INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU is the third in the series of Pink Panther movies, and notably one that doesn't feature Peter Sellers as Clouseau or Blake Edwards as director. As such, it's received a heck of a lot of criticism over the years, but I find such criticism unfounded. This is a perfectly serviceable comedy of the era with a nicely farcical feel to it. Alan Arkin is a good subsitute as the lead, not as funny as Sellers was in A SHOT IN THE DARK, but the film overall is funnier and faster than the first in the series, THE PINK PANTHER. The criminal hijinks allow for strong performances from minor stars of the era including Barry Foster and Michael Ripper, and Frank Finlay is good value as the straight man.

A crime wave has hit Britain and a police mole is suspected. The Prime Minister orders Scotland Yard to call in Insp. Jacques Clouseau (Alan Arkin) to take over the investigation. Supt. Weaver (Frank Finlay) is ordered to assist him.

After the first two movies, neither Blake Edwards nor Peter Sellers returns and the show goes on without them. Even Henry Mancini's score is missing. It's an oddity and quite jarring at first. It does have the great Alan Arkin and he wins me over eventually. His slapstick and comedy is at a comparable level to Peter Sellers. It has its fun but one must relax over the missing icons from their own franchise.

I think you know the main reason why I have rated this film one star, just like the further films after his death, it does not have Peter Sellers in the starring. Instead they have an idiotic Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine's Oscar winning actor) as Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau. He is not funny, he does not have the same clumsiness and slight idiocy, and I think he was pretty rubbish as the accent. If he did the cartoons however, then it should of just been left like that and not make him into live action. Also I can't remember what the mission actually was in the film, so no wonder he is rubbish. Also starring Worzel Gummidge's Geoffrey Bayldon as Gutch, although that doesn't help. Poor!