Alexandre Dumas' classic story has been adapted many times, its film history stretching back to the silent era. The last time Hollywood took a decent stab at it was in 1993 with Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland and Oliver Platt attempting some rapier wit.
While director Paul W.S Anderson's latest version doesn't have really big names, it's a slick new 3D interpretation with plenty of big budget action, clearly hoping to pick up some Pirates of the Caribbean fans pining for more big-screen swashbuckling.
When the witty and understated Athos (Macfadyen), Aramis (Luke Evans) and Porthos (Stevenson), and their new protege D'Artagnan (Lerman), leap into action there are impressive swordfights, stunts, and smart quips. Individually they are charming, but it's also their convincing camaraderie that makes this plain good fun.
It's the bits between the action that are the problem, where there's rather silly and simply scripted plotting by mischievous villains trying to provoke war between France and England. Milla Jovovich as Milady is central to this; a double agent who uses her powers of seduction and cunning to play off France's Cardinal Richelieu (Christoph Waltz) and Britain's Duke of Buckingham (Orlando Bloom).
Jovovich gets to show off her stunt moves, which are all the more impressive for being done wearing a corset, but the reason for her espionage remains unclear.
