The Pink Panther 2 Blu-ray Review

'The Pink Panther 2' dazzles on Blu-ray with its outstanding video quality, framed at a theatre-like aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The Blu-ray showcases a stellar AVC/MPEG-4 transfer, highlighting the film's vivid and lively color palette and maintaining lifelike skin tones across a range of characters. Viewers can expect a high level of detail, particularly in the picturesque nighttime scenes of Paris, which display deep, solid blacks and excellent contrast. The clarity and sharpness are commendable, with no evidence of artificial enhancement or film grain that distracts from the movie’s visual appeal. This transfer manages to retain the filmic essence, ensuring that the eye-catching details and the overall vibrancy of the scenes truly stand out.

Despite the movie’s shortcomings, its Blu-ray presentation delivers a near-reference experience that boasts high-level detail and dynamic colors. The depth and texture in both brightly lit scenes and darker moments are particularly noteworthy, providing a sense of three-dimensionality that enhances the viewing experience. Rich textures in Parisian streets and a brilliant color reproduction make every scene leap off the screen. However, some inconsistencies in flesh tones and occasional aliasing are minor drawbacks in an otherwise exceptional visual presentation.

The technical prowess extends beyond just the picture quality. The AVC MPEG-4 encode ensures that images are crisply defined and colors are beautifully saturated, even if the film itself fails to fully utilize this visual potential. The absence of notable film grain and the carefully managed sharpening contribute to a clean and immersive experience. Despite some critique over its contrast levels and a less pronounced three-dimensional feel in certain sequences, 'The Pink Panther 2' Blu-ray offers a visually stunning presentation that well exceeds the cinematic value of the film itself.

"The Pink Panther 2" arrives on Blu-ray with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 channel surround track that effectively showcases the film's audio landscape. The mix prioritizes clear, distinct dialogue, ensuring that interactions, including Clouseau's unique 'Franglais', are easily understandable. Dialogue is anchored in the centre channel, maintaining clarity even amidst the film's diverse array of sound effects and ambient noises such as traffic and occasional gunfire. The iconic Pink Panther theme, a highlight of the audio presentation, is delivered with warmth and nostalgia, engaging the main stereo channels to great effect. Despite its overall balance, the mix occasionally incorporates the subwoofer, adding a subtle but appreciated depth to specific moments without overwhelming the sonic environment.

The soundtrack displays its technical prowess with a dynamic range that captures both the subtlety of background details and the punch of more pronounced sound effects with equal finesse. Low frequency effects are used judiciously, enhancing the soundtrack's texture without dominating it. The effective use of ambient sounds contributes to an immersive auditory experience, particularly in sequences designed to showcase the film's vibrant scoring and sound design. Notably, Henry Mancini's legendary theme not only bookends the movie but also underscores its timeless appeal, sounding better than ever in this current audio incarnation.

While mostly centered around dialogue, the audio mix occasionally ventures into more active territory, utilizing the surround channels to envelop the listener. Sound effects, although used sparingly, are well placed within the soundstage, adding to the film's playful tone without distracting from the narrative flow. Ambient sounds and directional effects contribute to a sense of space and location, further elevating the viewing experience. Despite a few instances where accents may muddy the clarity of speech, overall, the audio presentation of "The Pink Panther 2" on Blu-ray is both respectful of its source material and adept at enhancing its comedic elements, making for an enjoyable listening experience.

The Blu-ray release of "The Pink Panther 2" is a mixed bag when it comes to extras, served across a three-disc set. The highlights include a gag reel that, while standard, offers a few chuckles with its behind-the-scenes mishaps. "Drama is Easy...Comedy is Dangerous" and "A Dream Team like no other" are featurettes where the cast and crew lavish praise on their efforts and Steve Martin's comedic prowess, though they might leave viewers wanting more substance rather than self-congratulation. The interactive game "Master Thief - Global Crime Showdown" adds a playful element to the set. However, the absence of a director's commentary is noted and somewhat diminishes the depth of available insights into the film's production. The inclusion of 27 classic Pink Panther cartoons on DVD provides a nostalgic value that arguably overshadows the film-related extras, catering to enthusiasts of the iconic character despite the standard definition presentation. The digital copy, while a standard inclusion, extends the viewing options to portable devices, ensuring fans can enjoy the movie on the go.

