The Pink Panther

Inspector Jacques Clouseau, a name that strikes fear into the hearts of criminals everywhere - and anyone else he comes across as well. Maybe it's because his deductive powers are so inadequate, his grasp of the obvious so elusive, his command of the language so severely limited and his physical coordination so completely lacking. But while his approach may be unorthodox and often confounding, he always manages to solve the crime - in his own fashion. At least until now. In the action-packed comedy, The Pink Panther, the bumbling Inspector Closeau (Steve Martin) takes on his most important case ever. World famous soccer coach Yves Gluant has just led Team France to victory over Team China. Surrounded by grateful adoring fans and his beautiful lover, the international pop star Xania (Beyoncé Knowles), Gluant is felled by a poisoned dart. In the ensuing panic, Gluant's priceless diamond ring, "The Pink Panther," mysteriously disappears. The murder becomes a media sensation and a national obsession. Cracking the case falls to Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Kevin Kline), who is up for the prestigious Medal of Honor - for the seventh time. Aware that he cannot afford to make a single mistake - at least none that can be attributed to him - Dreyfus presses the indefatigable Inspector Clouseau into service. Clouseau and his new assistant, the steadfast, stoic Gendarme Gilbert Ponton (Jean Reno), follow a tangle of clues that leads them all over Paris and, eventually, New York City. In the Big Apple, Clouseau and Ponton travel to Times Square and the nearby diamond district, as well as to the city's posh Fifth Avenue and the renowned Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Along the way, Clouseau and Ponton are waylaid by elusive diamond cutters, would-be thugs, notorious bandits, smarmy casino owners, secret agents, mysterious trainers and an exotic beverage called "The Flaming Mojito." One by one, Clouseau narrows his search and tracks down the most likely suspects. They include Xania, a spurned soccer star (William Abadie), a millionaire casino owner (Roger Rees) and a flirtatious P.R. publicist (Kristin Chenoweth). Clouseau's process is fascinating, if harrowingly circuitous. But he never loses his focus, his purpose or his pride - much to the consternation of Dreyfus, who may or may not have Clouseau's best interests at heart. In the end, with the aid of Ponton and his devoted secretary Nicole (Emily Mortimer), Clouseau must unmask the murderer and keep Dreyfus from taking credit. Starring Steve Martin, Kevin Kline, Beyonce Knowles. Directed by Shawn Levy. Rated PG, released on 17th March 2006 (92 mins) All clips and interviews used by kind permission of Cameo Productions.