3 Stars

This frantic and frequently entertaining reincarnation of the Three Musketeers seem more akin to Charlie’s Angeles and Jason Bourne than anything Alexander Dumas ever envisioned. As presented here, the Musketeers are the best of the best from all branches of the US military. After a mission in North Korea ends with a double cross, the trio makes it out alive and seeks revenge on those that set them up. This typically low-budget Asylum production is surprisingly watchable.

With tension rising between North and South Korea the President of the United States becomes aware of an impending war ready to erupt in three days time if the special forces unit know as the Musketeers can’t stop it. The story then focuses on an operation to crack the headquarters of the government defense corporation know as Seinar Systems. At this point the film takes on a Mission Impossible vibe, with a few tweaks to character names this could be the mock-buster ripoff of MI:4.

Porthos (Keith Allen) is a European James Bond type and also the tech head of the group. D’Artangan (Heather Hemmens) is now a woman working in the federal offices of the CIA yearning to get out in the field. Athos (Xin Sarith Wuku) is Jet Li-esque, always ready with a cocky wise crack or some martial arts moves. Working to shoehorn this tale of espionage into the very loose parameters of the source material, writer Edward DeRuiter includes the key villain, the Cardinal (David Chokachi). Here portrayed as a turncoat Commander with deep ties inside the Pentagon.

I would love to have been a fly on the wall during the pitch for this film. An adaption of the famous novel set in present day dealing with tensions among national superpowers and government coverups. It’s a batshit crazy idea that somehow works for the majority of its running-time. My only real problem with the movie is that on numerous occasions the editing is overdone. Dialogue scenes are sometimes cut on almost every word. It’s obviously an attempt to emulate the style set up in the Bourne films. Here it comes off as nauseating but admittedly it does hide some of the flaws and limitations usually so apparent at this level of filmmaking. 3 Musketeers also includes some decent stunts considering the threadbare production values. Check it out if you like low-budget action flicks.

Director: Cole S. McKay
Stars: David Chokachi, Heather Hemmens, Xin Sarith Wuku