Steve Martin as the naïve, bumbling Inspector Clouseau? Not a great idea, I thought when first hearing about Martin’s casting in the new Pink Panther movie. No actor today can do justice to that funny Peter Sellers film character from days of yore, I told myself. But, remembering that my favorite “wild and crazy guy” is full of surprises, I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. Good call. 

Commenting on his interpretation of Clouseau, Martin says, “I bent it a little bit because I’m a different person. . . I knew it had to feel funny to me and the only way that would come out is through my own comic sense.”

After viewing Martin's Inspector Clouseau, I agree with director Shawn Levy (Cheaper by the Dozen), who believes Martin to be an inspired choice for this role. Levy points out that the Clouseau character paid homage to silent film stars like Chaplin and Keaton, whose comic ability has been admired for nearly a century. “As imagined by Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers, the character referenced silent film comedy where the humor was physical rather than verbal,” Levy explains. “Clouseau’s intuitive, physical humor is equally timeless. What makes Steve Martin the perfect Clouseau is his incredible, unique talent as a physical comic.”       

Producer Bob Simonds (Cheaper by the Dozen) adds, “Steve’s got a gift for physical comedy, but he’s also incredibly erudite. . . his comedy is ironic and smart but never mean spirited. That works because all the comedy in the Pink Panther films is at the expense of Clouseau, who is simply trying to retain his dignity during all these situations.”

In this Pink Panther, Martin’s Clouseau works hard to maintain his dignity while solving the murder of a world- famous soccer coach -- and also trying to recover the victim’s priceless diamond ring (“The Pink Panther”). Little does Clouseau know that ambitious Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Kevin Kline) has called him in for one purpose only -- to take up time until he himself can win glory by catching the killer.

In the midst of a media frenzy, Clouseau and his new assistant (Jean Reno) take a trip to New York City, hoping to find clues that will help them with their case. While in the Big Apple, Clouseau falls in love with “am-bourg-airs”  (translation: hamburgers) and practically demolishes the elegant Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Watching him, instead of the multiply-injured Dreyfus, receive a nation's acclaim for solving the crime seems weirdly satisfying, and most of the movie evokes plenty of laughter at the overwhelming silliness involved.  

Unfortunately, “dignity” goes out the window when the film reaches for cheap laughs by playing the flatulence card. With fine talent like Martin, Kline, Reno, Beyoncé Knowles (portraying the victim’s girlfriend) and Emily Mortimer (as Clouseau’s secretary) on board, such a juvenile approach seems unnecessary. But, hey, at the screening my husband and I attended, some members of the audience howled during this scene, and they weren’t all teenagers.  

No matter what he’s doing, making people laugh comes easy for Martin -- and his performance in this movie is no exception. Despite “bending it a little,” he manages to capture the essence of Inspector Clouseau’s character by relying on funny facial expressions, an amusing French accent and hilarious pratfalls. Is it enough to revive the Pink Panther franchise? Mon dieu! We’ll have to wait for box office results to answer that question.

(Released by Columbia Pictures and rated “PG” for occasional crude and suggestive humor and language.)