POTC: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES (2017)

PHENOMENALITY: *marvelous*
MYTHICITY: *fair*
FRYEAN MYTHOS: *adventure*
CAMPBELLIAN FUNCTION: *metaphysical*

When I reviewed the 2011 installment in the adventures of Jack Sparrow, I hoped it would mark the end of the series. Now that I've seen the 2017 film, I admit that it makes a better finish to the series than ON STRANGER TIDES. But I'd still like this to be the last one for, say, the next decade.

The main idea behind TALES is essentially the game of "pair up the offspring of different families," which may seem a little dicey even the families have no blood relation between them. One offspring's participation is logical enough given the status of familiar support-character Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) at the end of the second sequel. He's been stuck piloting the Flying Dutchman for the last twenty-two years, but at last his son Henry (Brenton Thwaites) has figured out a way to free Will from durance vile. All Henry needs to do is to find Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), whose erratic but extensive knowledge of maritime metaphysics can guide Henry to the fabled Trident of Poseidon, which can dispel all curses. 

Jack, as usual, is about to be hanged for piracy, and eventually he has some company in the form of Carina Smith (Kaya Scodelario). Carina is an earnest young woman far ahead of her time, in that she's become a master astronomer, though the ignorant people of the era all think she's a witch. Carina is an orphan brought up with only fragmentary memories of a father, and she thinks she can find her unknown progenitor if she follows certain clues in her father's diary-- clues that can also take her, Henry and Jack to the location of the mystic Trident. 

Prior to Jack and his prisoners/allies escaping the hangman's noose, Jack makes his usual bone-headed cock-up: he gives away a magical doodad, the "compass." This releases a horde of malignant ghosts whom Jack imprisoned in the Devil's Triangle, and their leader Salazar begins his jeremiad to catch and kill Jack Sparrow. On his way, Salazar and his zombies overtake Jack's friendly enemy Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and they enlist Barbossa in their cause.

Jack is loosely motivated both to look for treasure and to save his hide, but emotionally he plays second fiddle to the young lovers. It's an okay romance, nothing more, though I appreciate that Carina isn't one of the many superficial tough-girls seen in action-films, since this would contrast with her intellectual nature. As for what "family" she belongs to, there are only two potential candidates in the movie to be the missing daddy, and evil Salazar is not the right choice. The revelation of Barbossa's past indiscretions isn't handled very well and there's not a satisfactory pay-off at the climax.

Depp does his usual hijinks, and some of them are kind of fun, especially a bit with his uncle, played by Paul McCartney. There are some OK FX-scenes, but no memorable sword-battles this time. I give away no surprises by stating that Will Turner is released from his curse, and even has a brief reunion with a non-speaking Keira Knightley. It's just a so-so movie but it will rise in my estimation if it's the conclusion of the series.