There have been many screen incarnations of the classic novel by Alexandre Dumas, but perhaps none quite so unabashedly contemporary in feel as this.
With France having run out of battles, and a young King Louis under the guidance of a corrupt Cardinal (Waltz), it would seem that there is little place or purpose for a semi-retired trio of Musketeers. That is, until the spritely and ambitious D’Artagnan (Lerman) makes his way into Paris.
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His bold arrival is serendipitously timed, as a perilous plot is unveiled, set to bring down the French Kingdom from within. A great need once again arises for the Musketeers to unite for their country.
The question is, do they think the France that has deserted them is still worth fighting for?
Visually, the film is impressive, with the cinematography and animation used effectively. At 102 minutes, the length is also appropriate, and it would seem that profitable sequels lie ahead. But there was something about this very stylish and very slick Musketeer movie that didn’t quite work for me. It was, if anything, a little too choreographed, too clever and just a touch overdone.
While I thoroughly enjoyed some of the supporting cast, with a camp King Louis VIII (Freddie Fox) an absolute highlight, the core Musketeer characters were a little bit, to use a modern phrase, “meh”.
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Not terrible, but not really befitting their legendary status. Bloom’s Buckingham was also a little underwhelming, though the same cannot be said of his hair.
Mads Mikkelsen, however, who was impressive in Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky, injects some much-needed tyranny as the malevolent Rochefort and Milla Jovovich (who appears to have discovered the secret to eternal youth) dazzles as the double agent Milady.
I wanted a little more from Christoph Waltz and a little less from Matthew Macfadyen, which kind of sums up the slightly out-of-kilter feel that the film is imbued with.
It has been over a decade since the last Musketeer movie graced our screens, and it would seem that the charisma and sheer chutzpah of the characters never fails to attract an impressive cast.
Thankfully, here we are spared a Bryan Adams soundtrack (and, for that matter, Charlie Sheen), but the “all for one and one for all” catch-cry is awkwardly and inevitably raised regardless.
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At the core, this film oozes adventure and pizazz, with a litany of spectacular swordfights. If entertainment is all that you seek, then you will leave the cinema satisfied.
Some may think my reading of the film is off-key, as others at the screening laughed heartily and some even applauded. But for my money, you can’t help but still feel that there is more to this famed story and I for one would love to see the French give it a go.
If only so we can avoid that clichéd mantra in English (thanks again Bryan Adams!).
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Starring: Logan Lerman, Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson, Luke Evans, Christoph Waltz, Gabriella Wilde, Milla Jovovich and Orlando Bloom
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Keeva Stratton is a professional copywriter, who runs her own boutique creative agency, Quip Creative. Having studied film at university in the hope of one day directing, she now does what most do when their film dreams are burst by reality—she critiques them. Follow Keeva on Twitter at @QuipCreative.
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