Review of The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) by Filipeneto — 22 May 2022

Another movie in the Pink Panther franchise, and again I feel like nothing new has been added to what we've already seen. In a franchise that has been ruled by ups and downs, and by an inconsistency that doesn't bode well, the film is nonetheless satisfying: it's not excellent, not even close, but it's not bad either.

The film's biggest problem turns out to be the plot, which is sparse, excessive and very exaggerated. I felt, on more than one occasion, that the film stretches the plot to the maximum, due to lack of content. Everything revolves around a deranged ex-Inspector Dreyfus, who is transformed into a kind of super villain. After creating a kind of "Spectre" (those familiar with the James Bond universe will understand my comparison better), he manufactures a weapon of mass destruction and threatens the entire world, demanding Clouseau's head. Is it exaggerated enough?

Peter Sellers does what he can with what he gets to work with, but I couldn't help but feel that his character is almost a caricature of what we've seen before, and that the actor is underrated and underused. Even more cartoonish and weird, Herbert Lom deserves, however, a praise for the way he took advantage of the madness and exaggeration of the character, turning it into something truly funny.

Technically, the film manages to rival its predecessors in terms of cinematography, sets and costumes, giving us exactly what we were hoping to find. There are no great effects, but what was used has quality and does its job. Music is not far behind and satisfies us without, however, standing out.