The Pink Panther Strikes Again
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Movie Reviews of The Pink Panther Strikes Again
Movie Review: The funniest "Panther"
Summary: 5 Stars
The inimitable Peter Sellers strikes again as Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau, in this fourth installment of the classic "Pink Panther" series, "The Pink Panther Strikes Again," directed by Blake Edwards. Given the fact that the assessment of comedy is intrinsically subjective, this film is arguably laugh for laugh and sight gag for sight gag the funniest of the five (followed closely by the second of the series, the hilarious farce, "A Shot In The Dark). In this one, former Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Herbert Lom) is about to be released from the mental hospital-- in which he has resided since being driven crazy by Clouseau-- when on the very afternoon of his hearing he is visited by none other than Clouseau himself, who has come to speak on behalf of his former boss. Suffice to say that by the time Clouseau is through "helping," he is driven from the premises by the relapsed, raving madman, Dreyfus. And it's only the beginning of the inept French Inspector's antics that, before it is over, will include a trip to the Ocktoberfest, encounters with a dozen hit-men from around the world, a beautiful Russian spy named Olga (Lesley-Anne Down), a surprise Egyptian spy (who will remain nameless) and a one-man assault on a castle. As Laurel and Hardy proved so many times before, for every action there is a reaction; a theorem of which proof is unequivocally provided here by the relationship between Sellers and Lom. This was the film in which Edwards and his stars not only further devised, but honed to perfection, their foolproof formula for laughs: After the "first wave" of hilarity provided by Sellers, it is followed up-- in just enough instances to be totally effective-- by Lom's reaction to 1.) Sellers directly (as in the first, classic scene at the mental hospital), or 2.) Lom's reaction to Seller's antics as they are related to him by a third party. It's a one-two punch that never fails and which, in effect, derives twice the fun from a single gag. And it's brilliant. But at the end of the day, it must be noted that there is one element above all else that accounts for the success of this film, and that, of course, is the Man himself, Peter Sellers. Sellers must be regarded as-- if not "the," then at least one of the-- funniest actors ever to grace the silver screen. There was no end to the ways he could make you laugh; from the subtlest expression-- an eye averted or perhaps the slight raising of an eyebrow-- to the broadest slapstick, it was all within his personal domain, and he was the Master. Physically, practically all he had to do to get a laugh was show up; consider the scene in which he arrives at the hospital to visit Dreyfus: As he saunters across the lawn of the vast grounds surrounding the buildings, a croquet mallet and ball lying to one side catches his eye; there is just the slightest hesitation in his step, the subtlest change of expression in his eyes and the merest inclination of the head. And there, in that briefest of moments upon the screen, you know-- beyond the shadow of a doubt-- what is about to transpire. And you're right; a moment later Clouseau has the mallet in his hand and his foot on the ball, and even as it's happening-- just as you knew it would in that split second before it did-- he has you on the floor laughing. That was the gift-- and the genius-- of Peter Sellers. Was every film he made a classic? A great film? Of course not; but you would be hard put to find a single performance of his, even in a bad film (Like 1970's "There's A Girl In My Soup"), that did not embody that unique spark that defined him. It was certainly alive in his portrayal of Clouseau (possibly the definitive Seller's character), and in retrospect, what a shame it seems that there were only five "Panther" movies ever made. But so it is, and shall ever be. The supporting cast includes Burt Kwouk (as the ever faithful and attacking manservant, Cato), Andre Maranne (Francois), Colin Blakely (Alec Drummond), Leonard Rossiter (Inspector Quinlan), Richard Vernon (Dr. Fassbender), Briony McRoberts (Margo) and Michael Robbins (Jarvis). A funny movie that showcases one of Cinema's truly unique and funny actors, "The Pink Panther Strikes Again" is a side-splitting, fun movie you can watch over and over and never grow tired of. The best of the series, it stands as a glowing tribute to the comedic genius of Peter Sellers.Movie Review: Peter Sellers Strikes Again
Summary: 5 Stars
The fourth installment in the immensely popular "Pink Panther" series is definitely one of the funniest. It also shows just how talented the great Peter Sellers is. Sellers is a comic genius, talented not just in physical comedy but verbal as well (one of the best examples of this is his "interrogation" of the staff at the professors home). He excells in his portrayal of Clouseau and his ability to always maintain a high level of dignity no matter how silly he looks (after falling down the stairs he gets up and exclaims "That felt good"). Everything from his goofy accent to his hilarious interactions with the other character's (especially Kato and his "former chief inspector") are enjoyable. Any fan of the series will love this installment.Movie Review: Best Film in Series
Summary: 5 Stars
This was the first Panther film I was old enough to remember seeing on the big screen, and it is without a doubt the funniest and most entertaining. I have to say I have never seen the appeal of the first one.For me, the first Panther film merits about 3 stars, and Return and Shot in the Dark were about the same. This one kicks, and is just right. We also get to see a hot-looking Lesley Anne Down. This film does not waste any time and is full of what Clouseau does best. There are plenty of gag-destructive sequences to make you laugh out loud(best scene is where he is trying to penetrate the Chateau), and Dreyfuss(Herbert Lom) is in rare form here. The opening credits are some of the best as well that is a parody of different films like Sound of Music, Dracula, King Kong, and Singin in the Rain! Excellent in every way and definitely the best in the series.Don't waste your time with REVENGE OF THE PINK PANTHER and those other ridiculous sequels(CURSE OF, ON THE TRAIL OF)Movie Review: The Panther's Best Moment
Summary: 5 Stars
In this, the fifth entry in the expansive "Pink Panther" film series, a police inspector goes insane, another survives 26 assasination attempts, this same inspector brutally battles his butler, and the former police inspector disappears into thin air. All the pandemonium and ingenuity of this film can be summed up in one simple line: " (After a television broadcast threatening to destroy the world and interrupting an important baseball game airs) Call the FBI, the CIA, and the pentagon! Find out who won the game!" The concept of the unexpected shines through every glorious gag, every fantastic folly, in the pinnacle of the "Pink Panther" series. Peter Sellers, as bumbling Inspector Clouseau, gives a tour-de-force performance and the supporting players add a foundation to the thing that is absolutely crucial to the thing's success.Movie Review: Great Film!
Summary: 4 Stars
Peter Sellers returns in this classic comedy. Dreyfus is more insane than ever! Considering the fact that he just got out of the insane asylum! The fight with Cato and Clouseau is the funniest Clouseau fight I've seen yet! But there is a few problems, in the near end Dreyfus disappers into thin air, yet he returns in "Revenge of the Pink Panther," alive and well! The movie also drags in the middle, then it picks up again. If you forget those parts you'll rate it 5 stars. I also thought the scene with the President was hilarious. The line he said was, "Call the FBI, the CIA, and the pentagon! Find out who won the game!"