The Three Musketeers Review by Briana Alessio

This comedy/drama (dramedy? comma?) from 1993 focuses on the story of, unsurprisingly, the Three Musketeers.  Although this is supposed to be taken seriously, there are many laugh out loud moments, ones which happen quickly so you must be paying close attention.  This is not to say that you will be rolling on the floor.  This is, after all, based on a legendary novel.  However, being a Disney film, there is some fun thrown in to the mix.

In short, three men named Athos, Porthos, and Aramis team up with a young rebel named D’Artagnan to put the evil Cardinal’s plan to kill King Louis on hold.  Alexandre Dumas wrote the original story in the mid-1800s.  Many of us know the story, but if you do not, this is a fun film to watch and catch up with three carefree individuals whose tale has gone down in history.    

 

The cast is fun, there is no doubt about that.  Kiefer Sutherland portrays Athos.  Sutherland is known for playing the famous Jack Bauer on the long-running series 24.  He is currently in works for starring in the film version as well.  The hilarious Oliver Platt plays Porthos.  Platt normally co-stars in the background of films so he completely deserved a lead role as a Musketeer.  Aramis is played by Charlie Sheen, who is associated for his role in Two and a Half Men starring as none other than a fella named Charlie.  D’Artagnan was portrayed by Chris O’Donnell.  O’Donnell has appeared in many films and television films including giving us the awesome Robin in the 1995 and 1997 Batman films.  The delightfully evil, typecast Tim Curry portrays Cardinal Richelieu.  Curry’s voice has appeared in various animated films and he is also well known for his frightening roles as well.  Many of us appreciate his work in 1985’s Clue and 1996’s Muppet Treasure Island.  Rebecca De Mornay also stars as Countess D’Winter.  She played the terrifying babysitter in The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (parental guidance so very much recommended).  To be honest, seeing the names Tim Curry and Rebecca De Mornay TOGETHER almost caused me to not watch this.  That is almost too much creepiness for one film.

The Three Musketeers is directed by Stephen Herek.  Herek also directed 101 Dalmatians and  Mr. Holland’s Opus among many others, including a film which was once a favorite of mine, Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (thankfully, Rebecca De Mornay is not in that one).  The spirited music is a lot of fun.  The end credits include the song “All For Love” performed by Bryan Adams, Sting, and Rod Stewart.

FIVE FACTS:

1.)  Sutherland, Platt, and O’Donnell all took fencing and horse riding lessons for six weeks while Sheen was on the set of another film he was in, Hot Shots! Part Deux.

2.)  Curry’s role as the evil Cardinal was portrayed in an earlier version of the film by Charlton Heston.  He would relive another Heston role in Muppet Treasure Island.

3.)  Gabrielle Anwar, who played Queen Anne, was pregnant so her dresses had to be let out.

4.)  Brad Pitt, Billy Baldwin, Johnny Depp, Gary Oldman, and Cary Elwes were all considered for roles in this film.

5.)  De Mornay attended high school & college in Austria, where this film was mostly shot.

My favorite part of this film was how the man with the high pitched voice from the beginning (who had the sword fight with D’Artagnan) repeatedly and randomly spotted D’Artagnan throughout the town.  I’m not sure what I enjoyed more, the manic expressions on his face or the way he screamed his name.  Also, the way he screams after his horse that is running away from him, is also brilliant.  My favorite character in this is Aramis.  I love the way Aramis says a prayer for every man who is knowingly killed, and he maintains such a deep and beautiful soul.

For some reason, in my mind, you are either a Three Musketeers fan or a Robin Hood fan.  I know perfectly well that you can be a fan of both and I don’t know why this ridiculous notion entered my head but this is the way my mind works.  That being said, I’m completely a Robin Hood fan and is therefore relatively unimpressed by the Three Musketeers characters in general.  Don’t get me wrong, they are a fantastic trio.  Their journey is simply not my cup of tea.  I would much rather watch Disney’s Robin Hood (or the 1938 version with Errol Flynn, for that matter).  Now if you will excuse me…all of this talk is making me want a 3 Musketeers candy bar.

My Rating:  3/5

A lively tune…I’m inspired to dance!