Guy Ritchie, best known for gritty gangster dramedy films of a cinematic age gone by, has taken up more mainstream endeavors as of late to middling success. The best of the bunch came in the form of The Covenant in 2023; the worst, on the other hand, his worst output on the silver screen, just last year: The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. He also did the Aladdin live-action remake, but that’s a whole different ordeal… for better or worse.
Either way, the director’s unique set of skills isn’t always suited to what’s making the most money at the box office – or, in this case, in the streaming market. His trademark sensibilities (at least the ones he used to be known for) clash with all that is watered down, dull-edged, and easygoing.
Yet Fountain of Youth falls victim to each of these descriptors, and many more, similarly unpleasant ones, too. If Guy Ritchie’s name weren’t plastered all over the marketing, there’d truly be no way to tell that he directed it. Despite the film being sold as his spin on Indiana Jones, it ends up feeling like a spoof of that property and others like it.
The story is in the title: a team of high-profile art thieves, led by Luke Purdue (John Krasinski) is in search of the legendary fountain of youth. Funded by a billionaire (Domhnall Gleeson) and reluctantly joined by Purdue’s sister, Charlotte (Natalie Portman), the crew sets out on a globetrotting adventure in search of the ultimate prize.
Except that every location looks almost identical to the last in form and function. Big cities, ancient buildings, wondrous monuments; each and every new stop carries the same glossy, digital sheen as the last. Little intent is visible in anything beyond the coldly manufactured humor and decent spread of action set pieces here, and even those displays of vision could be taken or left.
The characters themselves run about as deep as their actors’ names, though said actors are here for a reason. Krasinski and Portman, as a lead brother and sister duo, are more than effective; their banter drives much of the dead space left by a screenplay with no idea how to pace this narrative. Conversations either dwell on themselves for too long or bluntly state their themes in one sentence before moving on, while action sequences range from cleverly shot and executed to completely basic, shot-reverse-shot sludge (with the latter winning out more often than not in both instances).
Still, there’s a decent bit of fun to be had with sword fights in libraries and car chases that take place anywhere but the main road. Inspirations from the likes of not only Indiana Jones, but also National Treasure, are pleasantly present and help to make Fountain of Youth stand out in some ways. Also, for what it’s worth, the movie’s finale is downright insane. Perhaps a little too ambitious, but it’s the only real moment that the story feels like it’s speaking beyond the events that take place within it. Thematically, too, the moment is powerful, even if the visuals remain somewhat disappointing for the film’s most monumental moment.
But you aren’t watching movies for the finale alone, and beyond that, Fountain of Youth has little to offer. This is a painstakingly mediocre action adventure suited for the small screen in the worst way possible. Somebody get Guy Ritchie an underground boxing ring and some tough dudes with unidentifiable accents before he tarnishes his legacy. This is a backwards progression for a director who, at one time, was one of the most underrated in the field.
Fountain Of Youth will premiere on Apple TV+ on May 23, 2025.
This is a painstakingly mediocre action adventure suited for the small screen in the worst way possible. Somebody get Guy Ritchie an underground boxing ring and some tough dudes with unidentifiable accents before he tarnishes his legacy. This is a backwards progression for a director who, at one time, was one of the most underrated in the field.
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GVN Rating
Movies, long drives, and mint chocolate chip ice cream.
