Review of The Return of the Musketeers (1989) by Stuart K — 19 Nov 2009
15 years after Richard Lester did The Three Musketeers (1973) and The Four Musketeers (1974), it seemed very appropriate that they should adapt Alexandre Dumas' 1845 serialised book Twenty Years After, reuniting much of the original cast and crew for this one.
It's not as good as the first 2 films, and it plays the film mainly for laughs. It has the greedy Cardinal Mazarin (Philippe Noiret) hiring d'Artagnan (Michael York), and asking that he reunites the other Three Musketeers, Athos (Oliver Reed), Porthos (Frank Finlay), and Aramis (Richard Chamberlain) to work for Mazarin.
Matters are complicated when Aramis walks out after a skirmish, and they have to deal with Justine de Winter (Kim Cattrall), who is seeking veagence for the death of her mother. It is fun while it lasts, but it is very patchy, and it's comedic tone is what you'd expect from director Richard Lester's films of the 1960's.
Sadly, he quit directing after this, in part due to the tragic on-set death of his friend Roy Kinnear. But, it's fun while it lasts, and even as older men, the Musketeers can still put up a good fight.
The supporting cast includes Geraldine Chaplin, Christopher Lee, Bill Paterson, Billy Connolly and Pat Roach!! :D.
This review of The Return of the Musketeers (1989) was written by Stuart K on 19 Nov 2009.
The Return of the Musketeers has generally received mixed reviews.
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