Fountain of Youth
John Krasinski stars as charismatic art thief and treasure hunter Luke Purdue in Apple TV+’s Fountain of Youth. As the title suggests, he’s got his eyes set on discovering the mythical fountain that’s said to grant immortality to those who drink from it. Taking his reluctant sister, Charlotte (Natalie Portman), along for the ride with help from their late father’s old team, they set off on a globe-trotting adventure, following a breadcrumb trail of clues while being pursued by those wishing to keep the fountain hidden. This flick is an amalgamation of Indiana Jones, The Mummy and The Da Vinci Code, but ultimately lacks the same adventurous spirit due to a by-the-numbers plot and uninspired action.
Krasinski does his best to replicate the roguish charm of Brendan Fraser’s Rick O’Connell. The star’s comedic prowess lends the character a natural likability that beckons viewers to tag along, even if most of the gags fall flat. Portman’s plucky screen presence bounces off well against Krasinski to create an entertaining chemistry between the pair. Domhnall Gleeson is another highlight as Owen, the billionaire funding the expedition. Although audiences will be able to predict exactly where this character’s arc is heading, there’s fun to be had watching the actor relish every moment he’s on screen.
The treasure hunt itself is a largely bland collection of action set pieces and nonsensical leaps in logic that the script expects viewers to accept without question. How, for example, the group ascertains a specific rhythm of musical notation from a set of numbers alone might as well be pure guesswork. Cracking the mystery is supposed to be all part of the fun in this genre. When the solutions are made to sound more intelligent than they are, the results are an unsatisfying far cry from any of the riddles Indy has solved.
There are some bright spots to be found within the generic plot. Director Guy Ritchie’s signature over-the-top style is present during a climactic gunfight, which injects some much-needed personality and energy into the film. There’s also the occasional line of tongue-in-cheek dialogue scattered throughout, most of which is delivered by Arian Moayed as an Interpol agent on Luke’s tail.
Although there’s some entertainment to be gleaned from Fountain of Youth, it fails to capture the magic of the much better films it takes its inspiration from.
Andrew Murray
Fountain of Youth is released on Apple TV+ on 23rd May 2025.
Watch the trailer for Fountain of Youth here:
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