Johnny Depp stars as American journalist Paul Kemp, who goes off to Puerto Rico in search of adventure and to write for the San Juan Star. He takes a liking to drinking rum in the film, much like Depp's "Pirates of the Caribbean" persona, Capt. Jack Sparrow. However, the Hunter S. Thompson story line is more grim than Disney's adventure franchise. Depp also played journalist Thompson in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."