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For Shawn Levy, one early project played a major role in shaping how he approaches comedy on screen. While he has directed everything from blockbuster adventures to superhero hits, he says working on 'The Pink Panther' changed the way he thinks about filming funny moments.
The 57-year-old director explains that the 2006 crime comedy taught him an important lesson: the camera itself can be part of the joke.
'The Pink Panther' Inspires Shawn Levy
He often thinks back to a scene in which Inspector Clouseau, played by Steve Martin, is trailing Beyoncé's character through New York City. Trying to avoid being recognised, Clouseau suddenly shouts newspapers and lifts a large newspaper to cover his face. Because his view is blocked, he fails to notice a subway entrance and tumbles down the stairs.
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Image Courtesy: IMDb
Shawn Levy recalls that the film came early in his career and pushed him to think differently about framing. At first, he considered shooting the fall from multiple angles, including showing a stunt performer falling from behind and then toward the camera. But that moment led to a realisation: the camera is not just recording the joke, it helps deliver it. He discovered that keeping the shot simple often makes the gag land even better.
Shawn Levy's Approach to Shooting Comedy Scenes
Over time, Levy says he learned that overly complicated camera moves can distract from the humour. In the Clouseau scene, the uninterrupted frame makes it funnier because the audience clearly sees that he cannot spot the stairs with the newspaper covering his face.
Years later, Shawn Levy applied that same thinking while directing 'Deadpool & Wolverine.' In one large action sequence, Deadpool, played by Ryan Reynolds, battles dozens of versions of himself. Levy used a similarly clean, continuous wide shot to capture the chaos, allowing the humour and action to unfold naturally. He credits 'The Pink Panther' as the starting point of his education in film comedy and understanding how the camera should actively participate in telling the joke.
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Image Courtesy: Shawn Levy/ Instagram
Shawn Levy on Rebooting 'The Pink Panther'
The 2006 comedy also featured Beyoncé, along with a cast that included Jean Reno, Kevin Kline, Emily Mortimer and Henry Czerny. Levy says that when they rebooted the beloved franchise, everyone involved respected the legacy they were stepping into, especially the screenplay written by Martin. At the same time, the team was determined to have fun and bring that energy to audiences.
Shawn Levy admits they knew rebooting a classic carried risks and might draw criticism. But when audiences embraced the film and Martin's fresh take on Clouseau, it felt incredibly rewarding.
Originally released on 10th February 2006, 'The Pink Panther' remains available to stream today, continuing to influence comedy filmmakers nearly two decades later.
