of Riverton, Ohio (though it's actually filmed in Pittsburgh- perhaps it's the Pittsburgh equivalent of an alternate universe?).
* A Wizard Did It
	+ Dog translator collar? Supercop cybernetics? Cybernetic control chip? Dr. Bradford and her father did it. Even Kramer's work is based on duplicating her work. It even turns out that Dr. Claw's whole reason for losing weight, getting rich, and being a supervillain was to find a way to impress her (he's fancied her since they went to boarding school together).
* Worst Aid: In an early trailer, John flatlines during the transformation surgery. What do they do to revive him? Administer the most scientifically-proven medical treatment known to man: The Miraculous Bitchslap of Life.
* You're Insane!: Brenda say this to Claw near the end of the film. He calmly agrees.
* You Killed My Father: Quoted during the climax:

Claw: So what's new?
Brenda: Hel-LO, you killed my father!
Template:Inspector Gadget (1999)