Yet another very long sequel arrives in cinemas, the anticipated return of Captain Jack Sparrow and his nefarious doings from a world time forgot. Dead Man’s Chest is, at first, a complicated affair that finds Sparrow with something others want. Will Young, hoping to save his recently jailed fiancée Elizabeth Swan, is in hot pursuit. She then breaks out to save Will. Slimy sea creature Davy Jones is also tracking Jack to reclaim a mortgage on his soul. Problem is, it might lead Sparrow to the one thing Jones doesn’t want the pirate to find. He enlists the help of a giant squid. Meanwhile, Jack’s been caught by troublesome natives and, once a game of cat, mouse, cat, mouse and cat is firmly established, the chase begins.

Whereas the original leapt fresh from the screen, inevitable comparisons leave this effort feeling over-familiar. Set-pieces (Sparrow’s encounter with tribal islanders, Sparrow’s encounters with squid-faced Davy Jones, Sparrow’s encounters with – well, there are lots of encounters) are spectacular and smooth digital effects effortlessly convince us of the intended reality – Jones’ and his fishy friends are marvellous to behold. Yet Verbinski’s pacing is subtly off as we’re led from one inevitable scene to another, all the while padding a very lengthy script. There’s a lumpy, protracted feeling of having seen it all before which, in part, we have. And then? Well, the payoff is about as unexpected as it is unwelcome. Which is not to say that Dead Man’s Chest isn’t fun – Depp’s mincy, cowardly performance is hugely entertaining – it’s simply not great fun.

// COLIN FRASER