The Three Musketeers (in 3D, of course) is a shallow Hollywood adventure with borrowed cred from Alexandre Dumas’ swashbuckling heroes. And it’s a legend that has been captured on celluloid many times before. But with a young, hot, star-studded cast including Milla Jovovich, Orlando Bloom (in a Jack Sparrow getup) and the charming Logan Leman, the film is certainly easy on the eyes. Add a fast-paced plot, and you’ve got a summer blockbuster to cheer up your rainy October.
The film starts with the romantic swordsman Athos (Matthew Macfadyen), hunky but drunken fighter Porthos (Ray Stevenson) and calm ex-priest Aramis (Luke Evans), all on a mission to steal Da Vinci’s flying ship blueprint before the heartless—and fearless—M’Lady (Jovovich) betrays them and gives the secret to the British Duke of Buckingham. This sets up a rivalry that lasts throughout the film, even when the musketeers are joined by young country boy D’Artagnan (Logan Lerman) whose hot-headedness sees him arrested by the royal guard. When the king’s evil cardinal hatches a plot (with double agent M’Lady) to overthrow the monarchy, it’s up to him, and the Musketeers, to put a stop to it.
The plot is relentless with rapid-fire witticisms and lots of minute plot details to keep you guessing and breathless. There are some eye-rolls, particularly when they borrow slow-motion action from The Matrix, and during some of the more fantastical plot twists. But, contrary to expectations, the exciting action sequences, the clever (if a touch corny) dialogue and the sumptuous art direction makes this overdone story pretty entertaining from beginning to end.