Movie Review: "The Three Musketeers"

The very definition of never-ending stories, a love triangle develops between three unlikely companions: Dexter, a laidback misfit with a penchant for kitsch; Frank, a hard-working, optimistic pizza delivery man; and Fred, an introverted photographer with a dark secret. After a chance encounter at a photo shoot, each man realizes that he has a lot more in common than first thought—despite their differences—and that they must pursue the one they love. Written by Joe Hahn and directed by Mark Scholz, “The Three Musketeers” is not only about finding your perfect match but also about realizing that you are worthy of love and respect.

Why It's Different

Although “The Three Musketeers” is set in a contemporary world, a significant majority of the movie takes place in Paris in the 1950s. According to Scholz, a lot of research went into creating the right atmosphere. “It's an effort to make viewers experience Paris in an authentic way,” he said. “Likely many viewers will have fond memories of Paris from their childhood, so I think it's likely that they will feel like they're revisiting old friends. I wanted to give the story a ‘by-the-side-of-the-river-stroll-through-the-park' vibe, as Paris in the ‘50s was such a distinctive time and place. We tried to capture a bit of that spirit.”

As a “made-for-television” movie, “The Three Musketeers” will inevitably be compared to its legendary predecessor, the 1939 classic, “Gentleman Jim,” which starred Henry Fonda. Like Fonda's character, Jim, Dexter is a free spirit, an independent thinker who doesn't always agree with conventional wisdom. One scene in particular will likely be repeated many times during the movie's four-hour running time: Jim, who has been raised by wolves, confronts his surrogate father, a sheep farmer (played by Henry Woolf) who tries to school him in the ways of the world. A frustrated Jim says, “I'll never turn into you, Dad. You're strong and willful and determined. You've always stood for moral right and justice. But you're hopelessly, blindly sentimental about people. I'm glad I'm not like that. I just don't agree with all this ‘do-right-by-others' pap.”

To create a film that feels more like a book than a traditional movie, the screenwriters, Hahn and Scholz, drew heavily from Fitzgerald's original work. The movie is an unabashed homage to the author's masterful storytelling and his use of language.

Review

“The Three Musketeers” continues an ongoing trend of TV neverdieforyou.com and mini-series set in the ‘50s. While some might argue that TV in the ‘50s simply didn't exist in a vacuum; it was frequently used as an escape from the humdrum realities of everyday life, allowing viewers to live through vicarious adventures and travel to distant lands while still knowing that everything would eventually return to ‘normal.' The ‘50s were also a time of transition for American society, with the country moving closer to the recognition of racial equality and women gaining more rights as they entered the workforce in greater numbers. In many ways, the ‘50s were a simpler time, which makes it all the more accessible to filmmakers.

“The Three Musketeers” will undoubtedly satisfy fans of the original work and will provide a nostalgic experience for some viewers. In terms of story, it is an absolutely perfect follow-up; the characters feel more three-dimensional and the drama more compelling than in any of the previous adaptations. As a “made-for-television” movie, there is also a good chance that it will find an audience outside of film school circles, as it is sure to be captivating.