“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” directed by Rob Marshall, is one of the most over-anticipated and over-advertised films of the summer, but contains watered-down versions of returning characters Captain Jack Sparrow [Johnny Depp] and Captain Barbossa [Geoffrey Rush].

The story is especially tepid and makes no mention of the events that transpired in the original trilogy – none, whatsoever. Despite dumping most of the cast and significantly changing-up the formula, “On Stranger Tides” isn’t a spin-off or reboot — it’s a true sequel.

The movie begins in England where Captain Jack has gone to rescue his comrade, Mr. Gibbs, and in a very predictable twist is apprehended by British guards. His arrest puts him in the presence of King George II, and reunites him with former crewmate, Barbossa. And as foreshadowed by the previous film, the adventure comes from the quest to find the Fountain of Youth.

Penelope Cruz plays Angelica, a female pirate with romantic ties to Sparrow, who tricks Sparrow into joining the crew of the infamous Captain Blackbeard [Ian McShane] who is also looking for the fountain. The storyline sends Captain Sparrow on a fearsome and over-the-top journey of revenge, treachery, and adventure – not to mention another new shipmate in the form of missionary Philip Swift [essentially the new Will Turner].

Any supporting character plotlines and connections, such as Blackbeard, Angelica, or Philip, are equally flat, with little to make the audience believe the characters have any kind of genuine emotion or history. It’s a letdown, since [hate them or love them] many of the characters in the original trilogy still managed to surprise us from time to time. Unfortunately, there are very few surprises in this film, characters or otherwise. And the action sequences are just a stream of never-ending action movie clichés.

While it is exciting, for a moment, to see Sparrow on the big screen once more, the movie will have you begging to walk the plank rather than wanting to set sail on a continuous sea of redundant scenes coupled with both underdone and overdone acting.