The Pink Panther

Starring Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Beyoncé Knowles. Rated PG

You gotta see this if: You’ve never been able to get the staff at fast food restaurants to understand you.

final analysis: ** I’m trying to hold back a rant on remakes, but let me just say that Hollywood continues to beat a dead horse. . . or, in this case, a dead panther. Not that “The Pink Panther” is devoid of laughs. There’s a few good chuckles scattered here and there, but you’ve probably already seen the best moments in the highly publicized movie trailers. Overall, this panther is a very pale pink. Martin’s over-the-top energy can’t revive a tired script. Steve Martin is always at his best when playing characters whose humanity and vulnerability balance his wild and crazy physical comedy. “The Pink Panther” lets Martin express his physical talents but his under-developed character feels like a “Saturday Night Live” sketch. Beyoncé plays a pop star (big stretch here) and murder suspect who is given little to do except serve as decoration. I’d recommend sticking with the 1964 original “Pink Panther” movie or for a Steve Martin fix, pop in a video of “Roxanne,” truly Martin at his best.

Curious George

Starring Will Ferrell, Drew Barrymore, Joan Plowright. Rated G

You gotta see this if: You can’t bear to watch your kids’ “Teletubbies” or “Rolie Polie Olie” videos one more time.

final analysis: *** “Curious George” is firmly geared toward the under 10 crowd. I find this refreshing. I’m tired of taking my four-year-old to “kids’ movies” sprinkled with sexual subtext and pop-culture references. Of course, this means that many adults will find “Curious George” slow, sappy, and boring. Tough! Take your kids; they’ll love it and won’t be suffering from ADD after leaving the theater. Anyone familiar with the popular “Curious George” books released in the ‘40s will find the movie usually stays true to the authors’ vision in both mood and character. George is the cute monkey that demonstrates the fun and follies that come with insatiable curiosity. Will Ferrell gives a calmer than usual performance as the voice of the man in the yellow hat who does his best to reign in George’s antics while delighting in them at the same time. The storyline is simple and predictable, as were the books, but the magic is George who represents every child that loves him.

Firewall

Starring Harrison Ford, Paul Bettany. Rated PG-13

You gotta see this if: You loved Han Solo and Indiana Jones and refuse to believe that Harrison Ford is ready for the senior specials at Denny’s.

final analysis: ** It’s Jack, it’s Chloe, it’s. . . not “24” but it wants to be. This Jack isn’t Bauer or even Ryan from Ford’s Tom Clancy adaptations, but Jack Stanfield, a Seattle-based executive techie, responsible for his bank’s security system. When the bad guys take his wife and children hostage so Jack will help them rob the bank, predictable cat and mouse hijinks ensue. We Northwesterners may get a few thrills from seeing the on-location city scenes where the rain falls so heavily, the film might have been shot last month. But, for the most part, the thrills are few and far between. “Firewall” is a paint-by-numbers flick with Harrison Ford looking a bit long in the tooth for the requisite action sequences. Perhaps he should try Mick Jagger’s personal trainer, or better still, transition to more sedate character roles. Mary Lynn Rajskub, from “24” plays Jack’s assistant and gives one of the best performances in the movie. She should have been the one to kick bad guy butt in the high impact ending; 63-year-old Ford appeared on the verge of heart failure.