So, I was alone in a movie theater waiting for Pink Panther to start, sipping my soda and popping gummy bears. I waited for at least a young mother toting small children to arrive or even hoped for a band of annoying preadolescents who would throw popcorn at me and talk during the movie. I had no such luck. Apparently there isn't much desire to see the latest Steve Martin movie in Happy Valley.

Pink Panther delivers a slapstick humor that will bring at least a chuckle to the most resisting audience members. Although most of the characters took their painful stab at the French accent, I must say Steve Martin's was an especially horrible portrayal. I understand that his character, Inspector Jacques Clouseau, is supposed to be a loving goof who the audience embraces for his ignorance and clumsiness. His over-acting led to the point of his interpretation of a Frenchman was a speech impediment rather than an actual accent.

The constant physical humor of Pink Panther edges toward annoying and expected. Jacques Clouseau is meant to be a harmless, blundering fellow with dumb luck. This was not achieved in the making of this movie and it seemed as though Clouseau was either hurting himself or others more than once in every scene.

The acting by Beyonce is, needless to say, below par. But, she is an international pop star and no one really had high expectations for her as an actress anyway, especially after her performance in the movie Austin Powers: Goldmember. Although, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt, she looks good and attracts viewers, which was the main purpose for her role in the movie .

The plot is a simple one and completely predictable through out the majority of the film. It's Monty Python-esque humor is great for young kids, allowing the mature jokes and punch lines to skim over their heads, but still providing slight entertainment for their parents who are forced to watch. This movie would be good to rent and fall asleep to on a boring Sunday afternoon.

-- Reviewed by Julie Moore