Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
The famous Pink Panther jewel has once again been stolen and Inspector Clouseau is called in to catch the thief. The Inspector is convinced that 'The Phantom' has returned and utilises all of his resources – himself and his Asian manservant – to reveal the identity of 'The Phantom'.
Peter Sellers is the undeniable heart of this film, delivering a comedic performance of rare physical and verbal genius that elevates the material well above its formulaic premise. The plot is a largely recycled caper — jewel theft, bumbling inspector, mistaken identities — that follows the established Pink Panther template without meaningful innovation, earning a low Novelty score as a fairly by-the-numbers sequel. The cinematography is competent and makes good use of Côte d'Azur locations but is unremarkable by craft standards. The ending resolves things adequately if predictably, with a few good gags but no real surprise. The film's enduring charm rests almost entirely on Sellers's extraordinary comedic invention.