Son of the Pink Panther (1993)

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

It's nice to see Herbert Lom, Burt Kwouk and Claudia Cardinale (even if in a different role) back in the "Pink Panther" series one last time, and the stunning Debrah Farentino is another welcome sight, but Roberto Benigni is no Peter Sellers (he was much funnier the following year in "Il Mostro", made in his native country), and the gags and pratfalls are years-stale and unfunny. The film is a good-looking yawner. *1/2 out of 4.

Director Blake Edwards has produced a lot of funny films during his time. His most famous film that comes to mind is The Pink Panther (1963). Ironically enough, Edwards ended his theatrical film career with one of his most disappointing sequels to the pink panther franchise financially and commercially. Thankfully, there are still a few fans that believe Son of the Pink Panther is not a total waste of time.The story continues of the last Pink Panther film where the audience follows the actions of Jacques Gambrelli, a clumsy and light hearted inspector played by the brilliant Roberto Benigni. Unknown to him, Gambrelli has no idea that he is the son of the great detective Jacques Clouseau but he's still just as klutzy like his father. Benigni was an interesting choice for the offspring of Peter Sellers' character. Like most think, Benigni wouldn't make a great follow up. But to put it in perspective, he's actually not as bad as one thinks.Benigni is not a professional at speaking the English language but he at least knows how to do it. His voice is a little choppy and his goofy antics are slightly over the top but doesn't that go well with his gaunt figure and puffy hair? I liked him here. Also starring in his last theatrical film is Herbert Lom as Commissioner Dreyfus. He has some good moments, mostly when he's around Gambrelli. I can't say that any of the comical elements in this film are original but I had some good laughs a lot of the time.Robert Davi plays Hans Zarba, the main villain of a terrorist group. I didn't really care for Davi's character. He doesn't make Zarba anything worth noticing for. Oh well, you can't have everything. Henry Mancini did the final soundtrack for this franchise as well. Nothing sounds out of the ordinary and that's a good thing. Too bad he's not around anymore though. Mancini's a good composer.Even though many people think so, Benigni doesn't disappoint in this movie. Son of the Pink Panther is still goofy and it has a lot of the components from the beginning films that made this franchise a success.

Blake Edwards should really have stopped making Pink Panther films after Peter Sellers died and realised after the cut and paste film that was "Trail of the Pink Panther" and the flop that was "Curse of the Pink Panther" that the public just weren't interested in Clouseau clones. The franchise was already thirty years old at the time of this release and although there are some funny moments to be had everything feels tired and the cast can't save this weak film. Panther regulars Burt Kwonk and Herbert Lom all appear in an attempt to make this feel like a classic Panther but without the talent of Peter Sellers this film fails to match the high standards of the previous entries.A weak end to Blake Edwards franchise that deserved a better conclusion.

I believe that Blake Edwards' monumental comedic accomplishment were with the very talented Peter Sellers. I believe that his most enjoyable role was in the film titled "The Return of the Pink Panther" in which former Chief Inspector Dreyfuss escapes from a Mental Institution to kill Clusoe and to build a Doomsday Machine. Even the latest production of the "Son of the Pink Panther" does not come close to the original series, and certainly the acting is not up to par with new Italian comedian, nor by the aged Herbert Lohm. I give the "Son of the Pink Panther" a thumbs down for its lack of originality and overt repetition of the same routines from Peter Seller's performances, God rest his Soul! Regards, Steve Horvath, Chicago, IL