Review of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) by Justin D — 26 May 2017

The plot is thin and the script would have benefited from a few rewrites. Disappointing to see the characters underused in an underdeveloped story. Without Gore Verbinski directing the film lacks the comic touch and fun swashbuckling stunts of the first three films. Marshall managed to pull it off in film 4.

In its place the new directors bring in some soap opera moments and heavy handed not kid appropriate violence exhibited by Capt. Salazar, like the shooting of surrendering pirates or the killing of Capt. Batbossa's crew while hanging upside down helpless. Some poor jokes with sexual innuendo which were groaners and not tween appropriate. HELLO Jerry! This is a film series primarily for kids. That's how it has made billions. What the heck? The violence and scary stuff was all handled more gingerly and appropriately mixing the wonder of magic and myth in the earlier films. The violence was always cartoony. Not here.

It takes a special director to make physical comedy pay off. Comedy is not a strong point for Ronning and Sandberg. There are two or three laughs in the whole film. Save your money and watch it on tv. Sadly there's not much out in theaters these days that's not getting a rotten rating. Slim pickings if you want to take your kids out. That's how we ended up there. Even our eleven year olds said where's the story. Way worse than expected and we are $80 poorer. Even Depo usually so charming just was not allowed any fun scenes. Waste of talent and character. :-(.