Ahoy, Johnny Depp is back for the fourth installment, the hopeful reboot of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. This tale is darker than usual with an attention to crafting a story. In the latest film, a few familiar faces are back but Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightly are sorely missed. The hope is vested in British actor Sam Clafin appealing to the teeny bopper crowd as Bloom served well. With Knightly out, the Oscar caliber actress in is Penelope Cruz. Ian McShane plays the dreadful yet enchanting character of Black Beard. Geoffrey Rush is steadfast in providing a good performance as Barbossa. Alas, we cannot forget Mr. Depp. He is likeable as usual and that is a bit of the problem. Captain Jack Sparrow is cliché. His drunken jester movements are still fun to watch but there is nothing truly fresh given to the role. Of course in the first Pirates film everything about Sparrow was fresh, new and outlandishly delightful. Johnny Depp can do Captain Jack Sparrow with the ease of putting on the most comfortable clothes. The only thing truly fresh about the film is the spin of mermaids.
What is good about the film is that it is better than the third. What is bad?? We've been there done that with Jack Sparrow. The ugly is the new depicted persona of the mermaid which is quite good. Audiences are likely to eat this imaginative offering to the film.
The Food: In one scene Captain Jack is taunted with being within arms reach of table set for a King. Yet the one thing that really catches Captain Jack’s eye is a cream puff. If this movie winds up being a rental for you then fix a decadent meal fit for a king and finish it off with a cream puff.
