When it was announced that there would indeed be a fourth Indiana Jones film many skeptics were quick to point out that the film’s adventurous and tough as nails lead is now a senior citizen. Despite its doubters Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull went forward, and the film’s production was finished without one broken hip or heart attack by the film’s gray-haired star, Harrison Ford. However, it is not the age of Mr. Ford that hinders the success of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but rather the film’s script, that often feels lazy and underwritten, and has a propensity to go past the limits of suspension of disbelief, even by Indiana Jones’ standards.

The year is 1957, eighteen years have passed since we last saw Indiana Jones, but we quickly learn a lot hasn’t changed for Dr. Jones as we see him pulled out of the trunk of a car, and instantly surrounded by armed gunman. However, this time Communists have captured Indiana, instead of Nazis. These heavily armed commies are led by Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), and yes, she will be your main villain for the rest of the film. At first glance, it really is shocking to see just how much Indiana has aged, but after some confident dialogue and an elaborate and impressive escape by the crafty archaelogist, you begin to forget about the age factor, and realize this is the same man that you have loved to watch get out of tight situations over the years.

Soon after his initial introduction, Indiana is off on another adventure, this time he is aided by the greaser son of a supposed old flame. This greaser sidekick is a tough but intelligent kid named Mutt (Shia Labeouf). Indiana and Mutt are trying to save Mutt’s mom and a mutual friend, Professor Oxley (John Hurt), from the very same communists we met in the opening of the film. Of course, Indiana soon begins to discover why Mutt’s mom and the Professor have been captured, as Indiana finds his most unbelievable artifact to date. However, this time instead of unbelievable in an exciting way, the ultimate discovery is just ridiculous - don’t even bother to try and make sense of it, just watch the cool visuals as the film concludes.

The Indiana Jones films are known for their extended and intricate action sequences and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is certainty no exception. The car chase between Indiana and the villains over the skull contains many thrilling mid-drive vehicle changes and even a sword fight between Mutt and Irina on the hoods of their jeeps. The film’s various action scenes do contain some obviously animated moments, but all are still fairly thrilling.

However, while screenwriter David Koepp does pen many satisfactory action exchanges, the rest of the screenplay is severely less impressive. There are multiple occasions when the characters are quick to make foolish or big decisions, with little reason given for their actions. The shrewd Indiana is surprisingly quick to believe and trust someone that apparently betrayed him during the film’s beginning, even when the entire audience can seen that this man is not to be trusted. Also, when Indiana meets Mutt’s mom, who turns out to be a jilted lover from his past, the two are quick to reunite despite the apparent bad blood and all the time that has past. Within hours of their reunion Indiana and his previous fiancée are calling each other babe, as if the past twenty something years never happened. Again, little reason can be found for this change of heart, other than bad writing.

The most recent Indiana Jones installment is packed full of moments that you can point to and say “no way would that happen”, or “that is just dumb”. At one point, Mutt and Indiana are trying to escape their Russian pursers by riding a motorcycle through a University library and Mutt and Indiana fall off the motorcycle and slide a long distance across the floor and land at the feet of a student who very calmly asks Dr. Jones a question about a book. Your Professor who is over sixty years old was just riding a motorcycle in a library and you are not the least bit concerned or puzzled? Fine, ask him the question but at least look a little worried, give this fictional world some sense of sanity. I’m aware that Indiana Jones isn’t exactly too concerned with reality, and to an extent, I should try to look past some of the film’s more unrealistic moments, but don’t make me constantly have to remind myself of this to try and enjoy the film.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull often features a stale and familiar feeling, as you can usually sense what is going to happen next. It is obvious when Indiana is about to be captured, yet again, by Irina and her men, only to soon escape after learning some vital information. These overtly predictable captures, and subsequent escapes, like many of the film’s plot supposed twists, just draw to attention to how routine the Indiana Jones films can be, and do little to breathe new life into this film franchise.

Stylistically, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is as impressive as you might expect from the collaboration of director Steven Spielberg, cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, and Composer John Williams; all three of these men have won Oscars for their past work. Also, almost every decent-sized part is played by a quality and well-respected actor; John Hurt, Ray Winstone and Jim Broadbent all play characters in the film. However, the large amount of talent involved in Indian Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull cannot overcome the film’s ill-conceived script that feels the need to constantly remind us that we are watching an Indian Jones film.