Alright, so I recently watched “Pirate’s Code: The Adventures of Mickey Matson,” and let me tell you, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The movie is meant to be a family-friendly adventure, kind of like those matiné classics we used to have in Swedish cinemas back in the day. This time, though, we’re swapping Pippi Longstocking for a young American pirate wannabe.
First off, the storyline is fairly straightforward: Mickey Matson and his friends are on an adventure to thwart some modern-day pirates with a somewhat convoluted evil plan. Think “Spy Kids” meets “Pirates of the Caribbean,” but without the Johnny Depp quirkiness. The plot has its moments—there are some decent action sequences and a few clever twists. But, honestly, there were times I wondered if the film knew whether it wanted to be a serious adventure flick or a cheeky comedy.
The acting… well, it’s serviceable. Mickey, played by Derek Brandon, is enthusiastic, if a bit over-the-top at times. It’s like he’s channeling Emil i Lönneberga but with less nuance. His sidekick Sully, portrayed by Francesca Derosa, adds a touch of sass and humor, which I appreciated. Still, it’s hard to ignore some awkward line deliveries that took me out of the moment.
Now, I must mention the special effects. Ah, the CGI. Some of it was surprisingly good, but in other scenes, it felt like watching a 90s computer game. Remember “The NeverEnding Story”? Yeah, like that, but with pirates.
One thing that really stuck with me was the sense of nostalgia. It took me back to my own childhood when we used to dig up “sjörövar historier” and dream of buried treasure. I remember one summer out at vår sommarstuga in the archipelago; my cousins and I spent hours pretending we were pirates on a great treasure quest. This film evoked some of those old memories, which was charming, even if the movie itself was uneven.
Overall, “Pirate’s Code: The Adventures of Mickey Matson” is worth a watch if you’re in the mood for some light-hearted fun and can overlook its flaws. It’s not groundbreaking cinema, but it has a certain charm, especially if you’re young or young at heart.
