The Pink Panther (2006 film)

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The Pink Panther
Directed by Shawn Levy
Produced by Ira Shuman
Robert Simonds
Tracey Trench
Written by Len Blum
Steve Martin
Starring Steve Martin
Kevin Kline
Beyoncé Knowles
Jean Reno
Distributed by USA Theatrical and Worldwide DVD/Video
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Non-USA Theatrical
20th Century Fox (UK, Italy, Germany, Argentina, Singapore, Japan)
Warner Bros. Pictures (Philippines)
Fox-Warner (Switzerland)
Bontonfilm (Czech Republic)
Gemini Film (Russia)
Release date(s) February 10, 2006
Running time 93 minutes
Country USA
Language English
Budget $80 million
IMDb profile

The Pink Panther is a 2006 comedy film. It is a reboot of the Pink Panther series. In this film, the detective (Steve Martin) has to solve the murder of a famous football coach and find out who stole the famous Pink Panther diamond.

This film also stars Kevin Kline, Beyoncé Knowles, and Jean Reno.

Contents

[edit] Plot synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
Clouseau (Steve Martin) and Dreyfus (Kevin Kline)
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Clouseau (Steve Martin) and Dreyfus (Kevin Kline)

When the French national soccer team beats the Chinese national soccer team in a semi-final soccer match, the post-game celebration turns tragic when the coach of the French team, Yves Gluant (Jason Statham), is murdered by a poisoned dart to the neck, and his Pink Panther diamond ring disappears. Selfish Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus (Kevin Kline) (who seems to have frequent changes in his accent), eager to win the Légion d'honneur after being nominated seven times (but never winning), decides to appoint probably the "most incompetent policeman" in France, Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Steve Martin), to the case, so that after he has managed to accomplish nothing and diverted media attention from the real investigation, Dreyfus (who has assembled a crack team of investigators to tackle the mystery in secret) can take over the case, look like the hero, and win the medal of honor. Additionally, Dreyfus appoints Gendarme Gilbert Ponton (Jean Reno) to report on Clouseau's location in order to keep tabs on him.

Clouseau immediately gets on the case, and despite his lack of experience, is actually able to make some progress. Meanwhile, Bizu, a player who hates the coach, gets shot by someone in the head, after saying "Oh, it's you". Then, Clouseau tells Ponton to get all the people in Paris with the name "You". He gets an old Cantonese woman who says "Why did you drag me here? You guys are crazy! I know nothing!" Clouseau appears to be ignorant of her meaning, which is spoken in Chinese, but in fact he can understand every word. While at a club, with the intent of asking some questions of the owner (a restaurant partner of the murder victim), he encounters the Bondian British Agent 006 (Clive Owen), who poses as Clouseau in order to conceal his identity and stop a gas attack by masked bandits. Thus, Clouseau gets the credit for the deed. Much to Dreyfus's annoyance, this helps Clouseau win a nomination for the medal of honor.

Believing that Gluant's girlfriend Xania (Beyoncé Knowles) has more information that he can use, Clouseau follows her to New York. Before he can return to France, his bag is switched by a French agent working for Dreyfus while he waits in line. The new bag, which contains several weapons (including a flail, a pocket knife, a grenade, and a revolver), sets off the metal detector, and after he refuses to empty his pockets, which contain hamburgers, he is arrested. Dreyfus then insults Clouseau and strips him of his inspector rank, and prepares to win success. Based on the evidence he has-- that the poison that killed Gluant was Chinese herbs-- Dreyfus oddly assumes that the killer is a Chinese diplomat, whom he plans on arresting at the upcoming Presidential Ball. Dreyfus orders the event planners to erase Clouseau's name from the guest list.

Having returned home, Clouseau goes on the Internet, where he finds a photo of his arrest at JFK Airport. Then he spots something which spurs him on his way. Clouseau immediately makes his way to the Presidential Ball with Ponton, and the two sneak into Élysée Palace. The two are able to prevent the murder of Xania by capturing the real killer, pursuing him, and apprehending him, just before the killer is about to take the shot with a PGM sniper rifle, all through careful planning and clever disguising. The killer is "Yuri the trainer who trains", an ex-Soviet soldier, who worked on the French soccer team, and was tired of the coach taking the credit for the victory. Clouseau reveals that the Cantonese woman "reminded" Clouseau that all trainers must be skilled in Chinese medicine, and Bizu was shot in the centre of the brain, in a manner that would be instinctive to Yuri after his time in the Russian military. Yuri had enough trust from the coach to get close to the coach during the victory celebration, stab him with the poison dart, and fade away into the crowd. Xania is revealed to have the diamond, sewn into the lining of her purse. It was given to her by the coach as an engagement ring just before his death, and thus Clouseau allows her to keep the ring, as she is entitled to it under French law. Clouseau revealed that it was the photo of his arrest that revealed everything to him. When he enlarged it he saw in the corner the ring revealed hidden in the purse but showing up in the monitor of the scanning machines at the airport. All this time Dreyfus makes a clumsy attempt to take the credit saying his arrest of the Chinese envoy was ploy along with Clouseau to draw out the real killer.

