The Pink Panther 2

“Let’s wait for him to do something really embarrassing.” When John Cleese’s character Chief Inspector Dreyfus utters these words in The Pink Panther 2, it’s a clear indication that no good can come of the film. Steve Martin took a risk with the first Pink Panther, whose cast made it almost worth watching. The sequel to the film, however, is an inkblot on Martin’s otherwise impressive career.

As one of the film’s writers, Martin attempts to infuse a juvenile plot with mature undertones, but fails to come up with either a story or a laugh. His performance is appalling as Inspector Jacques Clouseau, the moronic French detective who has been called back to duty to retrieve, once again, the missing Pink Panther gem, “the sacred symbol of France.” As if a single Pink Panther movie wasn’t enough, we’re reintroduced to Clouseau and his Dream Team of Investigators, who this time include Andy Garcia and Alfred Molina. No performance here is strong enough to save the movie; John Cleese’s small role in The Pink Panther 2 is the highlight of an otherwise worthless film. He’s the only character not made to put on a humiliating accent. Martin’s butchered French drawl is more offensive than amusing. It’s clear he’s tried to create an endearing fool of a character, but watching him is far from funny. Why so many stars agreed to be in the film is beyond me, for while Martin has had a streak of great work in the past, this screenplay is weak beyond repair.

The film’s plot is barely discernable, consisting of a series of slapstick sequences and misogynistic quips that any audience would be hard-pressed to find funny. It’s unclear who the movie is intended for; the physical comedy is too stupid for adults, but not quite cute enough for kids, while the sexual innuendos seem grossly out of place. Clouseau and his team run around Europe searching for a series of missing artifacts that have been stolen across the globe, in the hopes that their recovery will lead them to the Pink Panther. That could potentially be enough for a quirky little film, but too much time is spent jumping from one pointless mishap to another. It’s clear from the beginning who the perp is, but we must drudge through the dull plot to have our suspicions confirmed in the end. Everything Clouseau touches turns to dust, from the clues he finds to the relationship he’s letting slip past him. A love story doesn’t really work in this movie, however, for it evades young viewers and is too much for adults to swallow. Emily Mortimer is, however, adorable as Clouseau’s love interest, Nicole. The film is wrapped up nicely in the end, and all we can do is hope that 2 is enough.

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Tagged as: Alfred Molina, Andy Garcia, John Cleese, Steve Martin

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