Review of The Pink Panther (2006) by Hannah G — 28 Jun 2012

"I don't have time for this. I have to solve a murder.".

Synopsis: The world's most inept detective returns to the screen in this modern slapstick comedy.

The Pink Panther name has a special albeit odd place in my heart. As a young schoolboy I would wait for the bus by watching the Pink Panther cartoon series. Yet as my attention was almost always divided between making sure I had all my school supplies, being half asleep, and looking out for the bus, that I can't for the life of me remember anything about that show other than the theme song and that there was apparently a panther. But as that show found me during an impressionable period in my life, I still have nostalgia for it despite the fact that I can't remember anything about it.

The Steve Martin live-action Pink Panther doesn't have that luxury. The film is going to have to earn my love. The problem is that the film barely earns my attention. Just about all the ideas here are stale, all the jokes here are unimaginative, and all the performances are obtuse. It almost feels as if the film isn't even trying, and the result is a franchise picture that will remind you more of other franchises such as Family Guy or Tom & Jerry, which is obviously a major problem.

Luckily, the film's witlessness and stale flavor combined with the ridiculous stupidity of it all helps make the picture amiable enough to watch in the background as you busy yourself with other, far more meaningful activities, much like I used to do with the cartoon as a kid, though the fact that I still don't understand the significance of that damned pink panther animal may drive me insane by the time I finish writing this review.

Obtusely acted, unwittingly written, and completely lacking in flavor and purpose, do yourself a favor and watch some other version of The Pink Panther.