I must forget to remember that I probably will forget PINK PANTHER 2 (review)
Jul 7th, 2009 | By Vidar Daatland | Category: Entertainment, Film, Reviews
Hamburger. No. Hmmmberger. I remember that hilarious part well from the first go-around with the revamped Pink Panther series. But I remember little else and I suspect time will eat up memories about this one too. It’s what time does, it takes everything and this one probably pretty fast. I remember more about the classic Peter Seller-films with the world famous Inspector Clouseau. This has the number 2 attached, but indeed it’s the 10th film with the guy, best described as an insane parody of Poirot.
Harald Zwart’s taken the helm this time around. He does an ok job, nothing more and nothing less. He’s a very average Joe kind of director, famous in Norway despite never making any really good films. At least not that I know of. I really have no idea how he managed to get big gigs in Hollywood. That’s maybe a bigger mystery than the plot in this film. Not giving excellence, but mainly gets the job done and gives the target audience enough. But enough about Mr. Zwart, let’s talk story.
Banned to parking duty, albeit the sharp minded Clouseau thinks he’s on a top secret assignment, he’s put back into detective duty joining a top-notch assembled world-team of detectives. And before I forget it, Andy Garcia and Alfred Molina do a stellar performance. Someone is stealing world famous treasures and somebody needs to stop him. Packed with so many good and horrible awkward moments, Clouseau is hot on … somebodies tail. But we all know he’ll solve the case, eventually.
It’s the giggly type of film. It lacks the big hysterical moments, but has some good punch-lines and funny moments. And it has some dialogue that falls flat on its french arse. Good it’s not a stand-up, because it would have generated some awkward silent moments. It’s a situation comedy, with a lot of stunts and chaos, but most of them lack timing and any significant impact in the funny department. Steve Martin lacks the class that Peter Sellers once gave the part, but he has his good moments. Too bad the character is too stupefied at parts.
It has a nice part when Clouseau is forced into trying to be the political correct type our society is screaming about these days. That’s more in the line of comedy we can relate to. What madness the world has come to when it’s frowned upon telling a beautiful woman that she’s beautiful. I just wish it had more of that kind of reflecting humor, instead it in most parts have poor and unfunny romance. It’s nice to see Clouseau move forward in life, but it’s far from funny.
The Verdict
It’s an ok comedy, it has it’s giggly good parts and it has it’s stripped of funny parts. A lot of awkward moments, both the good and bad type. I think you get the point. It’s not the type of film you’ll hate, but I think very few people will have any enthusiasm towards this after watching it. But a laugh’s a laugh and it gives a couple of them so it’s in no way a failure. Especially word-play and pronouncing parts never get old. Oh, and John Cleese is in this one. But he’s not funny. I never thought I’d live to see the day I watched Cleese and not laugh.
To use Closeau’s words: I will remember to forget that, and if i remember I must forget it. Or something like that. I’m in a nice mood, so I’ll under doubt give this a shiny three pink panthers out of five.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, badumbadumbadumbadum…badum, Ba-dum-ba-dum.
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