2008 Woodie Awards
'The Pink Panther' takes a backseat to Inspector Clouseau
Joseph Schmickrath
Issue date: 2/16/06 Section: Exposure
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Unfortunately, in this movie it is a detriment to the character that Peter Sellers did such a great job of crafting.
The weak script by Len Blum and Steve Martin doesn't help matters, resorting to juvenile humor to get its points across. There is one scene in which Clouseau, while in a music recording session, asks if the soundproof room is indeed soundproof. He then goes in and farts profusely.
This story continues the trend of its predecessors by having Inspector Clouseau search for the rare Pink Panther diamond. It disappears after its owner, Yves Gluant (Jason Statham), is assassinated.
Chief Inspector Dreyfus assigns Clouseau to lead the investigation and divert the attention of the media with his clumsy antics. Dreyfus hopes that by setting up this diversion it will allow him to solve the case on his own and get the coveted Medal of Honor that has eluded his illustrious career.
One key suspect is Xania (Beyoncé Knowles), the lover of Gluant, who recently found out that he had been cheating on her. Beyoncé's character Xania is conveniently an international pop star. Something tells me that she's only in the film to tailor to her fans and that demographic audience.
However, with so many bad things going against the success of "The Pink Panther" there is one thing that almost redeems the movie entirely. It is the performance of Kevin Kline, playing Chief Inspector Dreyfus, giving glimpses of Peter Sellers's original take on Inspector Clouseau that made me wonder what could have been if he was indeed the lead.
Unfortunately, Steve Martin has had a lot of box office success as of late with such movies as: "Cheaper by the Dozen," "Shopgirl," and "Bringing Down the House." This makes him marketable.
Don't get me wrong- this movie has its moments, but they are few and far between. Save your money and rent one of the many other "Pink Panther" films.
