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The Pink Panther
 In this prequel to the original 1964 film starring Peter Sellers, Steve Martin plays the bumbling French detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau, to perfection.
When a world-famous soccer coach is murdered and his priceless ring set with the stunning diamond known as the “Pink Panther” is stolen, the French government needs a master detective to solve the crime and recover the gem. Unfortunately, he’s not available, so they recruit none other than Inspector Clouseau. The number one suspect? Stunning pop star Xania (Beyonce Knowles) -- especially since her boyfriend died recently under mysterious circumstances. A soccer player and a Chinese assassin also play into the story, but who committed the murder? Clouseau and his chauffeur, Gendarme Ponton (Jean Reno) -- who’s actually an undercover cop assigned to make sure he doesn't screw up -- must unmask the murderer and keep their boss, Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Kevin Kline), from taking credit for the victory. And they have to do it all without bringing the French legal system to a screeching halt! PRE-SCHOOLER (ages 2-5): Little ones will be bored with this movie and won’t understand the humor (and some of the PG humor isn't appropriate for kids younger than 8). Best to pop in the cartoon version of the cool cat instead. A good bet: “The Pink Panther, Classic Cartoon Collection,” released on DVD Jan. 31, 2006, which features 124 cartoons produced between 1964 and 1980 in a nifty 5-disc set. GRADE-SCHOOLER (ages 6-10): Any time Steve Martin gets to do his wacky physical comedy, it’s a treasure -- and even more so when you’re between the ages of 6 and 10. Kids will love watching the slapstick master fall down a stairway or crash through a hotel ceiling, all the while keeping his composure. (But don't forget to give your kids a “Don't try this at home” warning!) TWEEN/TEEN (ages 11+): Steve Martin not only stars in this movie, he also co-wrote the screenplay, allowing him to parlay his particular brand of humor into the stunts and jokes. He’s truly one of those people who could be funny just standing on the street, so be prepared for laugh-out-loud moments. Tweens and teens will love his physical comedy -- and, of course, the obligatory crude humor assured by a PG rating – and adults will hark back to his Saturday Night Live days, i.e. banjo in hand and arrow on head. The bonus: pairing him with Kevin Kline, who has his own brand of deadpan humor, and Jean Reno, whose acting credits range from French Kiss to Hotel Rwanda. While not as inventive as the original movie (it is, after all, a remake), this film flows well, with good dialogue and comedy. ________________________ Jane Louise Boursaw is a freelance writer specializing in the television and movie industry. Her syndicated column, "Reel Life With Jane," is published in papers throughout the country. Email her at jboursaw@charter.net. |
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