If you are a Depp fan, then you will appreciate the "Pirates" saga's equation of combining rum, Depp in a fancy hat on an island and interaction with a crazy voodoo lady that is also featured in the "The Rum Diary." Yet the narrative meanders like a stumbling drunk, switching from pursuit of the sexy girl to revenge on the bad guy. It is Kemp's unlikely roommates, the actual stumbling drunk Moburg (Ribisi) and grubby photographer Sala, that make the film tolerable. Kate Sullivan
Even Depp's unbelievably raw performance as a well-intentioned but self-destructive journalist is unable to completely save "The Rum Diary." Though the film has several entertaining and even comical moments, it rambles on with little substance and an ill-defined climax. Furthermore, the relationships in the film the friendships and the romances are unconvincing. For this reason, it is difficult to connect to and sympathize with the characters on a personal level. The film unfortunately fails to deliver a message or a plotline that can keep the audience fully engaged. Marina Shkuratov
The words "bizarre," "grotesque" and "eccentric" don't even begin to describe Depp's new picture. Depp's convincing performance cannot save the flailing script and nonexistent direction. Most scenes were vague and meaningless, contributing little to the plot development. That being said, there were moments of great hilarity and fun. Depp is the muted rebel who engages in a series of shenanigans, sometimes charming, sometimes irritating and sometimes downright stupid. Jackie Wei
