Director James Mangold
Screenplay Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, David Koepp, James Mangold
Starring Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Cates, Mads Mikkelson, Boyd Holbrook, John Rhys-Davies, Karen Allen, Toby Jones, Ethann Isidore
To say this third version of the final Indiana Jones film is disappointing is to put it mildly. The entire series has been the definition of the idiom “each worse than the last”. Yet the whole series has, at the least, explored places and things of interest to those inclined to be interested in history to the extent of its main protagonist. The first film stands as one of the best practical effects adventures since Jason and the Argonauts. It’s also one of this viewer’s favorite films.
To those who like the original trilogy, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was a digital effects disappointment. I was so happy to see Karen Allen back, but the film definitely did not age well. This film repeats almost the exactly the same mistake, though they bravely try to add a prologue during the Allied Liberation of Europe with a Ford lookalike (the same actor who played Ford in The Age of Adaline) de-aged into unconvincing action scenes meant to set forth the events of the film.
Forward to 1969 with Jones a professor retiring from Hunter College with kids in his class that have no interest in his ancient studies since the NASA astronauts are going to be paraded through the city that day. He is separated from Marion (Allen) after their son Mutt (LaBeouf) joined the service and died in Vietnam. In truth of course, the actor portraying him became too toxic to bring back.
In the place of Mutt, we have Helana (Waller-Cates), as the daughter of one of Jones’ many contemporaries who was with him when they sought the MacGuffin in the prologue. To describe what this device is here might take away one of the things that always appeals to viewers of the Indiana Jones films. Heaven knows there will be little else to draw one’s attention through the mess of action Mangold pushes the viewers through.
The biggest sin of the last two attempts to wrap up this story is that not any of the effects come close to feeling physically possible. The sheen portrayed on the screen lacks any sort of grit, and does not give any feeling of being tactile. We’re just seeing a bunch of actors in a muddled cartoon with shaking, rattling and loud noises.
On the plus side, Harrison Ford is a different, evolved Indy in this film. He handles the plot points not like someone who is going through the motions, responding to “old man” peppered at him from his son in the last film. There’s not so much “too old for this shit” dialogue either. If we can’t believe it’s him or any human being the ancient action hero, at least we’re spared cheap dialogue as it happens.
Waller-Cates is acceptable as the “god daughter” we’ve never heard of before. Thankfully she’s not a love interest, but she’s not really believable as an action hero either. That’s ok, though. None of the action seems like anything outside of a dream. Her job is to be the respected younger actor to accompany Ford as a draw for younger viewers. Like LaBeouf, she’s a bit of a misfire, but she’s ok to move the plot forward.
She is accompanied in Tangier but a sidekick, Teddy Kumar (Isidore). His job is similar to that of Short-Round (Ke Huy-Quan) from The Temple of Doom: steal things, get caught, jump in to save people at the right time, then other duties as assigned. He’s less of an irritant than Short-Round, but he’s also less memorable.
Why Ford felt the desire to make this film is unclear. He is pushing hard for someone in his 80’s, kind of like Clint Eastwood. It’s nice that the two legends have something to say. Unlike Eastwood, who’s themes have been crystal clear if not always entertaining as Gran Torino, Ford has his moments, but lack any sort of message. Maybe that’s because he’s a craftsman, who works one character at a time.
As a character, Indiana Jones is fine. As an adventurer, the results are diminishing.
(** out of *****)
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