The Pink Panther 2
- Year:2009
- Rating:PG
- Director:Harald Zwart
- Cast:Andy Garcia, Steve Martin, Alfred Molina, Emily Mortimer, Jean Reno
- Release Date:April 02, 2009
- Distributor:Sony
- Running time:94 minutes
- Film Worth:$7.50
- FILMINK rates movies out of $20 - the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
“…too many of the gags flatline.”
The Pink Panther 2 delivers a double dose of unoriginality. It's not only a pointless resurrection of Blake Edwards' classic comic franchise, but a formulaic photocopy of its predecessor - Steve Martin's 2006 remake.
It begins promisingly. With a slick opening sequence, the memorable Henry Mancini theme, and a hilarious early scene from John Cleese, there's the sense that this might be a smart, satiric take on the crime genre. It's not. Martin returns as the accident prone French detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau - a role defined by Peter Sellers in the original film series. Martin, who co-wrote the screenplay, is a loveable and talented comic actor, but Sellers was a comic genius. To his credit, Martin tries to make the role his own, but there's no comparison. He's a Claytons Clouseau.
Set in Paris and Rome, the paint-by-numbers tale once again revolves around the theft of the priceless Pink Panther diamond. Clouseau, renowned for his idiocy, joins an international investigative squad that includes Andy Garcia, Aishwarya Rai and Alfred Molina, which has been formed to catch the deft thief.
The supports add zest to proceedings. Jean Reno, as Clouseau's deadpan sidekick, and Emily Mortimer, as the inspector's romantic interest, enjoyably reprise their 2006 roles. Jeremy Irons (what's he doing here?) cleverly plays it like he's in a real heist flick, while Garcia has a great time. Cleese gets the biggest laugh, though Lily Tomlin is wasted as an advisor in political correctness brought in to make Clouseau media-palatable.
There is some fun amid the faux French accents - one scene involving Clouseau dressed as the Pope is borderline hysterical. That aside, too many of the gags flatline.
The Pink Panther 2 is a run-of-the-mill Hollywood comedy from a town that's run out of ideas.
