The Pink Panther 2 (2009)

: Sweet Potato

Directed by: Harald Zwart
Starring: Steve Martin, Jean Reno

Steve Martin plays Inspector Jacques Clouseau again, the role that Peter Sellers originated in the 60’s and 70’s. Is Martin as endearing? Not quite, but he is probably the only actor who could pull it off at all. The movie made me laugh, even if it wasn’t quite as brilliant as the films Sellers starred in. I guess I just love this character; his pronunciations and misadventures crack me up. The Pink Panther animation and music is so classic, so nostalgic, that I can’t help but hum along with it. In this sequel, as always, the object of Clouseau’s investigation is the Pink Panther diamond, which has been stolen by a thief known as the Tornado. Clouseau’s faithful assistant, Ponton (Jean Reno), is so dedicated to his job and to Clouseau that he gets kicked out of the house by his wife. He comes to stay with Clouseau, which leads to some cute sequences, including one where Ponton’s kids attack Clouseau with karate moves; a nod to the old days of Cato & Clouseau in Return of the Pink Panther and later Panther movies. Inspector Clouseau may seem like a bungling idiot (the epitome of inept) but he always manages to solve the case and protect the Pink Panther; that much you can count on. It made me laugh more than most contemporary comedies; it just floated my boat, so I am ranking it higher than it probably deserves. The recipe is familiar and, like sweet potato pie, it will surely appeal to some, but probably not all.

-PotatoPatti