Blu-ray Review
Pink Panther 2
Directed by: Harald Zwart Cast: Steve Martin, Emily Mortimer, Jean Reno, Andy Garcia Running Time: 1 hr 35 mins Rating: PG Due Out: June 23, 2009
Plot: Inspector Closeau (Martin) works with a team of top-notch investigators to catch an elusive thief called The Tornado.
Who's It For? Younger families should be a little cautious with some material, as sprinkles of racist, sexist, and sacrilegious jokes will either fly over the heads of kids or stick awkwardly.
Movie:
To the writers’ credit, (Martin being one of them), Pink Panther 2 is not a 100% formulaic waste. The movie’s shameless existence is surprisingly credited by somewhat amusing gags of mindless goofiness. It’s all very breezy, but not entirely the kind of wind that is meant to dismiss.
In the end, Steve Martin makes a deal with Pink Panther 2: he stumbles and destroys in scattered moments of genuine amusement, but before his idiocy becomes too tired or too much, the film is over. Not bad.
Score: 5/10
EXTRAS
Gag Reel - Different "funny" bits are shown in multiple takes, making note of the improvisation that went into Pink Panther's humor.
Drama is Easy ... Comedy is Dangerous - A behind the filming featurette that focuses on the work done concerning the abundance of slapstick gags. Meet Steve Martin's not too similar stand-in, and observe how the most seemingly insignificant of falls and tumbles required the help of stunt doubles.
A Dream Team Like No Other - A thirteen minute look at the loaded cast. Each key member is given their time to talk about how much fun they had. They never forget to explain why they chose to a comedy when they usually don’t (they wanted to make people laugh, who would’ve guessed?). Martin's murderous accent is given a bit more of a backstory in this special feature, a professional dialect coach reveals that it really, 100% seriously, is meant to be intolerable.
Master Thief - Global Crime Showdown! - A trivia game where you answer questions about different countries, and are rewarded with stealing that particular land's prized piece. These really simple questions are for your family's own Inspector Closeau (that's not a compliment). But what are you doing looking at this feature, anyway? Shouldn't you be checking out disc two's 27 cartoons by now?
The other extras: 27 classic "Pink Panther" Cartoons on Disc 2 Digital copy of The Pink Panther 2
Extras Score: 8/10
OVERALL
There’s a reason I didn’t hop on the Pink Panther 2 hate wagon that rolled in through town last February. Steve Martin’s dedication to being as goofy as possible shines a light through this character that would appear in all essences obnoxious. His incredible charisma is undeniable, even in a film that would be (or is), shunned for its total artificialness. Martin's commitment to a laugh is lovingly supported by the footage seen on featurettes on this Blu-Ray, especially in "Gag Reel" and "Drama is Easy ... Comedy is Dangerous."
With mindless expectations, The Pink Panther 2 would make for a decent rental on a blank summer night. This Blu-Ray makes things a tad even better with its small treasures - those who enjoyed this film in theatres may want to consider picking this one up. Three hours of "Pink Panther" cartoons, and a digital copy of the film? That's a bit of a steal.
Final Score: 7/10