ReelBob: ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ ★★½

By Bob Bloom

It is apropos that time and its manipulation comprise the major storyline of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.”

The fifth movie in this iconic franchise dates back to the release of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” in 1981.

Since then, the intrepid-archaeologist-adventure franchise has had its ups — “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” — and downs — “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”

Through it all, we have been mesmerized and thrilled by Indy’s breathtaking and narrow escapes from certain death — the movies are throwbacks and homages to the Saturday matinee serials of the 1930s and ’40s, which inspired the Indiana Jones creator George Lucas and director of the first four movies Steven Spielberg.

Time, though, seems to have caught up not only with Indiana Jones, but with Harrison Ford who, at 80, remains as invested in the role as deeply as the first time he donned Indy’s fedora.

That Ford’s Jones is a few steps slower, some pounds heavier and grayer proves that the clock cannot be turned back — even for heroic movie stars and characters. And what propels “Dial of Destiny” is the audience’s combined affection for the actor and the fond memories of the hero he has come to represent on screen.

Unfortunately, nostalgia only can buoy a production so much, which is evidenced by the movie seemingly at times spinning its wheels.

What “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” lacks are the magical qualities that transfixed audiences, especially during the first three movies.

And while the movie’s main villain may be Mads Mikkelsen’s Dr. Jürgen Voller, a still-fervent Nazi who wants to turn back time and fix the mistakes made by Adolf Hitler, the real enemy is technology.

From the computer-generated de-aging process of Ford in the movie’s first several minutes to the very obvious CGI-laden sequences, “Dial of Destiny” lacks the charm — or quaintness — of its predecessors.

Carrying the film is Ford’s charisma. His investment in Indy is palatable; you can almost grasp it. Smartly, Ford, director James Mangold (“Ford v Ferrari,” “Walk the Line”) and writers Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, David Koepp and Mangold, allow Indy to acknowledge his age with all its associated aches and pains.

Sure, Indy takes a lickin’ but keeps on tickin’, making sure we recognize that he is not a human Energizer bunny. We see the wear-and-tear on his body. But Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr. is nothing if not stubborn and persistent. The word quit is not part of his vocabulary.

The movie begins in 1945 as World War II nears its end. A train filled with looted art and treasures from throughout Europe is being whisked by retreating Nazis to Germany, and Indy and his friend, Basil Shaw (Toby Jones), need to stop them.

Among the relics is the Antikythera, a device created by the great mathematician Archimedes that can locate fissures in time. Voller wants it, but Indy has it.

The film jumps to 1969 in which Voller is still seeking the Antikythera and knows Indy has it. Most of the remainder of the movie is a chase from New York to Tangiers to Athens then Sicily with the device — well, half of it anyway — continually changing hands. The other half of the gadget is within a sunken Roman galley.

This all sounds very exciting, but “Dial of Destiny’s” pacing lacks the derring-do velocity to withstand 144 minutes and begins to stumble under its — and our — high expectations.

Complementing Ford’s performance is that of Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”) and Indy’s goddaughter, Helena Shaw, and Mikkelsen’s impressive, single-minded villain.

Wasted are Antonio Banderas as Renaldo, an underwater diver and friend of Indy’s, and John Rhys-Davies return as Sallah.

The finale of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is poignantly perfect with the return of an important person from Indy’s past. It is a touching sequence that should close out this vaunted franchise on a high note.

Let’s hope Indiana Jones can finally enjoy his golden years in peace and contentment. He deserves it — and we owe him that gift for all he has given us.

I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, 4K UHD, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook at ReelBob.com or the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My movie reviews also can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.

INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY
2½ stars out of 4
(PG-13), action violence and sequences, language, smoking

INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY
2½ stars out of 4
(PG-13), action violence and sequences, language, smoking