Depp rules

By Claudia Puig, USA TODAY
Were it not for the surefire allure of Johnny Depp in his quirky, swaggering repeat performance as Capt. Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest(* * * out of four) would be just another sequel: bigger, splashier, costlier, but not necessarily better.
In one hilarious turn of events, Sparrow finds himself on an island where the native cannibals take him for a god.

His escape may be the most unique action sequence of the summer, and Depp's skill in physical comedy and his facial expressions (those eyes have it) enhance the quirky fun. There also is a dazzling (though a bit too extended) scene of swordplay atop a large rolling wooden wheel that bests the duel between Bloom and Depp in the first film.

But the plot is more convoluted, with several loose ends left dangling. In general, the other pirates don't seem to be having as much fun, with the exception of the scraggly duo played by Lee Arenberg and Mackenzie Crook, who shine brighter this time around. And the ever-reliable Bill Nighy does a fine job, obscured in special effects, as supernatural villain Davy Jones.

The story centers on Sparrow's unpaid debt to Jones, who reappears in ghostly form, along with a scary-looking crew of seafaring phantoms whose faces are fused with barnacles, coral, starfish and other sea creatures. A few scenes seem to replicate signature tableaux from the Disney theme park ride. A soothsayer (Naomie Harris) lives in a wooden shack like the one located at the beginning of the ride.

This sequel also is less inventive than the original. It gets off to a slow, talky start, then suddenly seems too conscious of jam-packing every scene with thrills and excitement.

But it does deliver a combustible combination of ingredients for a summer blockbuster: a cornucopia of action and dazzling effects, some raucous humor and a large dose of Depp's winning charm. (Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of adventure violence including frightening images. Running time: 2 hours, 29 minutes. Opens in some theaters tonight; nationwide Friday.)