It’s more than a little ironic that “On Stranger Tides” is centered around a search for the Fountain of Youth: after two lukewarm sequels (especially 2007’s lifeless “At World’s End) to the original 2003 film, the “Pirates” series was in desperate need of rejuvenation. But are a new director, mermaids, and the absence of a puppy-eyed Orlando Bloom and his tomboy girlfriend Keira Knightley enough to breathe new life into the latest film? In a word, yes.

With new director Rob Marshall taking the helm from Gore Verbinksi, this “Pirates” does indeed sail on stranger tides.  Everyone’s favorite pirate,  Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp, wearing more eye-shadow than ever), is his usual roguish, witty, charming self but his prized ship the “Black Pearl” is largely written out of the picture. The on-and-off nemesis Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) is back with a new wooden leg and is now sailing under the flag of the British navy instead of a jolly roger, and even some of Jack’s dreadlocks have turned blonde.

“On Stranger Tides” finds the captured Jack being dragged before the portly King of England who orders him, on pain of death, to lead an expedition to find the Fountain of Youth. Of course, though, no self-respecting pirate would let themselves be pushed around by a wheezy king, and Jack is soon swinging from chandeliers, stealing creampuffs, and balancing on speeding carriages in a daring escape. This is the first of the film’s many cleverly conceived action scenes, most of which have been mercifully scaled down after the preposterously large-scale, noisy battles of “At World’s End.”

Bent on finding the Fountain for himself, Jack joins a crew being put together by  . . . another Jack Sparrow? The doppelganger turns out to be an ex-flame of Jack’s named Angelica (Penélope Cruz, lovely even when she’s wearing a fake moustache) and Jack soon discovers that she’s actually working for the dread pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane). Angelica claims that she is his daughter and wants to use the Fountain to redeem his wicked soul. And he is in serious need of some redeeming – with burning matches thrust under his hat and an insecurely large sword, Blackbeard roasts a would-be mutineer alive, smiling all the while. Thrown into the mix are some God-fearing Spaniards intent on beating the English to the Fountain, if only they can get past the man-eating mermaids.

Despite the multitude of new characters, this “Pirates” arguably has the most straightforward plot yet, much of which rests on Jack’s capable, dreadlocked-swathed shoulders. Someone must have realized that the iconic pirate was the main draw of the series and made the wise decision to give him more screen time. Depp owns the role and dominates much of the action, although the sexy, spunky Angelica certainly gives him a run for his money. Or doubloons.

While the “Pirates” films are inspired by the Disneyland ride, “On Stranger Tides” is also (at least partially) based on Tim Powers’ eponymous novel. Whether it was the new source material, new characters, or director, this “Pirates” manages to recapture some of the freshness of the original film that was sorely missing from the previous sequels. That’s not to say it’s a cinematic milestone: Jack and Angelica’s sexual innuendos seem out of place in a Disney movie and a silly romantic subplot between a hunky missionary and a mermaid feels completely forced. But films like this one aren’t made for artistic innovation, and “Pirates” offers all the fun a summer blockbuster should.

Accompanied by Hans Zimmer’s rousing score and its added flourish of the guitarists Roberto y Gabriela, Jack fends off zombies, is catapulted from palm trees, and leaps from death-defying heights to dodge explosions of whale oil along the way to the Fountain of Youth. But suspend disbelief. He’s Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy?