Customer Reviews

Son of the Pink Panther [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Funny in parts, but not up to the level of when Peter Sellers was playing Clouseau. Hebert Lom and Bert Kwok are the only actors that hold the movie together. The usual clumsiness was a
bit overdone.

Okay, so I may be one of the few that enjoyed this movie. I did not have high expectations and knew it would be silly. It did make me laugh. So, I was so happy when Isaw that this was available on DVD. In this day and age of technology, it is completely unacceptable to produce a DVD with such poor sound quality. I don't know why it is, but I constantly had to raise and lower the volume. I have not had this problem with any other DVD, so this was a real disappointment for me. I bought this DVD for under $10 and I still say it isn't worth $5! The sound is horrible. If you have not seen this film and you are a fan of the actor or the series, then rent it, and you won't feel like a sucker.

Despite the bad reviews this movie received, I rather liked it. Benigni was very convincing in his role as the Great Detective's illigitimate son, right down to stumbling around like an idiot, looking for a "cleau", being an officer of the "leau" and the giving and receiving of "bimps".

After the success, or rather lack thereof, of "Curse of the Pink Panther", Blake Edwards realized he had to accept that Peter Sellers was no more and that he still needed to bring the name Clouseau back into the franchise, even if it meant giving Sellers' classic character an illegitimate son.

Enter future Oscar winner Roberto Benigni, who would actually receive the exact opposite of an Oscar for this role. He's clean-shaven, part Italian Jacques Gumbrelli Clouseau Jr., not mustached Jacques Clouseau, making this a new character and leaving Benigni to the type of humor that works for him.

Unfortunately, the humor doesn't work for the entire movie. The movie moves almost completely away from the overdone routines of the rest of the series, but there are only a few laugh out loud scenes, with some small chuckles in between. The biggest problem with the film, though, would have to be the plot. Pink Panther plots have been mangled messes before, but never to this extent. There's so much political intrigue and scandal involved that it's hard to figure out what anyone's motivation in, even during the climax.

Herbert Lom is back for his final performance as Chief Inspector Dreyfus, now more sane and subdued. Burt Kwouk is also back reprising his reoccurring role as Kato, the late Clouseau's humble servant. Disguise master Professor Balls, played in the most recent films by Harvey Korman, is now played by Graham Stark, a friend of Sellers who appeared in different roles in many of the films. These performances almost make the movie feel like a valid part of the series.

Henry Mancini's score, as in all of the films, is the highlight, and Bobby McFerrin's performance of the theme music is perfect. Especially when it provides the background for a battle between an animated Benigni and the famous Pink Panther cartoon character, racing around a live action concert hall.

But the bottom line, sadly, is that the plot's a mess and the film isn't as funny as the Peter Sellers classics, or even the previous entry sans-Sellers, "Curse of the Pink Panther."

I am a great fan of Roberto Benigni, and own most of his films, including, unfortunately, this one. The plot could only be described as ponderous at best, the sight gags were mediocre, and the actors, who were obviously trying hard to bring this out of the muck, could not do the impossible. Benigni is only at his best when he writes and directs and when he can perform in his native Italian.

This is not the best Pink Panther film that I've seen. I've seen The Pink Panther, A Shot In The Dark, Inspector Clouseau, The Return Of The Pink Panther, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, Revenge Of The Pink Panther, Trail of The Pink Panther, Curse Of The Pink Panther, this one, and The Pink Panther {2006}. This is my 9th favorite Pink Panther Film. It is not as good as The Pink Panther Strikes Again. It has a great cast. Roberto Benigni as Gendarme Jacques Gambrelli, Herbert Lom as Police Commisioner Charles Dreyfus, Claudia Cardinale as Maria Gambrelli, Shabana Azmi as the Queen, Debrah Farentino as Princess Yasmin, Robert Davi as Hans Zarba, Burt Kwouk as Cato Fong, Graham Stark as Professor Auguste Balls, Oliver Cotton as King Haroak, and Dermot Crowley as Francois Duval. That was my review.
Jedi404

