In this installment Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) meets a foil in the form of Angelica (Penélope Cruz). She’s the pirate daughter of the legendary Blackbeard (Ian McShane) and she needs Jack’s help to reach the Fountain of Youth. Meanwhile series friend-or-foe Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) is placed in charge of a British crew racing Sparrow to the prize. Oh, and the Spanish are involved for no apparent reason.
Gone are series staples like stars Keira Knightly and Orlando Bloom as well as director Gore Verbinski. New (to the series) director Rob Marshall sticks with what worked before, with explosions and vibrancy, so this is very much a Jerry Bruckheimer production. In a good call most of the action is toned down, but some of the sprit isn’t quite there. For example there isn’t much of a connection to build up for the initial sword fight between Jack and Angelica, nor is the fight as impressive as Jack’s encounter with Will in The Curse of the Black Pearl. No, everyone here is already a pirate so there’s no time wasted forming a character arcs, not when there be dangerous waters to sail! Still, you can’t knock Depp, Cruz, McShane, and Rush for putting forth the effort.
The Pirates series as become consumed with fantasy elements. It was a major distraction to keep pace with the rules of given magic in Dead Man’s Chest, and though it’s been toned down there isn’t much comfort or simplicity to be found in On Stranger Tides. In many cases contrived lore raises more questions than it answers. Since when did downed ships become collectible souvenirs? Why would a silver chalice form an explorer who didn’t reach the Fountain of Youth carry the power of something derived from the location?
The effects are just as good as always, with well-tuned CGI and in the case of this film even some well used makeup and practical effects (the previous pair suffered from CGI overload). This time however everything is tuned for 3D. The Avatar cameras are in use and Blackbeard’s sword pointing it mildly POV. Granted, this reviewer didn’t see the 3D incarnation because the only offering to me cost an arm and a leg, but I’m comfortable in saying that if 3D is your bag you should be satisfied.
Strange for On Stranger Tides, I didn’t feel a great deal of wit and charm. Oh there is adventure and fighting. The violence is mostly cartoonish, but sometimes graphic for a Disney production; you get the idea that a man is burned alive but not a great view. It may pale in comparison to the original, but Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is one of the more enjoyable in a series where lightning hasn’t struck twice. **½
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