The Pink Panther 2

The Pink Panther 2
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Name	The Pink Panther 2
Director	Harald Zwart
Producer	Robert Simonds
Writer	Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber, Steve Martin
Starring	Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Emily Mortimer, Andy García, Alfred Molina, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Yuki Matsuzaki, Johnny Hallyday, Lily Tomlin, John Cleese
Music	Christophe Beck
Cinematography	Denis Crossan
Editing	Julia Wong
Studio	MGM, Columbia Pictures
Distributor	Sony Pictures Releasing
Released	2009, 02, 06
Runtime	92 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$70 million
Gross	$75.9 million

The Pink Panther 2 is a 2009 American comedy film directed by Harald Zwart and starring Steve Martin as the bumbling French detective Inspector Clouseau. A sequel to the 2006 reboot, the film follows Clouseau as he is recruited onto an international dream team of detectives to stop a globe-trotting thief known as "The Tornado." The ensemble cast features returning favorites and new international stars, with the narrative blending slapstick humor and a globe-trotting mystery under the production auspices of MGM and Columbia Pictures.

Plot

The legendary "Pink Panther" diamond is once again stolen, alongside other priceless artifacts like the Shroud of Turin and the Magna Carta, by a master thief dubbed "The Tornado." Under pressure from Chief Inspector Dreyfus, played by John Cleese, the hapless Inspector Clouseau is assigned to menial tasks but is soon drafted onto an international dream team featuring detectives from Italy, England, and Japan. The team, which includes the brilliant Vicenzo Brancaleoni (Andy García) and the tech-savvy Kenji Mazuto (Yuki Matsuzaki), travels from Paris to Rome and London in a chaotic investigation. Clouseau's unorthodox methods, including a disastrous visit to the Pope, consistently undermine the operation, leading to a climactic reveal at the Louvre involving an unexpected culprit and the recovery of the famed diamond.

Cast

Steve Martin reprises his role as the inept Inspector Clouseau, with Jean Reno returning as his long-suffering partner, Gendarme Gilbert Ponton. Emily Mortimer plays Nicole Durant, Clouseau's love interest and a fellow officer. The international dream team includes Andy García as Vicenzo Brancaleoni, Alfred Molina as Randall Pepperidge, and Yuki Matsuzaki as Kenji Mazuto. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan portrays crime expert Sonia Solandres. John Cleese takes over the role of Chief Inspector Dreyfus from Kevin Kline, while Lily Tomlin appears as Mrs. Berenger, a political correctness instructor. French rock icon Johnny Hallyday has a cameo as a milliner.

Production

Development began after the financial success of the 2006 film, with Steve Martin co-writing the screenplay with Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. Norwegian director Harald Zwart, known for Agent Cody Banks, was hired to direct. Principal photography occurred primarily in Boston, which doubled for Paris and other European locales, with additional shooting at the Cinecittà studios in Rome. Composer Christophe Beck returned to score the film, and the production faced challenges including script revisions and coordinating the schedules of its large, international ensemble cast.

Release

The film was released theatrically in the United States on February 6, 2009, by Sony Pictures Releasing. Its premiere was held at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The international rollout followed throughout February and March 2009, including releases across Europe and in major markets like Japan and India, capitalizing on the casting of Yuki Matsuzaki and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

Reception

Upon release, it received predominantly negative reviews from critics. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes reports a low approval rating, with criticism directed at its predictable script and reliance on physical gags. However, some praise was given to the performances of John Cleese and Lily Tomlin. The film was a modest box office performer, grossing approximately $75.9 million worldwide against a $70 million budget, with stronger returns in international markets than in North America. It was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel.

Home media

The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United States on June 23, 2009, by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The home media release included special features such as deleted scenes, a gag reel, and featurettes on the stunts and the legacy of the film series. It later became available for digital purchase and streaming on platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Category:2009 films Category:American films Category:Comedy films