A world-famous soccer coach has been murdered and his priceless ring has been stolen - a ring set with the stunning diamond known as the Pink Panther. The French government needs a master detective to solve the crime and recover the gem...but he's not available, so they recruit Inspector Jacques Clouseau.
Release Date: February 10, 2006 Studio: Columbia Pictures, MGM Director: Shawn Levy
Screenwriter: Len Blum, Steve Martin Starring: Steve Martin, Kevin Kline, Beyoncé Knowles, Jean Reno, Emily Mortimer, Kristin Chenoweth, Henry Czerny Genre: Comedy MPAA Rating: PG (for occasional crude and suggestive humor and language) Official Website: PinkPantherthemovie.com
MPAA: Rated PG for occasional crude and suggestive humor and language. For rating reasons, go to FILMRATINGS.COM, and MPAA.ORG.
Parents, please refer to PARENTALGUIDE.ORG
SYNOPSIS
Inspector Jacques Clouseau, a name that strikes fear into the hearts of criminals everywhere -- and anyone else he comes across as well.
Maybe it’s because his deductive powers are so inadequate, his grasp of the obvious so elusive, his command of the language so severely limited and his physical coordination so completely lacking.
But while his approach may be unorthodox and often confounding, he always manages to solve the crime -- in his own fashion.
At least until now.
In the action-packed comedy, The Pink Panther, the bumbling Inspector Closeau (Steve Martin) takes on his most important case ever.
World famous soccer coach Yves Gluant has just led Team France to victory over Team China. Surrounded by grateful adoring fans and his beautiful lover, the international pop star Xania (Beyoncé Knowles), Gluant is felled by a poisoned dart. In the ensuing panic, Gluant’s priceless diamond ring, “The Pink Panther,” mysteriously disappears.
The murder becomes a media sensation and a national obsession. Cracking the case falls to Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Kevin Kline), who is up for the prestigious Medal of Honor -- for the seventh time. Aware that he cannot afford to make a single mistake -- at least none that can be attributed to him -- Dreyfus presses the indefatigable Inspector Clouseau into service.
Clouseau and his new assistant, the steadfast, stoic Gendarme Gilbert Ponton (Jean Reno), follow a tangle of clues that leads them all over Paris and, eventually, New York City.
In the Big Apple, Clouseau and Ponton travel to Times Square and the nearby diamond district, as well as to the city’s posh Fifth Avenue and the renowned Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Along the way, Clouseau and Ponton are waylaid by elusive diamond cutters, would-be thugs, notorious bandits, smarmy casino owners, secret agents, mysterious trainers and an exotic beverage called “The Flaming Mojito.”
One by one, Clouseau narrows his search and tracks down the most likely suspects. They include Xania, a spurned soccer star (William Abadie), a millionaire casino owner (Roger Rees) and a flirtatious P.R. publicist (Kristin Chenoweth)
Clouseau’s process is fascinating, if harrowingly circuitous. But he never loses his focus, his purpose or his pride -- much to the consternation of Dreyfus, who may or may not have Clouseau’s best interests at heart. In the end, with the aid of Ponton and his devoted secretary Nicole (Emily Mortimer), Clouseau must unmask the murderer and keep Dreyfus from taking credit.
I’m happy to say that the new Pink Panther isn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. It is, in fact, funny and entertaining. It may not ever be a comedic gem like its predecessor, but it isn’t the travesty many recent remakes have turned out to be either.
— Continued
The foolish things of this world sometimes confound the wise.
Clouseau hasn’t the intelligence or skill to be a brilliant crime solver, but he does have his heart in the right place and he loves justice. These two fine attributes go a long way, and they overcome the pride and arrogance of the Chief Inspector. — Continued
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