Director: Harald Zwart
While this season's sequels have so far been less than satisfying, "Pink Panther 2" rises slightly above the animated drivel that's been plastering "part two" all over the big screen.
The film stars Steve Martin yet again as the clumsy yet lovable French inspector extraordinaire, Jacques Clouseau. The film also welcomes back veteran actors John Cleese and Jean Reno as a part of the international Dream Team of inspectors/detectives to solve the case of the missing Pink Panther diamond.
The plot centers on Clouseau, who, despite having rescued the Pink Panther diamond in the previous film, finds himself in the situation of having to find it again and capture the Tornado, an international thief. After saving the diamond in the last film, Clouseau was sent to work on parking enforcement outside the museum where the diamond was safely returned to keep him out of the way of other police. This, however, proves an invaluable experience in solving the crime later on.
Clouseau is invited to join the Dream Team to the dismay of Chief Dreyfus (John Cleese) who fails to see the hidden genius in Clouseau's ungainly techniques.
Though this movie is void of Beyonce playing a lovely lady, it does introduce Bollywood favorite Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as a former journalist and helper on the case. The plot bumbles along much like Clouseau, complete with some bonding moments, some chaste love and some feminism tips from Lily Tomlin who acts alongside Martin in their third film together.
The film was alright for the most part in terms of acting and directing. One of the best parts was the fact that the directors chose to include the iconic original Pink Panther theme by Mancini 's something that earlier remakes opted not to do.
"The Pink Panther" series has given inspiration to other mystery comedies such as Get Smart and other silly shows where a bumbling clumsy hero saves the day. It's nice to know that not all detective films need a whole heap of violence and special effects to keep audiences entertained and make it to the big screen.
Martin's French accent is probably one of his more comical assets. He does a great job with Clouseau, one of his more humorous roles, as I think most people have grown tired of his "trying to be hip" shtick that has been present in so many of his films.
One can see why the movie is more successful abroad than in the U.S, as most of the comedy is physical and slapstick, such as juggling wine bottles or accidentally lighting things on fire. Though the movie is unlikely to make anyone laugh out loud, it is easy to see how it would be funny in a sort of classical, farcical, 1960s sort of way.
Opens in Estonia Feb. 27, Lithuania Feb. 20, Latvia Feb. 20
