The strange tide is not high, but it does the trick, thanks to its Depp waves!

Rating: Null/10 (12 June 2011)

It is not a total shi*wreck like the last two installments, but "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" does not totally hook you in; even though it did have its moments. Johnny Depp returns as everyone's favorite pirate Captain Jack Sparrow in this fourth film of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise. In this installment, Jack is on a mission to find the "fountain of youth", which seems like the 48 year-old Depp has already found. Sparrow is confronted by an ex-girlfriend Angelica Malon, which I am sure Jack la "piratio" from a fellow pirate. Angelica is portrayed by none other than Spanish bombshell Penelope Cruz, who actually does have some chemistry with Depp. Ms. Malon also happens to be the daughter of the pirate nemesis Blackbeard, played with a chilling disposition by Ian McShane. Blackbeard is also on the quest to find the Mr. De Leon "oil of olay" waters. Speaking of beards, Sparrow foe & occasional ally Captain Barbossa is back for this one, even though Captain B is gunning more to shave off Blackbeard than Sparrow in this chapter. Geoffrey Rush continues to give the Barbossa character that good ol' pirate swagger no matter the circumstances. There are even mermaids in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" which swimmingly look great but they don't provide much of a "fin" to the movie. I personally do not think that the character of Sparrow has worn out his welcome, and is still the best part of the franchise, and we have another Depp vibrant performance to thank for that. However, I still grrrr about the film's cheesy narrative elements when it does not have to be. Yes, Director Rob Marshall did not heavy-hand it as much as Gore Verbinski's last two Pirate films, but the "fountain of youth" storyline was more of a bore than a score, and after a while it really got old. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the action sequences and the introduction of Blackbeard into the movie totally rocked the house or at least the boat. I was elated that the hideous characters of Will & Elizabeth were finally axed out from the franchise. It is still Depp running the acting show here, so as long as we are not Depprived of the charismatic Johnny D. playing Captain Jack, then keep those pirate movies coming; but I do plead to the filmmakers to please spice up the plot. All in all, this swashbuckling flick is not GRRRRReat but not bad!! *** Average