Extras included in this disc:

• Gag Reel: A collection of outtakes and mishaps from the movie set.
• Drama is Easy...Comedy is Dangerous: Featurette with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.
• A Dream Team Like no Other: Cast and crew discuss the making of the film.
• Master Thief - Global Crime Showdown: An interactive game challenging players to steal artifacts.
• Bonus Disc 1: DVD containing 27 classic Pink Panther cartoons.
• Bonus Disc 2: Digital Copy for portable media device compatibility.

"The Pink Panther 2" arrives on Blu-ray with a presentation that is likely to be the highlight of the package for any fan hoping to relive—or perhaps discover—the latest escapades of the bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau. The AVC/MPEG-4 transfer shines with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, showcasing vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a level of detail that does justice to every frame. However, it's partnered with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that, while delivering clear dialogue and a subtle use of surrounds for an overall pleasant auditory experience, may not astound those looking for a more dynamic audio showcase typical of more recent cinematic offerings.

The film itself, starring Steve Martin as Clouseau alongside an impressive ensemble including Jean Reno, Alfred Molina, and Andy Garcia, aims to capture the spirit of slapstick and quirky humor that defined the original series. However, it struggles beneath the weight of a script that seems to meander through a series of vignettes rather than a cohesive plot, squandering its potential on predictability and rehashed jokes that rarely hit their mark. Despite an all-star cast's commendable efforts in inhabiting their roles, their talents are ultimately undercut by the film's inability to weave together its narrative and comedic aspirations effectively.

Technical merits aside, "The Pink Panther 2" fails to recapture the charm and wit that made Inspector Clouseau a beloved figure in cinematic comedy. While the Blu-ray offers a commendable visual and audio experience, the movie itself is mired by a script that leaves much to be desired and comedic misfires that even Steve Martin's portrayal cannot salvage. This installment, unfortunately, suggests that perhaps some memories of great characters are better left untouched, as it struggles to find its footing in both humor and storytelling.

"The Pink Panther 2" on Blu-ray presents an intriguing case study in balancing the technical prowess of a home theater release against the content quality of the film itself. Reviewing the overall presentation of the disc, it's evident that the quality of playback equipment and setup can significantly influence the viewing experience. Utilized were top-tier devices including a JVC DLA-RS20 1080p High Definition Front Projector calibrated by Jeff Meier, an Oppo BDP-83 Universal disc/Blu-ray Player for crystal-clear video output, and a high-quality audio setup featuring Denon AVR 5308CI preamp/video processor and Canton Ergo Series speakers among other premium components. These provided an optimal testing environment to evaluate the technical merits of this Blu-ray release.

The film, described as underwhelming in terms of comedy and narrative engagement, proves to be a lackluster sequel, lacking in substance and humor. Despite the movie's predictable plot and sparse comedic moments, MGM's Blu-ray release shines in technical execution, offering excellent video and audio quality that may appeal to audiophiles and videophiles. The package also includes appealing bonus features, notably a generous inclusion of over two dozen Pink Panther cartoons and a digital copy of the film, adding value for collectors or fans of the franchise who might derive enjoyment from these additions despite the film's shortcomings.

In conclusion, while "The Pink Panther 2" fails to deliver as a memorable sequel or stand-alone comedy, the Blu-ray presentation showcases commendable technical quality and offers sufficient bonus content to merit consideration by fans or completists of the series. The high-definition video and audio renderings are particularly praise-worthy, creating an immersive viewing experience that somewhat mitigates the film's narrative and comedic failings. This release underscores the disparity between content quality and presentation excellence, making it a mixed bag that is best appreciated by dedicated fans or those particularly interested in the bonus Pink Panther cartoons.