Not the movie I expected.

Rating: 6/10 (21 May 2011)

I expected more of the same from the last two sequels. I thought those were tripe when they came out. Tasty enough, but tough and chewy, too. I saw 'At World's End' a while back, and while I still think it's overstuffed and over-long, it is at least entertaining.
I can't say the same for 'On Stranger Tides'. Compared to the previous three movies, this one is certainly stranger. In a dull way. It's still preposterously plotted and there's plenty o' Jack and a fair bit of Barbosa, but it's only just enough to keep this creaking crate afloat.
Even nubile sea nymphs and inanely melodious prose profusely proffered pointedly throughout cannot alleviate the strain of maintaining interest or enthusiasm as the climax climaxes.
There is more to come, and oddly I hope it's more like the previous two, wacky and frenetic as they were, and less like this snoozer.