Predictably entertaining or entertainingly predictable?

Rating: 9/10 (29 July 2006)

The follow-up to 2003's smash hit Pirates of the Caribbean:Curse of the Black Pearl was highly inevitable,and so here it is! Most of the old gang is back here,particularly the principals. The high-bred-but-wild-child-at-heart Elizabeth Swann(Keira Knightley,as willowy and yet athletic as ever)finds her wedding date with the valiant Will Turner(Orlando Bloom,willow-er...attractive and athletic as ever)interrupted by an arrest warrant being served her and him,in regards to their complicity in letting one Captain Jack Sparrow(Johnny Depp,skanked up,dandied and devilish as ever)escape the Royal Navy's authority. It seems that the only way the two can escape the gallows for this high crime against Queen and country is to make a deal with the magistrate(Tom Hollander),which has them destined to twine ways with the nefarious Captain,who's got his own agenda to attend to. It seems he's managed to draw the ire of none other than fearsome Pirate legend and demonic troll Davy Jones(Bill Nighy in heavy,heavy makeup and rubber),who has a very dear price he wants the Captain to pay. This while Jack himself seeks something of the Captain's:namely,the legendary Dead MAn's Chest,which beats the heart of old Jones.
The movie has exactly what you'd expect of it,particularly if you saw the first film: sword fights,rocking,jarring physical effects,quick banter,a few plot twists and a few touches of the supernatural. Only this time,the physical comedy,which was a side compliment to last films good-natured sense of adventure,now takes front seat as the adventure becomes the under-pinning of this at-sea endeavor.
This movie is every bit the summer entertainment that it is meant to be. Indeed,I'm not sure what more I--or anyone,for that matter--could really expect of it. It moves at a great pace and only starts to feel like it's running a little long toward the very end. The costuming,make-up and scenery is great escapist fun,and the performances by Depp(to the point that it feels like tedium to even mention),Nighy,Mackenzie Cook and Lee Arenberg(as the comic relief)and Knightley make this movie seem authentic enough that you can taste the rum. It may not be the best movie you'll see this year or this summer,I dare you to find one that sets up just a great look,feel and sound that comes anywhere close to living up to its potential the way this film,the second directed by the eclectic Gore Verbinski,does.