Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides
Director: Rob Marshall
Cast: Johnny Depp, Pen茅lope Cruz, Ian McShane
Rated: PG-13
Running time: 120 min.
In a recent interview Johnny Depp summed up his feelings about the second and third Pirates films with this on-set conversation he started.
"'I don't really know what this means,'" he said.
"Gore Verbinski said, 'Neither do I, but let's just shoot it.' This guy is this guy's dad, and this guy was in love with this broad. It was like, 'What?'"
But the question here is not whether the first one was good and the following efforts were convoluted cash-grab garbage. Everyone pretty much agrees on that. But now we have to ask ourselves, "Just how good is the fourth instalment of a film based on a child's theme park ride?" Well, with that attitude buster it's actually not that bad.
Like the three before, this movie is all about humongous set pieces and the family-friendly violence only the Disney Corp. can give you. Likewise, this film has everyone's favourite drunk muppetesque pirate, Johnny Depp, as Jack Sparrow. Unlike the three predecessors, however, this film has thankfully dropped the senselessly entwined plotlines, focusing more on just straightforward fun. Stranger Tides also ditched the insipidly annoying tacked-on romance of Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley.
But perhaps this outing rekindles the fun of the original because it has one of the best old, evil, cranky guys out there, Ian McShane, playing Blackbeard. The plot is exceedingly simple as it's pretty much just Jack Sparrow getting himself in and out of trouble for a straight two hours while looking for the fountain of youth.
Sure, it's still spring, but if you're hankering for a brainless, entertaining summer popcorn movie, fill your tub and enjoy.
