Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides

Johnny Depp is back in black eyeliner, with a new slew o’ mateys, and as always, he shines and swaggers as Jack Sparrow, the ultimate trickster who charms his way in and out of trouble. This time, it’s rough sailing when he ends up on the ship of legendary pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane). The evil Blackbeard forces our fave cap’n to help him find the elusive Fountain of Youth to avoid prophecies of his own murder. Along the way, they encounter a scorned lover (Penélope Cruz as Angelica), menacing mermaids, and plenty of good, if not so clean, pirate fun. As a stand-alone film, this would be amusing enough. But it was hard to be excited about a movie that offered only a slightly different experience from the previous three installments. From the sailing ships to the sword fights, I couldn’t help but think I’d seen it all before. And when it didn’t feel familiar, it often felt convoluted with unnecessary sub-plots and confusing sequences. But No. 4 is certainly entertaining. The film knows it’s a spectacle, and it succeeds in that respect. Cinemark 14, Feather River Cinemas and Paradise Cinema 7. Rated PG-13