Ignore the Critics

Remember when movies were fun? No redeeming social commentary. No challenging plot. But just an enjoyable way to spend 90 minutes? We saw the Pink Panther 2 this afternoon and that is exactly what the movie is.

I wanted to see what the movie critics said about it when I got home. Betsy Sharkey of the LA Times commented - "The truth is that Pink Panther 2 is really not a movie at all but a series of short comedy sketches strung together rather haphazardly trying to masquerade as a movie. It's as if Martin made a wish list of all the people he could have fun playing with." Claudia Pulg says "Rather than reinvigorating the Panther comedy franchise from the '60s and '70s, Martin's version dumbs it down and wrings the zany fun out of it. It's as if the former stand-up comedian is going through the motions of humor, with these and also those Cheaper by the Dozen movies, assuming that youthful target audiences won't know the difference." Dave White at Movies.com gave the movie a D-. I don't know what these three saw, but it was not the movie I enjoyed this afternoon.

Martin's characterization of Inspector Clouseau does not try to mimic Sellers' one. Instead he appropriates a bit more sophistication with an appreciation for gadgets. This Clouseau is funny because he is so clueless. This movie will not make you think. But it will make you laugh. There is a sequence when Clouseau goes into a restaurant and attempts to choose a bottle of wine as all the bottles begin to fall out of the rack. It is skillful (with a bit of computer aiding) and funny. Martin's character also adds a love interest that is played well. Ignore the critics and be prepared to enjoy yourself.