REVIEW: INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY

3.5/5

Indiana Pacer. 

154 Mins. Starring: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore & Mads Mikkelsen. Director: James Mangold. In: Theatres. 

"Mum, can you sign me up for drama school, please?! I want to be just like Harrison Ford." It's 1993...and I'm about eight years old. Wondering if I could ever make it in Hollywood like Macaulay Culkin. Home alone with these thoughts, slap both of your cheeks (THE ONES ON YOUR FACE), because the reason I wanted to be like Ford, had nothing to do with 'Star Wars'...or 'Indiana Jones' for your Lucasfilm creations by George. It was all to do with 'The Fugitive' (nice Cubs nod to Harrison's home Chicago town here). His remake of the classic TV series that garnered Tommy Lee Jones a 'Best Supporting Actor' Academy Award. A 90s action blockbuster staple they just simply don't make any more. These days Vin Diesel jumps cars off dams. DAMN! With all that being said, 'Indiana Jones' had more than an effect on me. When I was in my 20s and just getting into 'Star Wars' which I now love (criminal, I know. This is not the film writer you are looking for) me and a great friend had designs on being comedy scriptwriters. After 'Anchorman', 'Talladega Nights', 'Semi-Pro' and 'Blades Of Glory' in his comic prime, we wanted to write the next great Will Ferrell comedy. We had an idea for a film called 'Cirque du So Lame' (I know, I know) and we wanted Will to have his way as a ringmaster with a whip he called Harrison. The rub? He has no idea who or what an 'Indiana Jones' is or was. 

Enough of that self-promoting stuff I never managed to get off mess. How about this? The first film, simply titled 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark', 'Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom', 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'. A terrific trilogy in movie lore next to 'The Godfather' before it and the 'Lord Of The Rings' that came after it in epic proportions. Created by the man, the myth and the legend that is George Lucas. Directed by the one and only Steven Spielberg. Scored by the iconic John Williams (still, to this day). This was what golden era 80s to 90s popcorn blockbusters were all about. An archaeologist that made Nic Cage's 'National Treasure' look like 'Time Team' (no disrespect to either). The 'Indiana Jones' series gave Harrison Ford not one, but two movie characters that will live forever in infamy. Inspiring everything from Sam Neill's Dr. Alan Grant in 'Jurassic Park', to Chris Pratt's Star-Lord in 'Guardians Of The Galaxy'. Not to mention all 'The Mummy' movies in between. Games, comics, novels, theme park attractions. They all came next like 'Jaws' or the 'Jurassic' era. In 2008, they even brought it right back almost 20 years later with 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull'. Which was fun but felt literally alien to the fanbase. Looking to introduce promising actor Shia LaBeouf for some chronicles of a young Indiana Jones...but we all know what happened there. Now, after messing with space, it's time for 'The Dial Of Destiny'. The fifth and final film for Ford to go along with his Solo swan song. 

Dial D for Destiny, I for Indy and HF for HOLY F###, Harrison Ford is back in the fedora at 80. Some critics like the lukewarm reception at Cannes are calling bull whip, but he's cracking. Sure, the events of these movies are getting more and more ridiculous as time goes on. Especially with the epic end here that is actually earned. But it still doesn't try to clear the bar that the cars of the 'Fast and Furious' franchise do. Besides, this is a FORDmidable franchise that has searched for Holy Grails and been chased by boulders that turned and turned into classic Bart bits on 'The Simpsons' (you can imagine who the boulder is, why you little). What do you want in this escape from reality? 'Indiana Jones and the One Word Text Back Of Doom'?! Harrison hasn't lost a step. The 'Witness', 'Regarding Henry' and Jack Ryan ('Patriot Games' and 'Clear and Present Danger') legend has still got it like that interviewer told him at Cannes to a classic reaction. The American icon like a Springsteen or Dylan (just a little more gruff) of the movie world is currently ruling the small streaming screens with Apple TV+'s 'Shrinking' and the 'Yellowstone' prequel '1923' with Helen Mirren. Set to return to the big blockbuster screens next year after hew hangs his hat with the 'Brave New World' of Anthony Mackie's 'Captain America' sequel. Replacing the late, great William Hurt as General Thunderbolt Ross. Dear, K.E.V.I.N. Please let him Red Hulk out. 

An outstanding opening atop a train in World War II featuring 'Captain America', 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' character actor and 'Detectorists' great Toby Jones on fine form brings the nostalgic yarn back in all its thrills and spills. Not to mention a CGI perfect capturing of a young Ford and a maddening Mads Mikkelsen as the perfect foil and for, relishing the villain role like 'Hannibal' does dessert. 'Ford v Ferrari' ('Le Mans 24'), 'The Wolverine' and Johnny Cash director James Mangold on duty, doesn't take his foot off the gas for a second, walking the line. Not letting up like he didn't in his legendary 'Logan' finale with act after act of action. Galloping on horseback down the moon landing parade and protest streets of New York, right down to and through the subway. Finally feeling like the cowboy Indiana always inspired. Rip-roaring rickshaws continue the chase across the world before planes join those trains and automobiles, crossing paths and tides stranger than 'Cowboys and Aliens' (but we promise there's no little green men this time out). This Disney picture feels like a big blockbuster classic, all the way down to the throwback promotional poster and the iconic Williams theme playing on the big screen. Right there with the 'Star Wars' one, if not better. Yeah, I said it. 

"Are you Short Round?" Ford asked a familiar face earlier last year. "Okey-dokey, Dr. Jones!" Yes he was. Ke Huy Quan reuniting with Harrison lovingly last year before he and Michelle Yeoh took the world and Oscars by storm with The Daniels' 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'. It's just a shame the Oscar winner didn't meet the 'Witness' nominated actor (time for his honorary one) again earlier. Because don't hold out for an onscreen surprise reunion here that would have worked magic. Young, promising actor Ethann Isidore more than makes up for the kid sidekick role that Huan, at 51, can no longer do anyway though. Even if it had been nice for him to turn up as an old friend like Antonio Banderas, or the legendary reunion like John Rhys-Davies giving them hell with Indy. But before you put your hat over someone's face and punch them. This film with a class cast, like the 'Logan' goon of Boyd Holbrook being a heavyweight favourite of Mangold, almost has the show stole by 'Fleabag' and Solo star Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Jones' God-daughter. Yet, from a whip smart call-back to how effective that lasso of truth is by the gun, to a touching tribute in an emotional end, that Ford plays perfectly, you know Indiana Jones was Harrison's destiny. What a joy to dial it back one more time for a real last crusade. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark', 'Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom', 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull'.