★★★½
There are only a few characters in movie history that are more recognizable than the iconic Indiana Jones. Years ago, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg introduced the world to the fearless and charming archeologist, who has been a part of countless sequels, tv adaptations, theme parks, and even books. Director James Mangold did not take this responsibility lightly, and in turn, has produced a fun Indiana Jones film. Although not without flaws, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, captures that childhood nostalgia that many of us may have, and introduces a new generation to the adrenaline-fueled adventure series.
On the day that Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) finally retires from teaching, he runs into his goddaughter, Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), who also shares a love for mysterious and valuable artifacts. Helena has spent most of her life buying and selling priceless items on the black market, something that Indy isn’t aware of. When she asks about the Dial of Destiny, a mysterious item designed by Archimedes himself, Indy takes her into his archives to show her the half that he found. To his surprise, she steals the Dial and runs off, leaving Indy to navigate a trail of bad guys, led by Dr. Voller (Mads Mikkelson) and taking him on one last adventure.
From the opening scene, fans of the series will feel right at home. Kicking off with a Nazi run-in and a high-speed train chase, Mangold dives right into Spielberg’s playbook. The opening sequence sets the table for the rest of the film, offering a sense of familiarity and comfort. Most of the audience will know where this movie is going, based on the source material alone, but Mangold makes sure to throw some twists and turns into the mix. Old characters and new friends make an appearance, as the film plays out like a love letter to the series. Harrison Ford is excellent as Indy, and the supporting cast does a good job of keeping the light-hearted, humorous approach that has been a staple of the series.
Although Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny works wonders as an Indy film, it still falls into the same traps as previous iterations. Some of the stunts are so wildly unbelievable that they can take the fun out of a scene (anyone remember the refrigerator?). All of the adventure movie tropes are here, for better or for worse, and ‘Dial of Destiny’ never veers majorly off course. By the time the end credits roll, many will be left wondering if the Dial was a worthy subject to send off Indiana Jones.
The questionable third act is redeemed by a heart-felt ending, giving fans of the series everything they could ask for. There is something special about Indy’s hat and whip, iconic imagery in the pantheon of cinema history, and Mangold does his best to respect the past. By never truly deviating from what makes Indiana Jones so great, the final installment in Harrison Ford’s run as Indy makes for a fitting end.