When Peter Sellers, alias Inspector Clouseau died (8th Semptember 1925 - 24th July 1980), Blake Edwards sould have ended the famous Panther movies, with Sellers as the star. But the latest one -"Curse of the Pink Panther (1983)" was surrely the worst part of the series, something that iven Peter Sellers the same didn't wanted throught. And sow we are in 1993, ten years after the disastrous "Curse of the P.P." and the star of the new film is Inspector Jacques Clouseau's illegitimate son Jacques Gambrelli (in the running time of the film, his name will change to Jacques Clouseau Jr.). But ecxept that, we also see another lovable friend from the *good old days*: Yes, we are talking for Commisioner Charles Dreyfus, played by Herbert Lom to perfection. And Burt Kwouk as Kato is also back, but not wait from him the ussual "snick-attacks". Graham Stark as Professor Balls is reapeting much of his lines in "Revenge of the P.P (1978)", but with a wonderfull way.

Any way, I must say that Edwards has made one of the better sequels in the lovable to all of as (the P.P. fans) Pink Panther Series (1963-1993).

In memory of Peter Sellers, the one and only Inspector Jacques Clouseau (1925-1980).

I did see this movie and to be honest with you, the critics were a little too harsh. Cause, this movie was actually quite good. Basically, when a vacationing princess is kidnapped. It's up to Chief Inspector Dreyfus to find her. At first, Dreyfus doesn't have any luck. That is until he runs into the kidnappers, almost gets killed. But, is saved by a local bumbling police officer named Jacques. When Dreyfus stops by the local policeman's home and meets his mother. Dreyfus is shocked to learn that the policeman is the son of none other than Maria Gambrelli. (The woman from the movie "A Shot in The Dark"). Then Dreyfus is even more shocked to learn that Maria's son is infact the son of Jacques Clouseau!!!! Now, Dreyfus realize that only the way he'll find the princess. Is with Jacques Gambrelli's help, who does take after his father in everyway.

Like the title states, I'm mixed on this one. While Benigni is/was a good choice to play Clouseau's son, the story doesn't fit. A kidnapped princess and a plot about trying to overthrow the government of her country? Sounds a little heavy for a Panther film. Even the overuse of action scenes seem to be a little forced (though I will admit that the scene when the princess, Robert Davi's man looking henchwoman and Benigni are tangled up and biting each other was funny). I think they were trying a little too hard to be a James Bond film. At least they were trying to be original and the story does not overshadow Benigni's performance as the story in Curse did to Wass. Stated earlier, Benigni is funny as Clouseau's son, a favorite scene is when he keeps drinking the liquid while "operating" on Davi. Herbert Lom isn't quite as insane in this one as before and he definately doesn't try to kill Jacques as much, actually developing more of a liking to him than his father. Claudia Cardinale returns to the franchise as Maria Gambrelli (originally played by Elke Sommer in A Shot in the Dark) and even gets a little reference when she played Princess Dala in the original. Burt Kwouk and Graham Starke round out the Panther regulars and are still funny (Kwouk even getting another try at "the freezer ploy" from Return). I think the only reason Davi is in this one is because of his role in Licence to Kill and he does an admirable job. When they opened the film and showed his hench "woman" watching the princess on video, I was confused as to if that really was a woman. I'm sorry to be stuck on this but I was really confused. She sounded like a woman but she wasn't built like a woman. Mancini is again in the music department and does a much better job than the last two entries. And the Panther theme is again re-orchestrated with Bobby McFerrin, and it actually isn't that bad.

This movie is not as consistently hilarious as the other Pink Panther films, but there are definitely some moments that are worth seeing. Benigni is very good as another bumbling police officer and does a good job with the altered French accent that Sellers had. Herbert Lom and Burt Kwouk are their usual funny selves, as the twitching eye of Lom and the attacks by Kwouk are still there. Definitely worth seeing, especially if you want to complete the Pink Panther collection.