“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”
“Shoot him! Not me!”
Story: It’s 1969, baybeeee! Time for miniskirts, astronauts, and Professor Indiana Jones’ retirement! Yep, the ol’ adventurer is hanging up his hat, to enjoy his golden years. Or something like that. But then Indy’s goddaughter Helena (aka Wombat) asks for his help with her PhD, which leads them to all sorts of shenanigans. One last ride, baybeeee!
Genre I’d put it in: Old School Action Romps
Release Date: 2023
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Part of the Indiana Jones franchise. The last film of this series…?
Gotta say: When Spielberg created Indiana Jones, he was paying homage to the adventure serials of the mid-20th Century. Cunning heroes, daring escapes, and tons of rock ’em, sock ’em action. While Lost Ark and Temple of Doom had undeniable appeal, Last Crusade started to sputter, with Crystal Skull feeling like a sad end to a once glorious series. “Why couldn’t they leave well enough alone?” I know; I said the same thing back in ’89 and ’08. But I’m here to tell you that Indy is back for one last run, and it’s actually worth your time.
Dial feels the most adventure serial-esque (it’s a word) of the series, second only to Temple. Sure, Crusade and Skull had lots of action, but things felt hollow. There was little attention given to characters and overall plot cohesion, which left viewers like me shrugging, and/or bemoaning the state of blockbusters nowadays. Dial decided to hark back to what made the first two films so much fun; charismatic characters, and an emphasis on how they play off of one another, with the craziness set as the catalyst for each character’s personal arc. When Dial begins, Indy is adrift, trying to figure out what comes next in his life. To him, his legendary achievements feel ages away, and almost hollow as the world begins to hurtle toward advanced technology. But Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Helena gets his researcher’s blood pumping again…and, of course, once things really get crazy, he begins to brush off the ennui.
The opening scene of Dial is a long one, with plenty of dialed-back Harrison Ford CGI (rather well done, actually) and, of course, lots of heart-in-your-throat action. The stunt work is top notch here, and throughout the film. But this scene in particular feels like it sprang from Ark; there’s a joy to the filmmaking here that the later Indy films seem to lack. It’s as if everyone knows this is the last hurrah, and both cast and crew are giving it their all. Once the film shifts to “present day” 1969, the action is just as intense, with planes, trains, and automobiles all getting used to full effect.
“There are a few moments where things feel a bit rushed. A scuba scene is thrilling, but feels rushed, as characters are introduced then quickly discarded. There’s also a car chase scene that’s very Keystone Kops, with several groups of folks coming and going. But one particular character introduction that seems to be rather important, gets no payoff; his entire group could have been cut with zero impact o the plot, though the scene would have been more “James Bond car chase” than “Indy shenanigans”. So I guess here we are. Would have been fun to have seen a quick payoff though. Just me, perhaps.
As with the other films in this series, the cinematography and art direction is absolutely immaculate here. And it’s good to see – er, hear – John Williams’ score, which by now is a character in its own right. Harrison Ford is the spryest 80-year-old I’ve ever seen; perhaps that score keeps a pep in his step? I completely forgot how old he is when his Indy was on screen. And the back-and-forth between Ford and Waller-Bridge feels natural, if not exactly as electric as it was with Karen Allen. (And I’m not talking romance here. Just onscreen chemistry. Get your minds out of the Roman aqueducts.)
I hope that Dial grosses big. Not that I want another sequel – please end this one here, y’all, it’s a perfect ending. But because it’s just a fun time at the movies. No ulterior motives, no Deep Thoughts. Just fun. And we all deserve a little fun. Go get some.
#Protip: After two and a half hours? Feel free to get up once the credits start rolling. There’s no mid- or post-credits scene. Your bladder will thank you.
