Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageThe Pink Panther 2 (2009)
Director: Harald Zwart
Movie review
From Time Out London
The big question, of course, is why anyone would want to film even one remake of Blake Edwards’s 1960s comedy series, let alone two. Presumably Shawn Levy (the director of the first and an exec producer on this one), thought it a wheeze to introduce a new generation to the tomfoolery of blundering French detective Jacques Clouseau. Well, he was wrong, because the only connecting, indeed redeeming, feature of these remakes is Henry Mancini’s marvellous opening theme.‘The Pink Panther 2’ kicks off with by-the-book Inspector Clouseau (Steve Martin) clinging to a speeding car, from which he is catapulted straight into the first of many deeply unfunny slapstick sequences. The story, such as there isn’t, revolves around a ‘dream team’ of international detectives (Andy Garcia, Alfred Molina, Yuki Matsuzaki) charged with capturing the elusive thief of the Pink Panther diamond. Against his superior’s wishes (John Cleese, funny for a change), Clouseau is assigned to the task and… you can guess the rest.
On paper, the wild ’n’ crazy Steve Martin would seem as good a bet as any to play the late Peter Sellers’s disaster-prone detective; in practice, however, he is hopeless. It’s not just his disappointing body language – something Sellers was especially good at – it’s his unamusing faux-French accent. Where Sellers got the inflection down to a politically–incorrect tee, Martin fumbles it from the off. And that, in a nutshell, is reason enough to avoid this as one might any other calamity.
Author: Derek Adams
Time Out London Issue 2008, 12 -18 February, 2008
User reviews of this film
-
- Prof Fritz Fassbender said...
-
Posted on May 17 2009 12:09
Someone here needs to kindly contact the film's production team and ask them to STOP leaving positive reviews for this appalling waste of celluloid.
It's one thing to produce an execrable film ...quite another to then have personnel try and uplift ONE STAR reviews all over the Internet!
Steve Martin ...what can you say about his portrayal of the legendary Clouseau? Well, he's rather tragic and pathetic for even considering this role ...much less making two movies! Clearly he needs the $$$, and cares little about his already banal and fast dwindling film career!
Steve Martin isn't fit to clean Peter Sellers' shoes ...much less even try to fill them!
Martin you're a disgrace! - Report as inappropriate
-
- Lorena Asprilla said...
-
Posted on Apr 06 2009 14:05
Is this film suitable for children under 5? Will thy enjoy it?
Advise! - Report as inappropriate
-
- MaXteK said...
- Posted on Mar 07 2009 19:14 THIS FILM MAKES A MOCKERY OF PETER SELLERS !PART 1 WAS REALLY BAD AND THIS FOLLOW UP IS EVEN WORSE. STEVE MARTIN SHOULD BE VERY VERY ASHAMED OF HIMSELF!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- MaXteK said...
- Posted on Mar 07 2009 19:14 THIS FILM MAKES A MOCKERY OF PETER SELLERS !PART 1 WAS REALLY BAD AND THIS FOLLOW UP IS EVEN WORSE. STEVE MARTIN SHOULD BE VERY VERY ASHAMED OF HIMSELF!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- olivia said...
- Posted on Mar 07 2009 13:37 loved this film!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Christian said...
- Posted on Mar 04 2009 19:57 I thought the movie was great! Lily Tomlin, & Steve Martin were hilarious! GO SEE IT! I LIKED IT, MY FRIENDS, GRANDMA, MOM, AUNT, BROTHER, SISTER, EVERYONE LOVES THIS FILM!!!!!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Chica said...
- Posted on Mar 04 2009 18:30 Yib. Chica x
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Mr Big (from da shower) said...
- Posted on Mar 02 2009 14:28 This film was hilarous, havnt laughed like that for a looonngg time... whats more its not like it was only 3 people laughing at it, everyone who was laughing were laughing their asses off apart from some old woman in the corner who kept death staring peeps. I definately recommend this to anyone that wants a film!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Ruksana said...
-
Posted on Mar 01 2009 14:53
I AM GOING 2NIGHT I HOPE IT IS GOOD
FROM UR COMMENTS I THINK IT WIIL BE GOOD - Report as inappropriate
-
- Iggle Piggle said...
- Posted on Mar 01 2009 10:57 I WANT TO DATE THE INSPECTOR, I DREAM OF HIM NAKED BESIDE ME AT NIGHT IVE NEVER FELT LIKE THIS B4!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- em said...
- Posted on Feb 27 2009 20:26 i woz laufin all through, relly good!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- caitlin said...
- Posted on Feb 27 2009 16:19 I liked it :):)
- Report as inappropriate
-
- M&J said...
- Posted on Feb 23 2009 21:35 We saw this film tonight and both of us enjoyed it. It is not as good as the original film but a lot better than the one star rating which a lot of people are giving it!!!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Chad said...
- Posted on Feb 22 2009 17:01 If people want to see Pink Panther films, get the originals - starring Peter Sellers, David Niven, Herbert Lom, Burt Kwouk et al. Steve Martin is a wannabe, he should know better than this rubbish
- Report as inappropriate
-
- laura. said...
- Posted on Feb 22 2009 14:33 Me and friends was gonna watch it today but plp say it was boring so i dont think were gonna watch it today.
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Harald Zwart
Cast: Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Lily Tomlin, Emily Mortimer, Andy Garcia, Aishwarya Rai, Alfred Molina, Yuki Matsuzaki, John Cleese full cast
Genre(s): Children's
Rated: PG
Duration: 92 mins
UK Release: Feb 13 2009
US Release: Feb 6 2009
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now