Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Silly sequel elicits more eyerolls than laughs; stereotypes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
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The Pink Panther 2
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 16 parent reviews
Based on 36 kid reviews
Kids say the sequel maintains a comedic charm similar to its predecessor, with many finding it extremely funny, though some point out inappropriate sexual innuendos and scenes that may not be suitable for younger audiences. While most reviews highlight its slapstick humor as enjoyable for family viewing, concerns about content suggest parental guidance for preteens and younger children.
- funny charm
- inappropriate content
- family viewing
- parental guidance
- slapstick humor
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE PINK PANTHER 2, master thief "The Tornado" steals some of the world's greatest treasures—including the Pink Panther diamond, of course. Inspector Clouseau (Steve Martin) is selected to join an international "dream team" of detectives to hunt down the renowned cat burglar. Joining him are investigators from Italy (Andy Garcia), England (Alfred Molina), and Japan (Yuki Matsuzaki), as well as an expert on The Tornado's past crimes (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan). As they track down the Tornado, the other detectives grow tired of Clouseau's bumbling, embarrassing ways—while the inspector and his faithful assistant, Nicole (Emily Mortimer), try not to act on their mutual attraction.
Is It Any Good?
With such a crack ensemble—Martin and co-stars John Cleese and Lily Tomlin are renowned comic actors—viewers are bound to expect a worthy comedy, but they'll be disappointed. Despite the cast's considerable collective talent, they can't rise above The Pink Panther 2's ridiculous dialogue and hammy gags. Frankly, the movie is a downright insult to the memory of comedy legend Peter Sellers and is clearly another example of Hollywood prolonging an undeserving franchise to cash in on the generally easy-to-please family demographic.
There are a few moments when the slapstick does elicit a laugh or two, but in the end, this is one of those sequels that should never have been greenlit. The atrocious accents aren't funny at all, and the pope jokes sound like they were written by a third grader. The film does finally tone down the suggestive (and let's be honest, sexist) jokes about women that plague many of the previous Pink Panther movies, but cultural stereotypes about French, Italian, and Japanese people still make The Pink Panther 2 something you probably wouldn't want to show your kids, no matter their age.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Pink Panther 2's portrayal of live-action slapstick violence. How does it compare to animated cartoon violence? How do you know when something "violent" is meant to be funny and not scary or real?
Did you notice any stereotypes? How did they make you feel? Why are accurate depictions in the media important?
For those familiar with the original Pink Panther movies, how do the new ones compare?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 6, 2009
- On DVD or streaming : June 23, 2009
- Cast : Steve Martin , Emily Mortimer , Jean Reno
- Director : Harald Zwart
- Studio : Columbia Tristar
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 92 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some suggestive humor, brief mild language and action
- Last updated : September 15, 2026
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