The famed inept French police officer, Inspector Jacques Clouseau, got a makeover in the reboot movie of The Pink Panther. The character became a hit after the original 1963 comedy movie and the following film in 1976, and many fans fondly recall the franchise's suave and alluring animated pink panther mascot.
Steve Martin portrayed the role on the big screen in 2006 and 2009, and despite the movies not receiving good reviews, they became fan favorites and they are both full of charm, reckless comedy and laugh-out-loud moments. Inspector Jacques Clouseau may not be the most poised, but he is always the right detective for the job and there are countless comical scenes in the two newer films that keep fans laughing, from beginning to end.
Chief Inspector Dreyfus In The Bathroom
At the beginning of the second movie, The Pink Panther 2, Chief Inspector Dreyfus (John Cleese) meets with the head of the French government. There's a master thief on the loose stealing the world's precious artifacts. The world governments fear more artifacts will be stolen and assembles a "Dream Team" of renowned detectives from around the world.
At first, Dreyfus is honored to be considered a part of the team. But he's not. The government is asking for Jacques Clouseau. Dreyfus is perplexed and excuses himself to the restroom. Where he promptly smashes his head repeatedly into the wall and sink before regaining this cool and flushing the toilet.
Clouseau Becomes A Salsa Dancer
Clouseau and his partner go on their own stakeout to keep an eye on a possible suspect. His partner already informed him that he planted a bug at their table in order to listen in on their conversation. Things get complicated when Clouseau sees his girlfriend on a date with another "Dream Team" detective.
Riddled with jealousy, Clouseau wants to move the bug to her table. The problem is he's banned from the restaurant due to having set it on fire months prior. So he goes in disguise as a salsa dancer. This becomes a comical moment, as he can't dance, and so he stomps on the tables and ends up setting the restaurant on fire - again.
Clouseau And Nicole Misinterptreted Moment
Certain situations can be taken out of context. When Nicole (Emily Mortimer), Clouseau's secretary, gets him a cup of water in his home, she notices a bowl of hard-boiled eggs. She asks if she can have them because she didn't have lunch, to which Clouseau says of course.
But Nicole starts to choke and so Clouseau goes in for the Heimlich maneuver. At that moment, Clouseau's partner arrives. From the angle and body movements, he thinks they are engaged in a certain intimate moment. It continues when Nicole asks how good Clouseau got so good at doing it, to which Clouseau answers "with simple practice."
The Interrogation Of Bizu
Clouseau and his partner learn that one of the French soccer team's players has a grudge against the murder victim. Bizu (William Abadie) was once in a relationship with the coach's girlfriend and believes he stole her away. Clouseau decides to use an old interrogation technique against Bizu: good cop, bad cop.
But he doesn't seem to know that the technique is supposed to be done by two different detectives and instead he does it alone. The scene is one of the best when it comes to memorable interrogations, but it gets better. Clouseau retrieves an electric shocking device. Bizu is wary and scared and asks how it works. Clouseau, not being so bright, demonstrates and ends up electrifying his own genitalia.
Clouseau Pretends To Be The Pope
Seeing as in the second movie, there's an Italian detective on the team, it made sense to take the storyline to Rome. This time, the theft involved the Pope of the Catholic church. In the middle of the night, the Pope's (Yevgeni Lazarev) famed ring is stolen. The "Dream Team" is called in, but Clouseau makes a spectacle of himself.
He wants to recreate the night before and dresses in the Pope's robes. Wearing the full ensemble, he goes out onto the balcony. But the tourists and civilians below have no idea that it's not really the Pope. Clouseau goes in and out twice before tripping and falling off the balcony and everyone believes that the actual Pope is falling.
The Dance In The Camouflage Suit
A comical moment in the first Pink Panther movie is the dance near the end. Clouseau has been disgraced and uninvited from the grand celebration party. He cracked the case and knows who the real killer is. But in order to get in, he and his partner need a disguise.
Clouseau is always prepared and has two skin-tight suits that match the curtains of the palace. It's hilarious to see both detectives try to blend in, but when they're caught, in order to trick the officer, they pretend to be Xania's dancers. What ensues is a bizarre dance moment and even slapping Xania's backside! Xania was played by renowned artist Beyoncé in one of her earliest acting roles.
When Clouseau Tries A Hamburger
Clouseau, at first, believes that a hamburger is a disgusting American food. But now in the Big Apple, his partner buys him one and it's love at first bite. Clouseau falls in love with the mouthwatering taste and what makes the scene funny is how it is set up.
As soon as he takes a bite, there's music, erotic facial expressions, and it's as if the world is spinning around him. His newfound love for burgers also prompts a following comical scene at the airport as he smuggles them on board, leading to disaster.
Clouseau Can't Pronounce "Hamburger"
After following Xania to the concrete city that is New York, Clouseau instructs his partner to get him the best speech coach in the world. He wants to blend in, but his heavy French accent proves to be an issue. The coach tries to teach him the phrase "I want to buy a hamburger."
But Clouseau can't pronounce "hamburger" and there's a rapid-fire back and forth to try and get it right. Each time, he only mispronounces it worse until it becomes too frustrating. His mispronunciation becomes a running gag.
The Fart In The Recording Booth
If there's one main comical scene that the first Pink Panther movie became known for, it's when Clouseau needs to let out some air. This is when he first meets Xania and becomes enamored by her. So enamored that he becomes gassy.
He was told that the recording booth was soundproof, but Clouseau is a bit too dimwitted to understand what this means exactly. He goes into the booth and lets it rip and then tries to act aloof, but everyone in the room heard him.
The Sexual Misconduct Lesson
When it comes to vital moral code, Clouseau is a bit behind. Due to the "Dream Team" being an international spectacle, a new employee is instated who is meant to advise the team on political and social correctness. Clouseau makes a comment about it being nice to have a sexy woman in high heels walk around the building.
This is his first strike. The instructor explains that a man should never make remarks about a women's body and she conducts an exercise. She details a young woman bending over to retrieve her pencil. The tight blouse parts, revealing her chest. The scene continues and Clouseau was meant to keep a neutral face, but he fails horribly.