Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 28, 1993 TAG: 9308310140
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Mike Mayo Correspondent
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The animated credit sequence, featuring the cartoon character and a nice Bobby McFerrin interpretation of Henry Mancini's familiar theme, is by far the most enjoyable part of the film. Once the alleged story begins, it goes straight downhill.
The premise here is that Inspector Clouseau had a son with Maria Gambrelli (Claudia Cardinale), though if memory serves, a character by that name was played by Elke Sommer in the second film, "A Shot In the Dark." In any case, this Clouseau (Roberto Benigni) has inherited all of his father's incompetence.
The leaden plot by director Edwards and Madeline and Steve Sunshine has something to do with the kidnapping of an Arab princess. But it's nothing more than a framework for a series of pratfalls and sight gags, and most of them aren't very funny.
Benigni does seem to have a talent for physical comedy, but he lacks Peter Sellers' expressive face and energetic screen presence. Several of his extended routines are so tortuously long that they're like watching Jerry Lewis in slow motion. Ouch!
Beyond them, a large portion of the film has to do with pointless, flabby fight scenes. There's also some material involving other characters in a palace intrigue that's simply abandoned about two-thirds of the way through the action.
About the best that can be said of "Son of the Pink Panther" is that it's inoffensive comedy without many swear words or sexual references, so it's OK for kids, though it's not really meant for them.
\ Son of the Pink Panther: *
An MGM/UA release playing at the Salem Valley 8. 88 min. Rated PG for comic violence and mild sexual references.
by CNB