This British stab at the deathless Dumas novel refuses to heed its own running gag: always run in the face of overwhelming odds. In this case it’s the imminent arrival of a star-bejewelled, two-part French adaptation with Vincent Cassel, Eva Green, Romain Duris and Vicky Krieps. Instead, it puts up a valiant stand – led by pretty plush production and costume design for what is presumably a low-budget affair. But finally it waves its colours in surrender, let down by patchy acting and unimaginative direction.
It at least boasts one first: a black D’Artagnan (Malachi Pullar-Latchman). Whatever your stance on “racelifting”, in this instance it works pretty well: emphasising the would-be musketeer’s outsider but upwardly mobile status as he arrives in Paris, and lines up back-to-back duels with Athos (Ben Freeman), Porthos (David O’Mahony) and Aramis (Jake J Meniani). You know the drill: lusty brawling, fast friendships and a headlong rush to stop the evil De Rochefort (James Oliver Wheatley) and OG femme fatale Milady (British Asian actor Preeya Kalidas) from toppling Louis XIII.
