I'm rather surprised that Steve Martin would even attempt to portray the Inspector Jacques Clouseau that was masterfully defined by the inimitable Peter Sellers. Sellers' Clouseau was perfect, and so were the original Pink Panther movies. Whether the motive is bringing this character and brand of humor to a new and younger generation or to simply make a quick buck on name recognition and familiarity, I am not sure. But of what I am sure is that Martin's Clouseau comes so close, but no cigar.
The plot is almost meaningless, but revolves around a murder mystery. A famous soccer coach is murdered and the bumbling Inspector Clouseau is put on the case. Suspects abound and Clouseau's enormous supply of dumb luck is able to somehow overcome his enormous lack of logic and common sense to help him to solve the case. Many of the same gags are re-used in this re-make such as Clouseau telling his partner, Gendarme Gilbert Ponton (Jean Reno), that in order to train him effectively, he must be on guard at all times for sudden attacks. This then becomes a running gag as from scene to scene Clouseau tries trick after trick to attack his assistant who is somehow always able to defend them effortlessly.
Beyoncé Knowles has a pretty big role in this movie as the girlfriend of the murdered soccer coach and one of the primary suspects in the case. And sadly, she is probably one of the main the reasons that this movie isn't all that great. Her performance is lackluster. She has a pretty face but speaks her lines with no expression whatsoever. She was equally dismal in Austin Powers in Goldmember and I am quite surprised that she was given a second opportunity at a leading role. Surely Hollywood would not be stupid enough to give her a large role for a third time...we shall see.
What people have been talking about is the one scene for which this movie will be remembered. It involves Steve Martin as Jacques Clouseau and "the world's best linguistics coach." Clouseau is about to take a trip to New York and needs to be able to fit in and to speak the language flawlessly without a French accent. The scene involves him attempting to learn the phrase, "I would like to buy a hamburger." He fails miserably time and time again and it is very funny. Not only is he still using his accent and botching the simple sentence, but he is doing so with such determination, concentration, and desperation. His confident aire after each utterance is torn down again and again as he is forced to repeat the phrase. This is Steve Martin at his best.
An equally funny scene involves him finally buying his hamburger and tasting one for the first time in his life. He scoffs at it and says to his partner in such a snooty way that could only be done by a Frenchman, "disgusting American food." But then, he takes a bite. The camera circles round him as violins start to play. His face changes. He is in love. He eagerly takes a second bite...and a third. HAHAHAHAHA!
Sadly, these scenes of hilarity are few and far between. Martin's performance is good and those not familiar with the originals may indeed find him quite funny (as my eleven-year-old did). But for those of us who are familiar with Peter Sellers' version, it just isn't the same; it seems forced. Yeah, if you hit it hard enough, you might be able to get a round peg into a square hole, but that doesn't mean that it belongs there.
Amusing, but it makes me long for the originals.
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