Today’s quick review: The Musketeer. To avenge the murder of his parents at the hands of Febre (Tim Roth), D’Artagnan (Justin Chambers) has trained his whole life to become a Musketeer, one of the legendary bodyguards to the King. But when he finally goes to join them, he finds the Musketeers disbanded by Cardinal Richelieu (Stephen Rea) and must rally the dispirited soldiers to stop the Cardinal’s machinations and prevent a war with England.
The Musketeer is an action adventure based on The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas. The Musketeer puts D’Artagnan front and center, chronicling the bold youth’s adventures as he confronts Febre, courts Francesca (Mena Suvari), and wins the friendship of Athos (Jan Gregor Kremp), Porthos (Steve Speirs), and Aramis (Nick Moran). The shift in focus makes The Musketeer an interesting watch but comes at the cost of the story’s fundamentals.
The Musketeer elevates D’Artagnan to the foreground and takes Febre with him, changing the dynamic of the story considerably. The film keeps the same broad strokes as the familiar tale, but the particulars serve to highlight the prowess of its hero and the cruelty of its villain. The changes are a mixed bag, leading to a sharper conflict and an increased role for D’Artagnan at the cost of development for the Three Musketeers and the Cardinal.
The consequences of the shift are far-reaching. Athos, Porthos, and Aramis have minimal in the way of individual character and barely spend enough time with D’Artagnan to build up a rapport. Cardinal Richelieu is thrust into a passive role, forced to watch as the events he set in motion spin out of control. For his part, D’Artagnan is more brash and less noble, a hyper-competent upstart without much to learn from the Musketeers.
The Musketeer’s other notable feature is its action. The movie takes its stunts a step further than the typical swashbuckling adventure, opting for acrobatic feats and swirling swordplay rather than the traditional feats of fencing. This does serve to juice up the action, and a few of the fights are quite creative. But the effect is diminished by the film’s muted color palette, which keeps the stunts from popping the way they should.
Watch The Musketeer if you’re interested in a new take on the classic story, or if you’re simply in the mood for an action adventure with a bit of bite. The movie sacrifices much of the charm and camaraderie that its source material has to offer in exchange for upgraded action and a clearer focus on D’Artagnan. Whether the exchange is worth it will come down to taste: action fans may enjoy it, but adventure fans may want to steer clear.
For another action adventure that combines a historical French setting with high-flying stunts, try The Brotherhood of the Wolf. For a more earnest, spirited take on the material, try The Three Musketeers, starring Kiefer Sutherland, Oliver Platt, and Charlie Sheen.
4.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for decent action and a focused plot, held back by a weak supporting cast and a lack of heart.