You'll lose count of the number of times that swashes are buckled in this rather silly but mildly amusing film.

The Musketeer has aspirations as a grand 17th century period piece but descends quickly into upmarket Carry On territory with fewer lewd gags.

Rapidly junking the plot of Alexandre Dumas' classic novel The Three Musketeers, the film-makers plump for a tale about D'Artagnan seeking revenge for the murder of his rural peasant parents.

Taught to fight by his local guardian, D'Artagnan (Justin Chambers) grows up and heads off to Paris seeking vengeance and a role as a Royal Musketeer. Relative newcomer Chambers has a Keanu-like wooden delivery, but as bar brawls and action ensue, it doesn't matter much.

Hong Kong stunt guru Xin Xin Xiong keeps the pace up with east-meets-west style sword fights more innovative than anything in the rest of the film.

D'Artagnan arrives in Paris to discover a plot by the church to sideline the Musketeers, finish off the strong-willed Queen of France and get the King off the throne. He enlists the support of fellow Musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis (Nick Moran, still in Lock, Stock mode with the addition of some Panto boots and a feathered hat).

At his lodgings he falls for pretty Francesca (the slightly less wooden Mena Suvari), orphaned daughter of the Queen's former dress-maid. Together they set about to protect the Sovereign.

Standing in their way is the deliciously evil Tim Roth as Febre, cold-blooded evil-doer for the conniving Cardinal Richlieu (Stephen Rea). Febre, as we know from the film's opening, killed D'Artagnan's parents.

Camping it up in fantastic style Roth's dark and dangerous character gets the only really decent script lines ("I feel the need to harm someone.").

With no-one to bounce them off they provide only momentary laughter. As the Queen, Catherine Deneuve does her best to pretend she's in an Oscar winning period epic, but knows she's not.

Often nicely shot, at points the film makes you want to book a holiday to a luxurious French chateau. Although some Parisian scenes are too slick to feel authentic, like much of the polished stunt work.

A fun end set-piece, which appears in a ladder factory, has D'Artagnan and Febre duel it out. Balancing on beams, like giant see-saws, the scene is unlikely but spectacular, with none of the grace of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

You might just find yourself enjoying this, despite the dodgy plot and script. And if you do, Tim Roth and the Hong Kong stunt team will be responsible. The funny thing with swashbuckling is that it's often energetic enough to keep you amused.

Aidan Conway