Watch Son of the Pink Panther

Son of the Pink Panther is a 1993 comedy film directed by Blake Edwards, starring Roberto Benigni, Herbert Lom, Claudia Cardinale, and a cameo appearance by the late Peter Sellers. It is the seventh and final film in the Pink Panther series, and the only one after Sellers' death in 1980. The story revolves around a bumbling Italian policeman named Jacques Gambrelli (Roberto Benigni), who is the illegitimate son of the late Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers). Gambrelli is assigned to investigate a series of robberies in the wealthy Riviera town of Gstaad, where he meets and falls in love with a beautiful princess (Nicoletta Braschi).

Meanwhile, a notorious international terrorist known as The Tornado (Robert Davi) has arrived in Gstaad, and is planning to steal a valuable pink diamond known as The Pink Panther. The Tornado kidnaps the princess in order to force her father, the king, to hand over the diamond. Gambrelli, having fallen in love with the princess, is determined to save her and stop The Tornado.

The film features Herbert Lom reprising his role as Chief Inspector Dreyfus, who is now retired and living in a mental institution. Claudia Cardinale also makes a return appearance as Maria Gambrelli, the widow of the late Inspector Clouseau and Jacques' mother. Other notable cast members include Debrah Farentino as a journalist, Shabana Azmi as the princess's lady-in-waiting, and Jennifer Edwards (daughter of the director) in a minor role.

One of the unique aspects of this film is the casting of Roberto Benigni in the lead role. Benigni, who was already a successful actor and comedian in Italy at the time, was relatively unknown to American audiences. However, his energetic and physical style of comedy, combined with Edwards' direction, made for a surprisingly effective replacement for Sellers.

The film also features a number of slapstick and physical comedy sequences, as one would expect from a Pink Panther film. One example is a scene in which Gambrelli attempts to capture a suspect but ends up falling through a ceiling, crashing through a skylight, and landing in a swimming pool. Another involves Gambrelli driving a moped full-speed through the streets of Gstaad, with a dummy strapped to the back that he believes is the princess.

Despite its fun and lighthearted nature, the film does have some poignant moments, particularly in regards to the relationships between fathers and sons. Gambrelli's longing for the father he never knew is evident throughout the film, and Dreyfus' desire to be reunited with his own estranged son is a recurring theme.

Overall, Son of the Pink Panther is an entertaining addition to the Pink Panther series, and although it may not be as iconic as some of the Peter Sellers films, it still manages to capture the spirit of the franchise in its own way. With its international setting, talented cast, and nods to the past while still attempting to forge a new path, it is a fitting finale to the Pink Panther saga.

Son of the Pink Panther is a 1993 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.9 and a MetaScore of 33.