Anybody who likes the Pink Panther cartoons are very likely to get a kick of the Inspector series. Count me as somebody who does like Pink Panther, if more the 60s cartoons than the ones from particularly the mid 70s onwards which were not as funny, looked cheaper and were more routine and formulaic. Found myself liking The Inspector cartoons just as much as the 60s Pink Panther cartoons as a child, like them even more through adult eyes.
'Cirrhosis of the Louvre', love that wonderfully corny title, is not one of the best The Inspector cartoons. It is an improvement over the fairly underwhelming 'Napoleon Blown-Aparte', with it being funnier and having a superior villain. But at the same time it's not as great as the first two cartoons 'The Great De Gaulle Stone Operation' and 'Reaux Reaux Reaux Your Boat', which were more imaginative and consistently funnier. The same strengths seen in those cartoons can be seen here but with a few problems that stop it from being on the same level.
The story is silly and predictable, even by The Inspector series standards, and some of the material could have had more variety which would have made 'Cirrhosis of the Louvre' feel fresher.
Do agree too that the ending, or at least the outcome, is groan-worthy, though the lead up to it was funny.
On the other hand, 'Cirrhosis of the Louvre' has a good deal to like. Drawn in the unmistakable DePatie-Freleng style, the animation is great. Fairly simple in terms of drawing but never ugly, while the somewhat abstract backgrounds have nice attention to detail, more so than the Pink Panther cartoons (not a knock at all on the animation of that series), and don't look sparse. But it is the deep and rich colours that stand out in this regard. With the music, the opening titles are classic, while the music accompanying the action, while not enhancing is not discordant at all with it either. Liked its jazzy slinkiness and it did not sound cheap either.
Liked the humour on the most part, though it could have been fresher. There is slapstick physical comedy, which is violent but not in a sadistic way, it is never vulgar, sharply timed, well timed and most importantly of all it's funny. Even better is the verbal humour, whether the more ironic moments, the mumblings or The Inspector's frustrations with Deux Deux, appreciated the word-play being subtle yet witty. Also great is the chemistry between The Inspector and Deux Deux (two great characters, love too the frustrations of the Commissioner). The Inspector's bumbling brings a great deal of amusement in the more slapstick-driven moments and did like that there was also a subtle irony in much of the comedy. This is beautifully and often hilariously contrasted with that of the more laid back and amusingly confused Deux Deux, one of the few characters in existence to make mumblings funny and not irritating or being over-whiny when complaining. Their interplay is a delight.
In 'Cirrhosis of the Louvre', the Commissioner also entertains, but it is one of the series' most amusing villains in The Blotch that is the real scene stealer. The Blotch also provides some of the cartoon's best moments, all to do with his methods of stealing. Pat Harrington Jr voices both The Inspector and Deux Deux and does wonderfully in providing the necessary energy and managing to differentiate the two voices that is important in making the contrast between the two believable. Paul Frees does great voicing the Commissioner for the first time.
Summarising, good but not great. 7/10
'Cirrhosis of the Louvre', love that wonderfully corny title, is not one of the best The Inspector cartoons. It is an improvement over the fairly underwhelming 'Napoleon Blown-Aparte', with it being funnier and having a superior villain. But at the same time it's not as great as the first two cartoons 'The Great De Gaulle Stone Operation' and 'Reaux Reaux Reaux Your Boat', which were more imaginative and consistently funnier. The same strengths seen in those cartoons can be seen here but with a few problems that stop it from being on the same level.
The story is silly and predictable, even by The Inspector series standards, and some of the material could have had more variety which would have made 'Cirrhosis of the Louvre' feel fresher.
Do agree too that the ending, or at least the outcome, is groan-worthy, though the lead up to it was funny.
On the other hand, 'Cirrhosis of the Louvre' has a good deal to like. Drawn in the unmistakable DePatie-Freleng style, the animation is great. Fairly simple in terms of drawing but never ugly, while the somewhat abstract backgrounds have nice attention to detail, more so than the Pink Panther cartoons (not a knock at all on the animation of that series), and don't look sparse. But it is the deep and rich colours that stand out in this regard. With the music, the opening titles are classic, while the music accompanying the action, while not enhancing is not discordant at all with it either. Liked its jazzy slinkiness and it did not sound cheap either.
Liked the humour on the most part, though it could have been fresher. There is slapstick physical comedy, which is violent but not in a sadistic way, it is never vulgar, sharply timed, well timed and most importantly of all it's funny. Even better is the verbal humour, whether the more ironic moments, the mumblings or The Inspector's frustrations with Deux Deux, appreciated the word-play being subtle yet witty. Also great is the chemistry between The Inspector and Deux Deux (two great characters, love too the frustrations of the Commissioner). The Inspector's bumbling brings a great deal of amusement in the more slapstick-driven moments and did like that there was also a subtle irony in much of the comedy. This is beautifully and often hilariously contrasted with that of the more laid back and amusingly confused Deux Deux, one of the few characters in existence to make mumblings funny and not irritating or being over-whiny when complaining. Their interplay is a delight.
In 'Cirrhosis of the Louvre', the Commissioner also entertains, but it is one of the series' most amusing villains in The Blotch that is the real scene stealer. The Blotch also provides some of the cartoon's best moments, all to do with his methods of stealing. Pat Harrington Jr voices both The Inspector and Deux Deux and does wonderfully in providing the necessary energy and managing to differentiate the two voices that is important in making the contrast between the two believable. Paul Frees does great voicing the Commissioner for the first time.
Summarising, good but not great. 7/10
