Review of Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) by Compi24 — 15 May 2019

This -- tragically -- final entry in the Peter Sellers canon of "Pink Panther" films closes things out on a bit of a whimper, as it represents one of the first discernible moments in my times as a moviegoer where I can tell a film is simultaneously caught up in and unaware of its own narrativity.

So much of it is focused on the plot at hand, yes. Clouseau is wrapped up in yet another scheme involving some criminal mastermind asking for his head, and while some of the events therein are mildly humorous, the overall tone is severely hampered by an over reliance on plot development.

But with that, there's also one baffling moment where the canon of the entire franchise is thrown for a loop by. . .I don't even know what to call it. A narrative oversight? The laziest retcon ever? It's something I'd honestly take as an attempt at comedy, if the movie were a lot funnier.

But, alas, a lot of the magic of the prior installments are gone. Clouseau fooling around in some millionaire's home gym. Clouseau unwittingly missing an entire robbery happening in a store just feet away from him.

Clouseau giving away his luggage and clothing to some strange man in a hotel through a few simple conversational mistakes. All of these gags made for some of the best moments in a series that (I thought) valued nuance over grandiosity.

But here we are, watching Clouseau parade around in "yellowface" and a bevy of other over-the-top disguises. To be fair and clear here, it's far from the worst comedy I've ever seen, and I wouldn't even say it's the worst in the franchise.

But my regrets remain.