On paper everything about Fountain of Youth should work. Best known for writing David Fincher’s Zodiac, James Vanderbilt clearly has pedigree. However, other titles in his back catalogue are less prestigious. An Independence Day sequel here, and a Murder Mystery movie there is all it takes for audiences to understand why Fountain of Youth feels like such a misfire. Although there is no denying the success Vanderbilt has had elsewhere, this by the numbers boys’ own adventure is doing no one any favours.
Despite the presence of Guy Ritchie behind the camera, this globe-trotting action fest lacks originality. John Krasinski is no stranger to action, thanks to his time on Prime series Jack Ryan, but here he is clearly on autopilot. Oscar-winner Natalie Portman also phones it in long distance, delivering a performance that suggests her attention is elsewhere.
As Luke and Charlotte Purdue, they head off in search of a mythical McGuffin designed to keep audiences invested. However, both actors are wasted peddling uninspired dialogue, while Fountain of Youth embraces cliche without any sense of self-awareness. None of the knowing nods which made Indiana Jones such a pleasure are present, making things feel painfully flat.
Image Courtesy of Apple
Domhnall Gleeson is also overlooked in a thankless role, that would scream villain if there were any hint of character development. Eiza Gonzalez is neither a convincing love interest nor a viable threat to Krasinski, adding nothing of note to a film that is pure style over substance. Guy Ritchie is also asleep at the wheel offering up none of his verbal invention, leaving solid supporting players like Stanley Tucci sidelined and superfluous in trivial cameo scenes.
Fountain of Youth is on a par with Wolfs in terms of disappointment. An Apple original that was responsible for making George Clooney and Brad Pitt boring for the first time in their lives. The truth is that Fountain of Youth relies on exotic locations, and recycled genre tropes that barely pass for action adventure. Uncharted might have miscast Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg, but at least it had some passable set pieces. Redeeming features here are few and far between for audiences looking to be entertained, begging the question, what could be in it for diehard fans?
For audiences who like everything handed to them on a plate Fountain of Youth might work. What story there is requires no effort to understand, and production values are consistently solid. John Krasinski might feel slightly miscast but himself and Natalie Portman make it out unscathed. Despite the stereotypical bickering that defines their relationship, even acting on cruise control they remain engaging. Unfortunately, everything else that is happening around them makes their presence inconsequential. Reducing Fountain of Youth down to an expensive misfire, that is best forgotten.
Fountain of Youth is available now on AppleTV+