The Pink Panther 2
Columbia Pictures | Release Date: February 6, 2009 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
36
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews
Positive:
3
Mixed:
14
Negative:
13
Watch Now
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
PremierePatrick Parker
If you liked the first then you are going to like this one as Clouseau is offensive and outrageous, which is a perfect fit for one of the "Wild and Crazy Guys." Read full review
67
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
Provides genial chuckles, but it's never excitingly rude. Read full review
63
TV Guide MagazineJason Buchanan
The results are, quite surprisingly, fairly charming. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsJoe Neumaier
Martin starts at the outrageous accent and spins out from there, and that's fine for this. And there are a few snicker-worthy scenes. Read full review
60
VarietyTodd McCarthy
Serves up enough goofy pranks and fractured wordplay to keep the series purring along. Read full review
50
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Peter Sellers was a genius who somehow made Inspector Clouseau seem as if he really were helplessly incapable of functioning in the real world and somehow incapable of knowing that. Steve Martin is a genius, too, but not at being Clouseau. It seems more like an exercise. Read full review
50
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
Nothing is harder and more elusive than successful slapstick onscreen. Nothing. Read full review
50
Philadelphia InquirerSteven Rea
Level of humor: subteen. Read full review
50
Seattle Post-IntelligencerAndy Spletzer
A forgettable waste of time. Read full review
50
The A.V. ClubKeith Phipps
Plays like an undeserved victory lap for a series that only limped to the finish line the last time. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChroniclePeter Hartlaub
The predictable script feels as if it were filmed right off the cocktail napkin it was jotted on, but at least the movie has an "Ocean's 11" sequel's worth of good actors, including Alfred Molina, Jeremy Irons and Jean Reno. Read full review
50
The New York TimesStephen Holden
Although the stunts come thick and fast in The Pink Panther 2, they are jammed together in a way that gives most of them barely enough time to register. Read full review
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
The story, of course, is a line on which to pin the comic set-pieces, and that's where Pink Panther 2 comes up lustreless. Zwart has no discernible sense of comic rhythm, beyond managing to punctuate scenes with a wall crashing in. Read full review
50
Christian Science MonitorPeter Rainer
The bloom is decidedly off the pinkish rose. Martin has a few inspired moments but in order to get to them you have to wade through a mosh pit of unfunny gags. Read full review
40
Washington PostMichael O'Sullivan
My only question is this: In the context of these by-the-book pratfalls, is it funny enough? Read full review
40
Los Angeles TimesBetsy Sharkey
There is no real plot, the movie's filled with friends of Steve, the comedy is terribly overplayed, or the comedy is overplayed terribly (again, you can choose) -- what you're left with is a bag of tricks that has seen better days. Read full review
40
EmpireWilliam Thomas
A mirthless shot in the dark that misses the target by some distance. Read full review
38
Miami HeraldRene Rodriguez
There are three or four big laughs scattered throughout The Pink Panther 2, along with a smattering of decent chuckles. But all those moments combined account for maybe five minutes of screen time, which leaves you with another hour and a half of movie to sit through. Read full review
38
USA TodayStaff [Not Credited]
Perhaps Martin should go back to taking chances and writing original work. Read full review
38
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
The breath of fresh air, to the extent that one can be identified in the staleness of this recycled refuse, is John Cleese. Read full review
38
New York PostKyle Smith
The movie hopes to be regarded as childlike too, but there's a difference between kid-friendly and just regular old dumb. Read full review
30
Village VoiceErnest Hardy
It's Garcia, Molina, and Tomlin who give you momentary hope that the film might settle into a witty, irreverent romp. Unfortunately, their efforts are ultimately defeated. Read full review
30
Chicago ReaderAndrea Gronvall
Costars John Cleese, Jean Reno, Alfred Molina, Andy Garcia, and Jeremy Irons look either bored or desperate, gasping for laughs in an airless screenplay. Read full review
30
The Hollywood ReporterSheri Linden
This comedy whodunit generates more laughs than its predecessor, which is to say, two or three. Read full review
25
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Martin is a gifted physical comic. He deserves an original role tailored to his own talents. Watching something this borrowed just makes me blue. Read full review
25
Boston GlobeWesley Morris
Playing Clouseau's exasperated boss, Cleese rams his head into a wall minutes into the action. That's a powerful image, insofar as his headache was mine. Read full review
25
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
Even the great Lily Tomlin can't muster a funny reaction to a Polish joke. It's an everything-including-the kitchen-sink comedy -- and the sink has rusty pipes. Read full review
20
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
This time he (Martin) goes through the motions. Read full review
20
Austin ChronicleRussell Smith
What I can't accept, however, is talents such as Reno, Garcia, Tomlin, and Molina wasting away in a movie like this. As punishment for their complete lack of artistic integrity, all four of them should be forced to sit in a room for all eternity watching The Pink Panther 2 over and over. Read full review
10
SalonMary Elizabeth Williams
One of the most dreadfully unnecessary movies in recent memory. Read full review
More From This Movie

36 Critic Reviews

5.2 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 71 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL