'Pink Panther' strikes back, again

The magic of Peter Sellers' presence in the original "Pink Panther" films of the '60s, '70s and even '80s, was his remarkable appearance of dramatic ineptitude: he did not seem to know that he was acting in a comedy film. Steve Martin, filling the shoes of Sellers, takes a much different approach in the 2006 remake, "The Pink Panther." \nMartin dives into his performance from the onset as an overtly silly and painstakingly gauche police officer. While Sellers was much loved for his subtle and nuanced performances, Martin has decided to reenergize the role of Inspector Jacques Clouseau. And, for the most part, it actually works.\nWhile most fans of the originals will no doubt lambaste this remake as juvenile and asinine, it is important to remember that inane slapstick gags were what made the Blake Edwards-directed classics so popular. The gags have been brought back in full force by Martin and his compatriots. There's the homage to Sellers' famous globe spinnings, a new take on Clouseau's random attacks on his assistant and of course, Clouseau does at one point electrocute his own testicles.\nWhile there are a variety of failed jokes in the film, there are enough successful antics by Steve Martin to validate this film's existence. The still limber 60-year-old comedian pulls off a number of legitimately hilarious physical shenanigans and delivers some funny (if usually ribald) one liners and jokes. \nThe film's ultimate redemption and the impetus for you to see this film is the solution to the whodunit mystery that drives the story forward. Martin fools the audience into thinking that a number of events in the ongoing murder case are trivial and ancillary to the plot, but these same events become hilariously important at the conclusion of the case. Director Shawn Levy and Martin should end the film after the case is solved, but instead they include a throwaway and thoroughly awkward gag consisting of Clouseau harassing the Chief Inspector (Kevin Kline) in the hospital.\nThe major failing of the film resides in Levy's attempts to establish some sweet and genuine moments between Clouseau and his assistant Ponton (Jean Reno). Because the film relies so heavily upon crude slapstick and idiotic behavior, the brotherly bond between the two detectives comes across as trite and even hackneyed. \nOverall though, this is a comedy worth seeing. Steve Martin is an extremely successful comedian for a reason. He has made a career of jumping around and acting like a lunatic, and he does so without class, but with high energy, yet again in this film. See "The Pink Panther," it will be worth the time.