'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' Review: Indy is an old dog with no new tricks as action-packed film lacks force
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Steven Spielberg’s beloved creation returns for the fifth time but this time without him at the helm to guide Harrison Ford as he charts another adventure to retrieve a dial that yields the power to alter time. 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ is a thrilling journey filled with heart-pounding action, charismatic performances, and a touch of nostalgia but a poor and formulaic storyline is not a fitting conclusion to Ford’s journey as the titular character.
‘Dial of Destiny’ starts with a World War II flashback where a de-aged younger Indiana "Indy" Jones is fighting Nazis on a speeding train. He gets the Archimedes dial in the possession of Nazi scientist Jurgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen) who wants to use it to locate fissures in time, return to 1939 and kill Adolf Hitler to take his place and rule Germany. Indy manages to escape by jumping off the train when Allied bombers destroy the bridge. The movie then springs to 1969 with Indy on the cusp of retirement but Helena Shaw, Indy’s goddaughter portrayed brilliantly by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, forces him for another adventure to retrieve the dial of destiny. And the next two hours are what the Indiana Jones franchise is known for.
Indy’s tryst with action and nostalgia continues
Indy is on a globe-trotting mission once again as director James Mangold uses his brilliant action acumen to enthrall the audiences. Indy along with Helena travels to Morocco, Spain, and Greece in search of the Archimedes dial but a notable mention has to be given to the sequence where Ford rides a horse in the subway. The exhilarating opening sequence is a testament to the franchise’s commitment to delivering high-octane action. Even the Tuk-Tuk action sequence will be remembered for a long time. It’s almost reminiscent of the boulder scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark and will be rewatched innumerable times. The special effects are mind-bending as well but the overall structure of the film remains adherent to the formula of any adventure film. It lacks the depth and nuance that Spielberg brought with his version of filmmaking.
To keep the fans on the edge of their seats, the movie also calls out references to the former films. There is a more than obvious attempt to invoke nostalgia and with the return of familiar faces like John Rhys-Davies as Sallah and Nazis as primary villains, the film stays true to its roots.
A ‘vanilla’ story but Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge save the day
The remarkable chemistry between Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the only saving grace of a film led with action. Jurgen Voller played by Mads Mikkelsen feels underutilized and fails to recreate the magic of the villainous characters he played in James Bond and Marvel films. Ford continues to infuse the character with charisma but it’s Phoebe’s fresh and dynamic energy that propels the film forward. Ford is often seen playing the role of a protective father and even at the end when Indy is stuck in the past, he wishes to save Helena who manages to take him back to 1969.
Phoebe’s performance is imbued with swagger, complementing Ford's portrayal of a seasoned and mature Indiana Jones, and together, they create a captivating duo that drives the film forward. ‘Dial of Destiny’ is a missed opportunity to bid farewell to Ford’s iconic portrayal of a beloved adventurer but the action and nostalgia creeps into the viewers, who might just smile at the end when the curtains are drawn.