Hollywood Naya Masala with Aishwarya Rai Tadka

Pink Panther 2

Lo intezar khatam hua. Hollywood movie with Aishwarya Rai (Bachchan)
is running accross USA.

There is a thief on the loose and it's up to the bumbling, yet genius
detective Jacques Clouseau [Steve Martin] and a team of experts like
him, to find and put away the criminal. As the movie opens, it's the
Pope who is in distress - he has been relieved of his ruby ring by the
same felon who stole the Magna Carta, the Japanese imperial sword and
the Shroud of Turin. Hence the team of detectives called in to
retrieve the stolen goods comprise a Britisher (Alfred Molina), a
Japanese (Yuki Matsuzaki), an Italian (Andy Garcia), of course
Jacques. This rather queer group, with help from the ravishing Sonia
(Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) an expert in criminal behavior, jet start the
humour with stunts that ideally only cartoon characters can escape
from, alive!! We all know right away that they are going find the
culprit, in spite of their soon-evident clumsiness, just as we know
the journey promises to be a rich blend of action and comedy.

The opening sequence sets the pace for the rest of the movie. Here's
how it goes: Jacques and his team are questioning the Pope, when
Jacques begins rummaging through the Pope's wardrobe. On a whim, he
wears one and steps onto the balcony overlooking St Peter's Square. As
he leans over, trying to imitate the Pope as he blesses the people
below, he trips and falls down. But thankfully, he manages to hang on
to a flag pole. And there he hangs with his robes flapping and his
assets on display, till help arrives. Likewise, the movie is filled
with similar adventurous exploits that come in quick succession -
sometimes you get the feeling the director had a number of fun ideas
and tried to cram every single one into the movie.

From burning down the same restaurant twice to parading in funny
costumes, treading on his partner's feet and falling through a
chimney, Jacques does it all, but just as we begin to see the humour
in one scene, he's already moved on to the next and the next comic
moment is taking shape. Steve Martin and his team have done a
commendable job and manage to tickle our funny bone quite often. The
only drawback is that none of the comic pieces develop into
bellyaching hilarity. If Herald Zwart intends making the next
instalment of the series, he better give that aspect more thought and
more reel time.

Cast Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Alfred Molina, Emily
Mortimer, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Andy Garcia, Yuki Matsuzaki, Lily
Tomlin, John Cleese, Jeremy Irons & others
Banner Metro Goldwyn Mayer & Columbia Pictures
Director Harald Zwart
Screenplay Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber &Steve Martin


Overall this movie does not evoke Wow feeling.

pradeep gupta