THE SETTING: The Cubicles of DVDPlanet

ME: (Whining) Steve Martin made another Pink Panther movie?

CUBEMATE NANCY: I can’t wait to buy it!

ME: Steve Martin used to be a comic genius. Can’t he make anything original any more?

CUBEMATE NANCY: Didn’t you see the first one? It was hysterical. My daughter and I watch it all the time.

ME: (Nebbish) I almost never watch remakes–especially when they were so good the first time. I saw all of the original Pink Panthers, and there will never be an Inspector Jacques Clouseau like Peter Sellers.

CUBEMATE NANCY: You’ve got to see it. It’s really good. Steve Martin hasn’t been this funny in years.

ME: (Arrogantly defiant) Cubemate Nancy, I used to respect you and your taste in movies. I don’t know if I ever can again.

–FAST FORWARD SEVERAL MONTHS–

Between a lack of mainstream movie releases and a secret curiosity kindled by Cubemate Nancy, I carted “The Pink Panther 2” home for the weekend.

And now…and ohhhhh how it pains me…I must admit…Cubemate Nancy is right. “The Pink Panther 2″ is good. Funny even…. Really funny.

The framework of the movie is pretty simple. A thief named The Tornado has stolen the world’s greatest treasures, including the Pink Panther diamond. A dream team of detectives has been assembled, with Clouseau named the lead investigator.

I don’t think I’ve laughed this hard at anything Steve Martin has done since “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.” His verbal timing is back, but his physical comedy is off the chart! Where has he been hiding it all these years?

The script, which Martin co-wrote, is a throw back to a more screwball style that’s rarely seen these days. You actually have to listen to get the most out of it. But even if you don’t, the sight gags will make up for it.

Martin does most of his own stunts, too. The special features interviews reveal that he does about 80% of his own stunts, which is pretty impressive given the physicality of the movie and the fact Martin is almost 64.

My favorite scene was when Clouseau takes a woman out to dinner and ends up tipping over a floor-to-ceiling wine rack. As the bottles start to fall out, he begins to catch and juggle them with the wait staff throughout the entire restaurant. The first time I saw it I wasn’t impressed because–jaded as I am–I thought it was all CGI. After watching the “Making Of” featurette, I learned it was all real. I was blown away! It is an impressive scene with all of the people involved.

Joining Martin in this fun romp from Paris to Rome and back are Jean Reno, Andy Garcia, John Cleese, Lily Tomlin, Jeremy Irons and Emily Mortimer, who–along with Reno–was also in the first remake.

For fans of the original movies, there are plenty of nods. Clouseau no longer has a Japanese man servant named Cato. But one of the ace detectives on his team is Japanese and Clouseau refers to him affectionately as his “little yellow friend” as Sellers referred to Cato. (Clouseau is then sent to sensitivity training.) Also, as Clouseau has let Reno’s character crash at his place with his two sons…who happen to be karate experts…you can expect a good indoor surprise attack on Clouseau like in the old days.

There also seem to be nods to other film comedies such as “The Naked Gun” series.

I admit I miss and prefer Herbert Lom’s Inspector Dreyfus to John Cleese’s. I also miss Cato. A certain Blake Edwards’ flair is missing, too. (Edwards created the original Pink Panthers–my favorite being “The Pink Panther Strikes Again.”) Perhaps it is the adult humor. Edwards never pandered to a younger crowd as Martin does.

Yet, I must remember this isn’t old home week, and “The Pink Panther 2” stands on its own. As much as I was convinced it wouldn’t be, “The Pink Panther 2″ is pretty good.