Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is an absolute blast! It’s back to classic Indy, which is something longtime fans will truly appreciate.
Indiana Jones movies have been the staple of entertainment for many people. The first three films are entertaining and fun (but we don’t talk about the fourth one). Harrison Ford stepping back into this role one last time, to end it on a high note, is exciting. What the fifth installment, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, delivers is exactly what fans want from an Indiana Jones movie.
Dial of Destiny takes a giant step back into classic Indy and the things that people love about this franchise. There is adventure, cheesy dialogue, action packed chase scenes, and a whole lot of great one liners from Harrison Ford. It is funny, lighthearted, and of course, has Nazis. Sure, there is a little bit of jumping the shark but nothing like we got in the previous film. This is a summer blockbuster that begs to be seen on the big screen.
What Works With Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Harrison Ford is back as Indiana Jones for the fifth time and while this one isn’t as good as the original trilogy, it is certainly better than the fourth film. If you have been missing classic Indy, Dial of Destiny delivers that feeling. The action, adventure, and humor that fans loved about the first three movies are back. While this one isn’t perfect, there is a lot to love about it.
Harrison, as always, is charismatic and charming. While he is surrounded by a great cast, he is what makes this movie as good as it is. It is as if he never skipped a beat, as he slides back into the role of Indiana Jones.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge shares the screen with Harrison Ford as Indy’s goddaughter, Helena. The two have some great back and forth dialogue that will have audiences laughing. They have a lot of fun together and it is great to see them team up. Ethann Isidore joins the cast as well, as young Teddy. He is cute and fun, bringing a lot of the comedic moments to the movie.
Mads Mikkelsen is always good, so it should come as no surprise that he ends up being a formidable opponent for Indiana Jones. The fight scenes between him and Harrison are some of the best in the movie. He goes over the top Nazi villain at times, but Indy movies have always been a little bit over the top, haven’t they?
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny brings that classic Indy adventure to the big screen again. As they travel from place to place the theme kicks in and a map is shown depicting where they are heading and that right there, is something fans will love. Nostalgia is powerful, and they bring just enough of that to this movie to offer fan service, but not too much where it feels like it was made solely as a cash grab.
There is a story to tell here, and it is entertaining, fun, and quite a bit emotional at the end. This the perfect way to wrap things up for Doctor Indiana Jones. He gets to go on one last adventure and see things he never thought he would. Yes, parts are cheesy and it goes a little bit off the wall at the end — but at least aliens didn’t show up.
What Doesn’t Work With Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Let’s start with the elephant in the room. We all know that Harrison Ford is de-aged in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. We have seen it in the trailers. But how does it work in the movie? While the looks of it actually work really well, the first time he talks is jarring. It is clearly his voice now, on his face from years ago and something seems off. That being said, it doesn’t take long for you to forget all about it as the movie continues.
Probably the biggest issue with the film is its length. It is nearly two and a half hours and it feels that long. There are times where the movie drags and some viewers might even be checking their watches. The chase scenes, while fun and entertaining, could have been shortened to clean things up.
In an effort to keep this spoiler free, we won’t dive into the details of the issues, but there is a plot point in regards to Helena and Indy during the first act that could have been skipped over completely. It isn’t necessary and even feels out of place the longer the film goes on.
Then, once we get to the third act, there is something that happens which was once again, not needed. It could have been alluded to and yes, while it is fun, it was clear enough where things were going without spelling it out for us. Tightening both of these acts would have shortened the runtime of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, making the pacing work better and taking away the feel of it being too long.
Overall Thoughts
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny takes fans back to what they love about the franchise. There is action, adventure, and a lot of cheesy dialogue and humor. It leans into the nostalgia with some great cameos and Easter eggs, but also tells and interesting story, giving Indiana Jones the ending he deserves.
While the movie is too long, with a few plot points that could have been easily cut, it provides entertainment, making it the perfect summer blockbuster to see on the big screen with your friends and family. Thankfully they decided to make this film, because we couldn’t have Indy’s send off be the last film.
It might not be perfect, but it is certainly entertaining. Back to what feels like classic Indy, fans are given action, adventure, and that cheesy dialogue we all love so much. Whenever that theme kicks in, you’ll grin from ear to ear.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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About Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Daredevil archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary dial that can change the course of history. Accompanied by his goddaughter, he soon finds himself squaring off against Jürgen Voller, a former Nazi who works for NASA.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny hits theaters on June 30th.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.