Poor Steve Martin...

I made the mistake of seeing "The Pink Panther" last night. I honestly didn't think that a movie could be so terrible. For the first time in over a decade, I walked out halfway through a movie. It was that bad.

But, you're probably wondering what would lead me to slander such a movie. How could a Steve Martin movie, based on a classic Peter Sellers movie be so poor?

First off, Steve Martin is the worst casting decision for Inspector Clouseau. He simply doesn't fit the bill. Being a funny guy doesn't automatically make you perfect for any comedic role. I actually feel sorry for Steve. It wasn't his fault that his French accent was laughable, or that the script asked him to perform the same witless joke over... and over... and over...

Wait a minute... It is! He co-authored the screenplay. In light of this new evidence, I have only one thing to say to Mr. Martin: "What the heck were you thinking?!"

What happened to Steve's old comedic roles? Movies like "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" and "Father of the Bride"? He was genuinely funny in those. The common denominator was that he put himself in a serious role, surrounded by comedy. He was a regular guy trying to make it in a crazy world. It just doesn't work when everyone in the movie is acting like a total goof.

Ah well... Take heart if you do plan on seeing the movie anyway. The opening credits feature an entertaining animated short featuring the cartoon Pink Panther, which gave me a few chuckles. It's just too bad that the opening credits were the best part of the movie.