Pink Panther 2, The (Blu-ray)

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Video:

Filmed in 2007, "The Pink Panther 2" is a recent film and its 1.85:1 frames look very good in high definition. Mastered in AVC MPEG-4, "The Pink Panther 2" is detailed and colorful. The opening credits show off a gloriously pink panther and the colors hold up well throughout the entire production with Martin´s dark mustache showing the contrast against his white hair. Skin tones are very strong. The film contains a nice mix of indoor and outdoor sets with a few darker scenes. The transfer holds up well regardless of what the picture throws its way and the rock steady image looks good from start to finish. Black levels are good. There are no flaws from either the digital transfer or something inherited from the source materials. The image quality is not reference material, but it is an above average looking transfer.

Audio:

The primary sound track for "The Pink Panther 2" is delivered in the form of an English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix. Spanish, French and Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtracks are also included as well as subtitles in a number of languages. While being a comedy, Cousteau´s bumbling provides ample opportunity for the six channel mix to pick up the pace some and listening to him crashing through three floors sounds very good and some of the car sequences are handled nicely as well. Much of the mix comes via the front three channels, but the rear speakers are used when needed. Christophe Beck´s handling of Henry Mancini´s iconic theme score sounds solid on Blu-ray. Dialogue is clear, although Martin´s thick faux French accent does often challenge the listener to figure out what was just said.

Extras:

The second "Pink Panther" film wasn´t exactly a box office smash, but this does not stop Twentieth Century Fox from releasing a three-disc Blu-ray special edition for the film. The first disc contains the film itself and pertinent special features. It boots up with a trailer for digital copy and also for the upcoming remake of "Fame." The second disc is a Bonus DVD Disc that contains 27 Classic Pink Panther Cartoons (2:51:28). I love the inclusion of these old cartoons and the nearly three hours of cartoon shorts featuring everybody´s favorite insulation pitchman are hilarious. Honestly, I´d much rather review these cartoons, but since these are just bonus offerings I´ll just say the second DVD disc is the true gem of this three disc release and I loved the old cartoons. The third disc of the set is another DVD platter and contains the Digital Copy of The Pink Panther 2 for Portable Media Players. I won´t be putting this on my Zune or iPhone, but I like the concept of "Digital Copy."

The handful of bonus offerings on the Blu-ray disc begin with a Gag Reel (3:34). This collection of flubbed lines, camera hijinks and wine bottle mishaps are funny enough, but nothing overly special. I suppose I was expecting more from the terribly talented and funny Martin. The vignette Drama is Easy… Comedy is Dangerous (7:43) is a brief promotional clip that talks about the physical humor used in this second film and features Martin and others discussing the making of the second film. They discuss how they took the film in a new direction and tailor it closer to Martin´s talents. A Dream Team Like No Other (13:56) is the longest bonus feature on the disc and looks at the very talented and familiar cast that was assembled for this film. This making-of feature shows a few good making-of footage. Master Thief – Global Crime Showdown is an interactive trivia game that will provide entertainment for one play through.

Closing:

The first "Pink Panther" film starring Steve Martin was passable entertainment, but this sequel is a painful disaster as Cousteau bumbles through the film in unfunny ways. "The Pink Panther 2" fails in numerous ways, but its mistreatment of its stunning cast is a travesty. Jean Reno is horribly misused in this film. It makes me sad. I had hoped Martin would have refined his portrayal of Jacques Cousteau for the second outing, but he regressed into a state of absurdity. The Blu-ray release contains less than a half an hour of bonus footage on the Blu-ray disc, but it is technically sound. The only reason I can come up with to purchase this title is for the three hours of vintage "Pink Panther" cartoons contained on one of the bonus DVDs of this three disc set. This film makes me sad and sends me scurrying to throw a proper "Pink Panther" film into my DVD player.

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