Fountain of Youth
Dustin Chase
There’s something about an adventure movie for the summer when you are a kid, traveling through a story, whether a book or a film. Long gone are the days of Indiana Jones (despite failed attempts at sequels) or even the modern interpretation of “National Treasure.” Aiming to fill the summer family adventure, Apple+ is throwing a lot of money at this movie, hoping to create a franchise. It’s the second time director Guy Ritchie has dabbled in the family movie genre, Disney’s live-action adaptation of “Aladdin” being the first. Known for his snappy dialogue (without profanity here), quick edits, and action sequences, Ritchie applies what’s worked in the past on films like “The Man from U.N.C.L.E” or “The Gentlemen” to an adventure for the whole family.
Following the passing of their father, a famed archaeological historian, siblings Luke (Krasinski) and Charlotte (Portman) have become estranged over the years. Their paths cross again when Luke steals a painting at the museum she’s curating in London. Hired by filthy wealthy Owen Carver (Gleeson), Luke is tasked with finding the famed fountain of youth for the dying billionaire. The key to its location lies within some of history’s most famous artworks, meaning a race around the globe in some of the most perilous situations to find a map. There are others who will stop at nothing to prevent Luke, Carver, or anyone else from finding the elusive fountain.
Indiana Jones and James Bond films have an influence on Ritchie’s work here without shame.
The film opens with Luke on a scooter in Thailand, desperately trying to get out of the country with his stolen artifact. This chase sets the pace for what’s to come. Indiana Jones and James Bond films have an influence on Ritchie’s work here without shame. Car chases, train fights, pyramids, and globetrotting, the laundry list of adventure genre tropes is checked off one by one. Despite the fast-paced dialogue, it’s the script that stumbles most, particularly with character traits. Portman’s Charlotte feels like she is being written as the story progresses, constantly changing attributes and traits that seemingly evolve out of thin air. Portman is highly entertaining in the role, but James Vanderbilt’s writing and character development is porous.
While “Fountain of Youth” is likely to entertain or pacify younger audiences and families, it offers little advancement to the genre in the way of originality. Instead, Ritchie and Vanderbilt seem purposefully guiding the movie towards homage, rather than carving out new paths. If “Fountain of Youth” starts like a Bond film, it segways to Indiana Jones but certainly ends on more of a Tomb Raider note. The weighted special effects mostly arrive at the end to less than stellar results. Krasinski is fun as the goofy, imperfect hero yet his team including Carmen Ejogo and Laz Alonso are noticeably mitigated to the background.
Final Thought
Fountain of Youth satisfies the most basic family adventure movie quest of having something new to watch, but little else.