Opening with a few site gags that fall flat with a thud instead of a laugh and a chunk of narrative exposition, you might think this Pink Panther will be more of a paper tiger. But, there’s no need to be a scaredie cat, the laughs pick up. And while the flat site gags never quite disappear, they’re offset by an equal number of bits that’ll keep you in stitches.

Aside from one or two off-color (and not pink—but nonetheless wanting of removal) innuendos (which kids probably won’t even get), this makes a great movie for the family with younger kids. They’ll probably love the cheap site gags anyway. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Steve Martin be this funny. Not that he’s back to his old self completely, but the “I want to buy a Hamburger” scene is pretty darned funny. An American pretending to be a Frenchman pretending to be American – that’s intrinsically funny in concept and Martin executes it well into reality.

Beyonce also gives a fun believable performance (almost as her self) – a sexy American pop star. But the casting of Kevin Kline as Inspector Clouseau’s boss sits uneasily in the film. Paul Giamatti would have made a much more fun straight man/fall guy. Or Will Farrell.

It’s good (mostly clean) light fun.

This film screened at a Laemmle Theatre.

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