Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Jean Reno, left), Ponton (Steve Martin, centre) and Xania (Beyoncé Knowles) in a scene from the 'The Pink Panther'. - CONTRIBUTED
INSPECTOR JACQUES Clouseau strikes again - or rather, this is his first strike. The 2006 instalment in the famed Pink Panther series, directed by Shawn Levy, is actually a prequel to the 1964 Peter Sellers original.
Surprisingly, I found myself laughing out loud toward the middle of The Pink Panther, despite its inherent silliness. The film begins tamely enough, inciting only chuckles at the beginning unless one is a very big slapstick fan, but the humorous moments seemed to build up as the story continued.
Steve Martin takes over the role of Inspector Clouseau in this version, which operates in standard Martin format, putting physical comedy over intelligence and wit. Martin also co-wrote the flick with Len Blum.
FUN OF THE FRENCH
The film is built on classic slapstick clichés from hitting down old women to metal balls which never stop rolling, flatulence, attempting to pull off somebody's face, falling through floors and people being generally knocked about. Yet, though none of these are ingenious, they are carried out with enough aplomb that they often come across as hilarious.
This instalment of The Pink Panther clearly makes fun of the French, largely through Clouseau's accent. Martin presents a supremely silly, though self-important, Clouseau whose ridiculousness allows painful accidents to happen to himself and others around him (and occasionally even those far away). One cannot ignore that Clouseau's pompousness and his eventual succumbing to the pleasures of the burger is an indictment on French superiority.
WITTY LINES
Fortunately, Jean Reno, who plays Clouseau's sidekick, Genderme Gilbert Ponton, is also in the film and he helps to restore some dignity to the French quarter. Interestingly, Reno and Kevin Kline (Chief Inspector Dreyfus) have very light accents.
Along with the heavy bouts of slapstick, there are some genuinely witty lines. Additionally, the film has more than its fair share of star power. Along with Reno, Kline and Martin, Clive Owen makes a very welcome cameo as a British agent. Beyoncé Knowles, whose purpose is clearly to add some feminine skin to the flick, stays close to her role in real life, playing a pop star. Her character is hardly interesting, but at least her dresses are very pretty.
One should clearly not go to this film expecting it to be reminiscent of the previous Pink Panthers, as those were made with a very different sentiment. Indeed, even if you are merely a fan of the cartoon version, only the music will be familiar. However, if you let down your guard, the jokes can sneak beneath your defences and it is certainly perfect for those who like their comedy with more brawn and less brain.
So if you are looking for brilliance, it is probably best to avoid this one. But then again, it might just tickle you pink.
