Alexandre Dumas hardly had enough time to recover from The Three Musketeers with Chris O' Donnell and Charlie Sheen when he again turned in his grave. Peter Hyams, to whom we owe such recent memorable works as End of Days and Sudden Death succeeds in the impossible by offering us a version not only lacking in gallantry but also one hour and thirty minutes of despondency.
With the clumsy direction, vague action scenes, careless choreography and poor skimpy framework, The Musketeer is certainly the most pathetic version of Dumas's work. If that weren't enough, the scriptwriter even allows himself numerous liberties with the novel.
As for the distribution, the destitute Justin Chambers seems as dangerous as D'Artagnan as Ben Affleck would be as Hannibal Lecter. It almost makes you miss O' Donnell, which isn't saying a lot. Tim Roth continues on his path, displaying his customary jubilant cruelty. Catherine Deneuve seems to wonder why she got involved in this business while Mena Suvari looks at poor Chambers with big eyes filled with despair.
One for all, all outside!
The Musketeer review
