At age 81, Harrison Ford has returned to his most iconic role, perhaps even more so than Star Wars‘ Han Solo: professor and archaeologist Indiana Jones in Relic of Destiny. The franchise rescued him 15 years after what would have been his farewell, in 2008, with Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, where he discovered he was a father and ended up marrying the love of his life, Marion (Karen Allen). That’s why we found it strange when we found him in the early 1970s, suffering from the new generation that only cares about astronauts, that doesn’t care about History or Relics. About to retire, Indiana is alone and far from the days when students sighed for him in the classroom.

We soon became interested in finding out more about his life as a married man, but the signs are not good: he is separated, suffering, sullen, and frustrated. This contrasts with the flashback of him still at his peak, during the Second World War, interfering once again with the Nazis’ plan, especially Jürgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen). Indy would never have imagined that when his goddaughter, Helena Shaw (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) shows up asking for help to recover the same powerful artifact he recovered in the War, he is once again dedicated to preventing it from falling into the wrong hands and changing the course of humanity.

Honestly? The plot makes no difference. It’s almost always an excuse to start impossible pursuits, which don’t make us laugh or cheer because we know exactly how they will all end. Indiana Jones became predictable, tired, and with equally disbelieving fans. Not even Phoebe Waller-Bridge‘s usual charisma helps. The sadness they created for Indy – which explains the absences of Marion and Mutt (Shia Leboeuf) and also moves us – is not enough to connect us, not even the quick mention of Indy Senior (Sean Connery). That’s because Indiana’s crisis in history is the perfect metaphor for how tired the franchise has become. He is a relic of cinema, exploited, tired, and without news. Even Mads Mikkelsen‘s villain seems like more of the same, although it’s ironic how Indiana, who fought so hard against the Nazis, has less prestige than him with the American government now that Voller is a Nazi scientist enlisted at NASA who helps on the mission to land on the Moon.

In the final film of the franchise, 42 years after the premiere, time and wear are obvious, unfortunately, Indiana Jones and the Relic of Destiny was effectively Indy’s farewell because Harrison Ford will no longer return to the role. 15 years ago it had already been somewhat anti-climactic to see him older, with the same jokes. The franchise, which debuted 42 years ago (in 1981), had given a perfect godsend with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, in 1989. It was that scene I wanted, him riding against the sun in the desert. I don’t know about you, but that archaeologist who seemed to have drunk from the cup of eternal life was a memorable hero. Too bad they stretched it out so much!

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