Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Rating: ***

Let’s face it, had it all ended with the third film, no one would have been too disappointed. At World’s End rounded things off quite nicely, and by making a fourth, it feels like it’s all being raked up again. The film is no doubt better than the third instalment, although that’s not exactly an incentive to see it.

So, what have we got? Well, Jack’s back again, minus a few key characteristics. His dreads are longer, and for some reason he’s sporting a few blonde highlights, but it’s still the same old Jack and he’s still searching for the Pearl; not all that different from the first film, then!

The plot mainly seems to revolve around Jack’s elaborate escape plans, which become more and more absurd as the story progresses; but, frankly, realistic was never going to be this film’s watchword.

The dynamic between Geoffrey Rush and Johnny Depp is what keeps the film afloat, though Barbossa’s new role as a Naval Captain is ridiculously improbable. Other new characters lack depth, and add little to the storyline. Character development is severely stunted, especially with the introduction of Penelope Cruz as Sparrow’s past love interest, predictably providing nothing but eye candy. There is little chemistry between the pair, and their back story seems random and fairly pointless. (In fact, “random and fairly pointless” pretty much sums up the entire film.)

It’s only the inclusion of mermaids that brings the whole thing up a few notches; it was that supernatural edge, after all, that charmed us in the first film. Once again, Jack’s one-liners come out thick and fast, although while they were once witty, fresh and well-placed, they now feel much more forced.

Disney’s head of production, Oren Aviv, had said that he wanted “to scale [the film] down,” making it less complicated than its predecessors. But quite honestly, if this is what he calls small, then I dread to think what he calls big. His aim was to “bring it down to its core,” showing “just characters” and if he has judged it on the success of this alone, the film is way off the mark. Even more concerning is his hope that it will be “the first of another trilogy”; if this thought fills you with dread, then you are not alone. The end of this film is satisfying and appropriate enough for this to be the end of the series.

So, if all you want to do is sit back and watch an action-packed comedy with a bit of romance thrown in here and there, then by all means give On Stranger Tides a go. All in all, it’s harmless and manages to restore the Pirates series to something vaguely resembling its former glory. If you can accept it for what it is – an escapist kid’s film – then all things considered, it’s an entertaining way to pass a couple of hours.