Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

2011  PG-13  ACTION  2h 17min

CAST— Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane, Kevin R. McNally, Sam Clafin, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Stephen Graham, Keith Richards, Richard Griffiths, Roger Allam, Judi Dench

MUSIC— Hans Zimmer, Rodrigo y Gabriela  DIRECTOR— Rob Marshall  BASED ON— Walt Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean (Disneyworld attraction)

     Ah, youth! In the fourth of Disney’s successful pirate series Johnny Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow, minus ship and crew. He is soon thrust into all manner of mayhem as he is reunited with Penélope Cruz, a long lost love (or is it lust?) and her quest for the famed fountain of youth. She leads Depp to her father, Blackbeard, pirate of pirates, who longs for eternal life. But they must face the elements, flesh-eating mermaids and shiploads of cutthroats seeking the fountain. Pure escapism, more fun than the last two heavy-handed films combined, though the novelty of Depp’s performance has now been spent. The usual spirited chase scenes and intricate sword play abound, but elements such as new characters and a chilling mermaid feeding frenzy (nary a Disney Princess to be found) keep things fresh. Nothing groundbreaking but fun, nevertheless. Savvy?

OUR RATING— ***

PRECEDED BY— Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)

FOLLOWED BY— Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)