The Pink Panther (2006)

🎬 The Pink Panther (2006) 🩷💎🕵‍♂️

Let’s start by showing y’all the trailers shall we?

Before we get into this review, I’ve got to share a funny realization I had this year. I was watching Only Murders in the Building for the first time, and it suddenly hit me — Steve Martin, one of the leads in that series, is also the star of these Pink Panther movies I grew up loving. I don’t know how I never made that connection before, but now I can’t unsee it. It’s wild when a modern show makes you remember a classic you’ve adored for years.

Non-Spoiler Plot Rundown

This 2006 reboot of the classic comedic detective series brings Inspector Jacques Clouseau (played by Steve Martin) into a modern-day murder mystery involving the theft of the famous Pink Panther diamond. The setup is deceptively simple: a beloved French soccer coach is killed, the diamond is stolen, and the French authorities assign Clouseau — an eccentric, bumbling small-town policeman — to “investigate” as part of a bigger plan.

But anyone who knows Clouseau knows he’s about as subtle as a marching band in a library. His slapstick, oblivious, and often accidentally brilliant detective style drives the story into one absurd situation after another. The mystery itself is layered enough to keep things moving, with some neat red herrings and a reveal that lands in the third act.

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Character & Actor Breakdown

Inspector Jacques Clouseau — Steve Martin — The king of overconfidence without competence. Completely oblivious to how inept he is, but somehow lands on the truth by sheer accident. His accent is gloriously inconsistent in the best way possible.

Chief Inspector Dreyfus — Kevin Kline — The head of the French police, who hires Clouseau not to solve the crime, but to distract the media while the “real” detectives investigate. Increasingly unhinged as Clouseau’s chaos escalates.

Nicole — Emily Mortimer — Clouseau’s sweet, patient secretary. She’s almost impossibly tolerant of his antics and eventually becomes his emotional anchor.

Gilbert Ponton — Jean Reno — The stone-faced detective assigned as Clouseau’s partner, tasked with “managing” him. Deadpan humor gold.

Yuri the Trainer — Henry Czerny — A slick, polished figure in the football world, who is… let’s just say worth keeping an eye on without spoiling the reveal.

The Villain — Can’t say yet… but they’re hiding in plain sight the whole time.

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Three Comedic Highlights

1. Clouseau’s “hamburger” pronunciation training scene — pure gold.

2. Accidentally setting himself on fire during a romantic attempt to impress Nicole.

3. The airport metal detector incident… complete chaos in the most deadpan way possible.

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Final Thoughts & Rating

This reboot captures the goofy charm of the original Peter Sellers films while leaning heavily into Steve Martin’s physical comedy chops. It’s ridiculous, yes, but it’s fun ridiculous. The chemistry between Martin and Jean Reno is unexpectedly great, and Kevin Kline’s slow-burn frustration is a treat to watch. While the mystery itself isn’t groundbreaking, it’s not supposed to be — it’s a delivery system for pratfalls, misunderstandings, and sight gags.

Rating: 10/10 — for pure comedic comfort viewing.

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🚨Spoilers – Full Details🚨

The film opens with the high-profile murder of French soccer coach Yves Gluant (played briefly by Jason Statham in a fun cameo) right after a big win. The priceless Pink Panther diamond he’s wearing vanishes. Chief Inspector Dreyfus publicly announces he’ll find the killer and the diamond, but secretly hires Clouseau because he expects him to fail spectacularly — keeping press attention away from the real investigation.

Clouseau is paired with Ponton, who quietly feeds Dreyfus information. Throughout the case, Clouseau blunders through high-society parties, interrogations, and even a trip to New York — where his inability to say “hamburger” becomes a running gag. Every suspect, from Gluant’s girlfriend Xania (Beyoncé Knowles) to rival coaches, seems viable.

The comedy peaks when Clouseau accidentally “solves” minor unrelated crimes, humiliating Dreyfus in the process. Eventually, during a gala event, Clouseau deduces that Yuri (the football trainer) orchestrated the murder and theft, framing others to cover his tracks. In classic Clouseau fashion, he reveals the truth not through clever deduction, but through a series of happy accidents and one overlooked piece of evidence: the diamond hidden in a disguised compartment.

The film ends with Clouseau hailed as a hero, Dreyfus stuck with a medal ceremony he can’t avoid, and Clouseau mangling “hamburger” one last time for good measure.