Fitting finale: Leigh Paatsch’s verdict on Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

The punches don’t always land, but Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny gets the whipcracking archaeologist’s last ride right by letting Harrison Ford act his age, writes Leigh Paatsch.

Indiana Jones & the Dial of Destiny (M)

Director: James Mangold (Ford V Ferrari)

Starring: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mad Mikkelsen, Toby Jones.

***

A fair (and final) crack of the whip

A man. A hat. A whip. A little archaeology. A lot of adventure.

These five elements were initially combined in spectacular fashion over 40 years ago to create the first Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Those of us who have remained at Indy’s side in the decades since will be delighted to learn that those same five factors remain potently in play for what is believed to be the mega-popular character’s final screen assignment, Dial of Destiny.

Sure, some uninterested bystanders are bound to declare that an 80-year-old Harrison Ford is way too ancient for a role that requires much running, jumping and cheating of death.

Such naysayers have got it all wrong. While Dial of Destiny does not task Mr Ford with anything as demanding as the last Indy movie – remember when he survived a nuclear bombing by getting inside a kitchen fridge? – this experienced and endearing old hand does perfectly fine by simply acting his age.

To perhaps soften the blow for those worried Ford could be waving for a walking frame at some point, Dial of Destiny kicks off with a rousing extended action sequence flashing back to the end of World War II.

Harrison Ford gets to act his age as Indy in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

With the aid of some convincing screen technology, a younger, fitter and feistier Indy gets in a longform brawl aboard a speeding train full of Hitler’s finest treasure looters.

It is a cracking way to both start proceedings and also introduce the old-timey gizmo that everyone will be chasing until the closing credits roll: the notorious Dial of Destiny, a time-travelling gadget that harks back to Ancient Greece in its prime.

After taking off so impressively, the new movie cools its jets for a while as we join an Indiana Jones who is no longer in his prime. The year is 1969, and Indy’s days as a respected professor of archaeology have come to an end.

Just as a rather bleak retirement beckons, Indy is jump-started back into active, globetrotting, Nazi-thwarting duty by the arrival of Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), the daughter of an old friend. She wants to get her hands on the Dial of Destiny so she can sell it on the black market for a major payday.

Meanwhile, there is also an evil German rocket scientist, Dr Voller (Mads Mikkelsen) who wants the Dial for his own nefarious purposes.

As for Indy, he thinks the Dial might be better placed well away from either pursuer.

To be honest, this movie does sag slightly around the midway mark as it settles into a casual, yet cluttered approach which does not seem to be advancing the story in any meaningful way. It also does not really help that the rapport between Ford and his principal co-star, Waller-Bridge, is inconsistent at best.

Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) and Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Picture: Jonathan Olley

However, once Dial of Destiny reaches its final act and busies itself repairing, resolving and even renewing matters that have always meant so much to true fans of Indiana Jones, all is forgiven.

Better still, the movie’s open invitation to bid farewell to one of the screen’s most beloved and enduring characters offers a pleasing sense of closure that so many will genuinely appreciate and cherish.

Indiana Jones & the Dial of Destiny is in cinemas now

Red, White and Brass (PG)

**1/2

General release

Kiwi crowd-pleaser Red White and Brass is based on a true(ish) story.

This genial, middle-of-the-road comedy has done great business on its home turf in New Zealand, but will probably struggle to truly connect with audiences over here.

It is certainly no fault of the subject matter, which is generally held to be a true story. It is just that the jokes are a bit basic and not quite as amusing as the filmmakers assume them to be. So it goes.

That true(ish) story? It does admittedly get you leaning forward at times: in the run-up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup, a bunch of mates from the tiny island nation of Tonga miss out on tickets to see their national team take on the might of France (a game which ultimately resulted in one of the great upsets in tournament history).

To gain admission, a brilliant, if deluded scheme is concocted. The lads rope in anyone and everyone they can find to pose as a brass band that will anchor the pre-game entertainment.

There’s just one hitch. Few – if any – of the participants in the ruse have any musical experience whatsoever.

While this is a nice tale, told in a pleasing and undemanding fashion, you’re not missing out on anything much by waiting for it to surface later on home streaming.

Originally published as Fitting finale: Leigh Paatsch’s verdict on Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny