Jack's Back – 'Pirates' Franchise Returns 'On Stranger Tides'

The only theme park ride to spawn four blockbuster movies, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise returns with "On Stranger Tides." It's competently made and contains some thrills, but you'll probably forget everything about it by the time you get home from the theater.

In the first new 'Pirates' film since 2007, the series has a new director ("Chicago"'s Rob Marshall, stepping in for Gore Verbinski), although Jerry Bruckheimer is still producer and Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott return as screenwriters, adapting a novel by Tim Powers that wasn't originally Jack Sparrow-related. The film is also shorter than its predecessors (at slightly over two hours) and in 3D for the first time.

[A disclaimer: I saw the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" back in 2004 but never saw the second or third film. In my defense, star Johnny Depp admitted in a recent interview that he never caught the last two movies either.]

Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow, introduced inventively escaping from police custody in London. The plot has Jack on the ship of the infamous pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), where he collides with Blackbeard's daughter (Penélope Cruz), an old flame of his. There's also some business involving some murderous mermaids, as well as a search for the Fountain of Youth.

Indeed, the movie contains very little actual seafaring; the first few acts are mostly London palace intrigue, while the last third has a real "Raiders of the Lost Ark" feel to it, especially since mythical golden cups play a big role.

What works in the film are the action and swordfights, which are shot by Marshall with skill and clarity. Marshall's last film was the infamous 2009 musical "Nine"; this won't be nearly the laughingstock that that was. The film also sports excellent music as always, including Hans Zimmer's standout theme.

The performances are fairly strong too, with Depp doing his usual Keith Richards/Steven Tyler impression (and Richards once again showing up in a cameo as his father.) He and Cruz have excellent chemistry whether as lovers or antagonists; the two also played a couple in the 2002 drug saga "Blow," although that movie was made during Cruz's "not really able to act in English yet" phase.

McShane, from "Deadwood," is a strong villain, and Geoffrey Rush delivers a very un-"Kings Speech" turn as Barbarossa, who is feuding with Blackbeard. Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley's young lovers from the early films are nowhere to be found, although newcomer Sam Claflin – a dead ringer for the NBA's Steve Nash – steps into Bloom's shoes as the young suitor of a pretty mermaid (Astrid Berges-Frisbey.)

What doesn't work? The 3D is atrocious – disappearing for long stretches and never adding anything to any scene of the film. The film, while the shortest of the series, still drags in a major way; the third act goes on and on and on, with multiple false endings, including one that is essentially "Casablanca'"s ending.

In conclusion, if you see "On Stranger Tides," you'll probably have a good time, but it's not a likely contender for the Best Movie of the Summer title.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," directed by Rob Marshall and starring Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane, Sam Claflin and Astrid Berges-Frisbey. Rated PG-13; 2 hour, 21 minutes.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" is now playing at:

UA King Of Prussia Stadium 16 & IMAX, 300 Goddard Blvd., King Of Prussia.

Regal Plymouth Meeting 10, 1011 W. Ridge Pike, Conshohocken.

Regal Marketplace at Oaks Stadium 24, 180 Mill Road, Oaks.