For his success, Clouseau wins the Medal of Honor (much to Dreyfus's dismay), and while leaving the ceremonies, manages to drag Dreyfus (whose clothing is stuck in the door) behind the car. At the hospital, he accidentally sends Dreyfus, in a hospital bed, rolling down the hall, until he crashes out a window into the river, screaming Clouseau's name. The film ends with Clouseau saying "Oooh, that breeze feels good."

[edit] Box office performance

In these countries, the film debuted at #1:

Performance in other countries:

As of April 16, 2006, the film grossed a total of $82,226,474 in the United States Box Office and $152,286,513 worldwide.

Since the film did better at the box office than expected, a sequel is in the planning stages.

[edit] Cast

Xania, as portrayed by Beyoncé Knowles.
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Xania, as portrayed by Beyoncé Knowles.

[edit] Trivia

  • At the beginning of the movie, Yves Gluant, played by Jason Statham, is the owner of the Pink Panther diamond. The movie Snatch ends with Statham's character, Turkish, becoming the owner of the similarly large and much sought after diamond in that film.
  • Jean Reno's character mentioned that he used to be a police officer,bringing to mind his role as a French police officer in the film Wasabi (film)
  • Clive Owen's part of 006 may be an ironic reference to the fact that Owen was once considered for the role of James Bond. This is further suggested by Clouseau's response to finding out who he is ("One short of the big time" -- subtle reference to 007 as well as the character). It also may be a nod to David Niven and the original Clouseau, Peter Sellers, who both played James Bond in the 007 spoof, Casino Royale. Oddly enough, it was the new, serious adaptation of Casino Royale that Owen was considered for. The part went to Daniel Craig.
  • Steve Martin had such respect for Peter Sellers that when he was asked to take over the role of Clouseau, he put off the decision to accept it until after he had already worked out the character's accent and run several ideas for scenes past director Shawn Levy.
  • This film was originally planned for August 12, 2005, but the date was changed to February 10, 2006, mainly because of extensive reshoots taking place, and the fact that distributor Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was being bought out by Sony.
  • The red and white microcar that Clouseau and Ponton use in many scenes is a Smart Fortwo.
  • In the film, Jacques Clouseau says his e-mail address is drknockers@aol.com
  • In the film a Spyker car features as a background vehicle.
  • In the film, the real thing the Cantonese woman is saying is something like "I am innocent! Why are you bringing me here? Why?". But it was subtitled to say that "All trainers must have basic knowledge of Chinese herbs."
  • The acrobatic soccer goal that ends the sudden death was not just a lucky stunt. According to the DVD commentary by the director, over one hundred players were auditioned, but none could kick the ball while doing a back flip. Finally, someone suggested trying other athletes, and a martial artist from the UK was chosen. The crew tossed the ball to him many times, until he hit it just right. At one point David Beckham was considered for the role - uncredited - of that soccer player.
  • Martin was the third actor to be considered for the role of Clouseau during the film's extensive pre-production phase. Mike Myers (who co-starred with Knowles in Austin Powers in Goldmember) was reported to have been signed for the role, but pulled out due to creative differences; media reports in 2001-02 indicated that black comedian Chris Tucker was in the running to play the role.[citation needed]
  • Ivan Reitman was attached to direct this film, but left before Steve Martin was cast.
  • In the UK, the DVD was released with a pink tint on the disc.
  • In the US, the DVD was released with a coupon for Sweet'N Low as an insert. The coupon features a picture of the Pink Panther

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:


The Pink Panther and Inspector Clouseau
The Pink Panther | A Shot in the Dark | Inspector Clouseau
Return of the Pink Panther | The Pink Panther Strikes Again | Revenge of the Pink Panther
Romance of the Pink Panther | Trail of the Pink Panther | Curse of the Pink Panther
Son of the Pink Panther | The Pink Panther (2006) | The Pink Panther 2 (2008)
The Pink Panther cartoon character | The Pink Panther Show | Pink Panther and Sons | The Inspector
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