STUDIO SYNOPSIS

"The Pink Panther 2," the sequel to the 2006 worldwide hit, stars Steve Martin as he reprises the role of intrepid-if-bumbling French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. When legendary treasures from around the world are stolen, including the priceless Pink Panther Diamond, Chief Inspector Dreyfus (John Cleese) is forced to assign Clouseau to a team of international detectives and experts charged with catching the thief and retrieving the stolen artifacts.

Martin is joined by his co-stars Jean Reno (as Ponton, his partner) and Emily Mortimer (as Nicole, the object of his awkward affections). The investigative dream team is played by Andy Garcia, Alfred Molina, Yuki Matsuzaki ("Letters From Iwo Jima") and Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Lily Tomlin also stars. The story is set in Paris and Rome.

SPIRITUAL POINT OF VIEW
(continued from the visual review)

HIDDEN MESSAGES?
In this depressing world of economic depression we need some humor. And here is Steve Martin to the rescue. But more than the being a comedy, I get the feeling that the filmmakers have incorporated a few messages.

1. Rediscovering the Magna Carta (containing the writ of habeas corpus) in a post-Bush world.
2. The loss of the Pink Panther (i.e. world treasure/economy) brings the world together.
3. International partnership and cooperation is good.
4. Humor is not a cure-all, but it helps.

Am I right about this? Who knows? But as Mary Hirsch, a teacher of humorous writing, correctly observed, “Humor is a rubber sword--it allows you to make a point without drawing blood.”