Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Variety

Serves as a welcome corrective, reviving the fun, feather-light frivolity that any film based on a Disneyland ride ought to exhibit.

TVNZ

Hoist the main sail, shiver your timbers and ready your hearties, it's back to the high seas we go...

Total Film

Not as incomprehensible, or interminable as At World’s End, but no amount of flash and filigree can conceal a disappointingly soulless, directionless adventure-by-numbers.

All swash, little buckle: welcome back to the theme park ride that NEVER ENDS...

The New York Times

It is by far the least strange of all the "Pirates" episodes so far, with none of the cartoonish exuberance or creepy-crawly effects that made its predecessors intermittently delightful.

The Guardian

A poorly scripted film has its forked tongue sticking out of both cheeks.

Roger Ebert

For me, it's too much of a muchness.

Otago Daily Times

A vast, sprawling romp

Hollywood Reporter

Captain Jack Sparrow is back in excellent form for his fourth adventure in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which is more serious in the hands of a new director, Rob Marshall, and thanks to Penelope Cruz it's also a good deal sexier.

Empire Magazine

An overly complicated plot and poorly thought-out characters detract from the flashes of charm that Cap'n Jack still emits. Despite quality set-pieces and the best efforts of the cast, this is dull and crossbones.

Dominion Post

This is stodgy direction, without any flourish or swagger, in the service of a film with nothing on its mind but pulling in the most money for the least expended effort.