Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Inspector Clouseau Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 28, 2017

After collaborating on 1963’s “The Pink Panther” and 1964’s “A Shot in the Dark,” director Blake Edwards and star Peter Sellers were interested in taking a break, moving on to different creative endeavors, switching their attention to 1968’s “The Party.” Producer Walter Mirisch had other plans, determined to bring back Sellers’s bumbling detective Inspector Clouseau even if he couldn’t persuade Sellers to return to the job. Enter Alan Arkin, who takes over the role for “Inspector Clouseau,” with the respected and practiced actor tasked with replicating Sellers in many ways to sustain the franchise, which was growing in popularity with audiences. However, as talented as Arkin is, he does have his thespian limitations, and imitating Sellers-as-Clouseau is one of them.

When trouble comes to England in the form of a crime wave local law enforcement officials can’t handle, the men in charge bring in Inspector Clouseau (Alan Arkin) for help. With his unique brand of sleuthing, Clouseau is tasked with exposing a mole within Scotland Yard and capturing the brazen criminals. However, while successfully thwarting a few potential disasters, Clouseau finds himself in deep trouble when he’s framed by the bandits, who take his identity to complete their latest bank robbery.

With Edwards out of the picture, Bud Yorkin takes directorial control of “Inspector Clouseau,” and the future “Arthur 2: On the Rocks” helmer has the unfortunate task of replicating what’s come before. This means slapstick, tons of it, forcing the production to keep Arkin busy with all types of dangerous situations and tight squeezes, with screenwriters Tom and Frank Waldman (who also co-wrote “The Party”) on a mad quest to put the accident-prone detective in the line of fire. “Inspector Clouseau” is busy but it’s rarely inspired, going through the motions with hoary silliness, including an introduction of the titular character at an airport, with Clouseau exiting an airplane shoeless in the rain, trying desperately to reclaim his footwear while navigating exiting passengers. I’m not sure even Sellers could do something with such lame material, and for this movie, it’s pretty much the best idea the writers come up with.

The screenplay introduces several supporting characters to keep Clouseau on his toes, mixing with villains keeping up with Swinging London style, and there’s Weaver (Frank Finlay), the Inspector’s point man on the case, and his gadget guru. Trying to match the James Bond pop culture push of the 1960s, Clouseau is gifted a collection of secret weapons, including smoke signal matches and a laser. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that everything handed to Clouseau is going to come back into play at some point, but predictability doesn’t bother Yorkin, who’s only after laughs, armed with the least inspired set of jokes.

Inspector Clouseau Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers an encouraging level of detail, which helps to appreciate the feature's attempts at physical comedy, and clarity is also welcome with facial responses, securing what little subtlety there is to find in the movie. And, if you're bored, it's interesting to watch the production manage Arkin's five o'clock shadow, which ranges in visibility during scenes. Colors are capable, delivering bright primaries with costuming and set design, also securing natural skintones. Delineation is satisfactory, never dipping into solidification. Source is in fine shape, only displaying some mild speckling.

Inspector Clouseau Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix delivers the basics for this type of comedy, emphasizing slapstick with louder sound effects, and scoring carries moments, offering decent instrumentation. Dialogue exchanges are acceptable, juggling cartoonish accents and comedic speeds. Hiss is present throughout the listening experience.

Inspector Clouseau Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian William Patrick Maynard.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:12, SD) is included.

Inspector Clouseau Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's tough to blame Arkin for this misfire. He gives the role his all, keeping the mustache and cartoon French accent, trying to live up to the standard of wackiness set by Sellers. He's simply miscast, embarrassing himself with material that's out of his range, flailing mightily as "Inspector Clouseau" endures a slow, painful comedy death -- the victim of a producer who only wanted to keep his cash cow grazing.