Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides attempts to bring back the magic of the first installment while presumably attempting to kick start a new trilogy of films. This installment is standalone and while it hits the familiar notes of previous movies it seems to be doing so in a paint by numbers fashion that gives the audience what it expects but does so without as much charm and fun. This new installment is competent but ultimately falls short of the original.

The story opens with Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) attempting to rescue his old first mate Gibbs (Kevin McNally)  from the gallows and in short order finds himself conscripted by Black Bead (Ian McShane) and his daughter Angelica (Penelope Cruz) to find the Fountain of Youth after a prophecy predicted that Black Beard would be killed by a one legged man. As it happens, Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) has not only lost a leg in the space between movies but he has also found himself given a command in the British Fleet as a Privateer and tasked with beating the Spanish to find the Fountain of Youth. Barbossa has a bone to pick with Black Beard as well given that it was Black Beard who took Barbossa’s leg and the Black Pearl. Adventure and double crosses abound as all parties involved race to find the fountain.

So this is a tough movie to really write about if only because it was just okay. I didn’t hate it and I didn’t love it. It doesn’t manage to achieve its ultimate goal of getting the series back on track but it did correct some of the issues that plagued the last two films. The biggest problem is that this movie is just going through the motions of what the series is supposed to accomplish and has not managed to bring along much of the fun or excitement. That On Stranger Tides occasionally manages to capture a moment or sequence that feels like the original movie’s charm only makes it worse. I really loved Curse of the Black Pearl and each subsequent film has lost magic. This one is better than the second two in many ways but still doesn’t even vaguely approach the first.

It is also kind of strange to have a real historic figure in the mix with Black Beard given that the films are so steeped in magic and the paranormal. This film doesn’t get as ridiculous as the second two  films making Pirates some sort of mystical and noble roguish heroes but it does have a lot of nautical magic going on from Black Beard’s magic sword that lets him control boats to mermaids. This gets a little bit tiresome as it gives the writers an out once they’ve written themselves into a corner. That Edward Teach really existed drove a bit of a wedge in the suspension of disbelief for me but then again I am very in to historical pirates and I might not be as open minded to  that point.

Even removing my bias, On Stranger Tides seems to be trying way too hard to replicate things that worked the first time out and didn’t spend nearly enough time doing anything new to justify its existence outside of the desire for more money. I am not sure if this is a lack of creativity or a lack of effort or some combination of both but the feeling that I had when I walked out of the theater was that the series has really run out of steam.

All that being said, the film isn’t terrible. It still has a lot of really gorgeous photography, some exciting action scenes and some funny moments. There aren’t nearly enough of these to keep pace with the best of the series but it isn’t completely flat either. The action is well choreographed even if occasionally it feels bogged down with the need for upping the spectacle ante. This is kind of impressive given that Rob Marshall hasn’t handled an action movie before. His pacing and shot selection are great and the movie clips along at just the right place. Likewise, the effects are also well done and are another surprise given the director’s track record.

The performances are more or less what you would expect. Johnny Depp does his level best to maintain the quirkiness he’s established as Jack and while the jokes and antics are hit and miss his performance is as good as it has ever been. Geoffrey Rush remains my favorite part of the series and I would love to see a Barbossa standalone picture at some point. I hate Penelope Cruz and this film has done nothing at all to change my mind. Luckily, Ian McShane completely wins as Black Beard and that is just about enough to allow me to ignore Cruz.

Conclusion [6.5 out of 10]

On Stranger Tides isn’t a complete waste of time but it is still disappointing. I wasn’t expecting a masterpiece but I was hoping the series to get back to its roots. I am sure there will be more installments in the future but I no longer harbor much hope for their quality. Unless better ideas are brought to the table and pull the filmmakers out of creative bankruptcy the series will continue to slowly sink to the bottom of an ocean of mediocrity.