Jack Sparrow and Barbossa embark on a quest to find the elusive fountain of youth, only to discover that Blackbeard and his daughter are after it too.
The temptation to do something fresh is often outweighed by the fear of losing whatever it was that made it successful in the first place. This tries to do both, but ends up just trying too hard.
Not as incomprehensible, or interminable, or rubbish as At World’s End, but no amount of flash and filigree can conceal a disappointingly soulless, directionless adventure-by-numbers. All swash, no buckle: welcome back to the theme park ride that NEVER ENDS...
Not for the first time, we’re at the mercy of too much clutter, a script with scurvy, and a blockbuster you could accuse of languishing. Landlubbing, even. Whose idea of a pirate’s life is this?
At least On Stranger Tides aspires towards coherence.
There are rare moments when the old sense of fun resurfaces, but On Stranger Tides is another gigantic waste of time, talent and treasure.
Puts the fun back into one of the most popular blockbuster series of the past decade.
Not as bad as the second two films, then, but still not a touch on the first.
An overly complicated plot and poorly thought-out characters detract from the flashes of charm that Cap’n Jack still emits. Despite quality set-pieces and the best efforts of the cast, this is dull and crossbones.
Despite the new characters, Pirates goes through the same old motions, like some ultra-expensive pantomime with A-list stars.
Has now jumped the shark.
Some might find their enthusiasm for the Pirates films sinking. I have to say that mine is still there, just about. Depp's Sparrow is a genuinely funny character and Depp still puts the ho-ho into yo-ho-ho.
More likely they will run the numbers from the box-office and ask themselves why they shouldn't go for the fifth. Here's a reason: it has become an unspeakable bore.
Listless and listing, this is the weakest of the series. Please, Johnny, no more.
Yo ho hopeless.
The filmmakers...have steadied the sinking ship, even if it's not the wholly original new course some may have hoped for.
Depp is just fine, but strange as it may sound, there’s actually too much of him here.
Probably too big to fail at the box-office, but there's something horribly arrogant about the way it blithely assumes we'll be left begging for more by its refusal to tie up any of the plot strands.
There's already talk of a fifth in the series. Just bring me the plank, now, and be done with it.
I'm sure it will prove popular, and a shot that follows the endless final credits is virtually a trailer for a fifth film, presumably to be called Pirates of the Caribbean: Plumbing New Depps.
Depp back on high seas for 'Pirates of the Caribbean' latest
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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