Those of us who enjoyed the two Nicholas Cage led “National Treasure” movies from the mid-2000s will find a lot of similarities in the latest Guy Ritchie feature, “Fountain of Youth”. Ritchie’s latest hearkens back to an era of big studio features like those silly but fun Cage movies, Brendan Fraser’s “The Mummy” film series, and even the beloved “Indiana Jones” franchise.

“Fountain of Youth” is a smile-inducing callback to those action-adventure movies that audiences once loved. They were the kind that gave us easy-to-like characters on wildly entertaining adventures. And they were infused with just as much humor as action. Sadly these features seemed to have aged out as cinema grew more serious-minded. Now Guy Ritchie attempts to tap back into what made those tentpole movies successes. And he does so with modestly satisfying results.

“Fountain of Youth” certainly has the ingredients for success starting with its cast. The infinitely likable John Krasinski, the talented and daring Natalie Portman, the incredibly versatile Domhnall Gleeson, and the hard-working and effortlessly alluring Eiza González all provide the energy and charisma a movie like this needs. The problems come with the storytelling. There’s nothing egregiously wrong with the story itself (written by James Vanderbilt). But it’s almost mechanical in how it plays out, adhering so stringently to a formula that it can’t help but feel too familiar.

Krasinski and Portman play estranged siblings, Luke and Charlotte Perdue. Their father, an esteemed archeologist, died a year earlier and the brother and sister haven’t seen each other since. While Luke is off in Bangkok stealing a priceless painting from a criminal organization, Charlotte works as a curator for a London art gallery. She’s also making her way through an ugly divorce with her ex-husband (Daniel de Bourg).

One day Charlotte is surprised to find Luke in her gallery. Their lukewarm reunion hits a snag when Luke swipes a Rembrandt painting from its display. Charlotte chases after him only to learn she was being lured to his hideout. There she’s greeted by Luke, their father’s old crew (Laz Alonso and Carmen Ejogo in thankless roles), and a billionaire named Owen Carver (Gleeson). Luke reveals that he’s been tracking notes left by their late father that may reveal the location of the legendary Fountain of Youth.

Carver, who is dying of liver cancer, has agreed to fund their efforts. But Luke need’s Charlotte’s help piecing together and solving the final clues. After a little persuasion she eventually agrees and the group sets off on their globe-trotting adventure. But getting where they need to go won’t be easy. Hot on their heels is Interpol led by Inspector Abbas (Arian Moayed). Also following them is a mysterious woman named Esme (González) from a secret society dedicated to keeping the Fountain’s location hidden.

Ritchie takes his audience around the world, making stops in Thailand, England, Ireland, Austria, Vatican City, and Egypt. To their credit the locations look tremendous even if the stops there aren’t all that memorable. The movie also features some terrific production design that helps set the stage for some of its impressive set pieces. Arguably the best takes place on a segment of an old sunken ship that is brought up to the ocean’s surface. And of course there is the big action-packed finish that looks a bit better than it plays.

But even though the cast seems invested and are giving it their all, their characters and their storylines are captive to a recycled framework that keeps the audience stuck in overly familiar territory. Ritchie plays it relatively safe and by-the-books which may disappoint those looking for more than the movie promises. At the same time, it’s an easily digestible and moderately entertaining adventure that can be enjoyed by the entire family. That alone scores it points, especially in our current era of movies. “Fountain of Youth” is now streaming on Apple TV+.

VERDICT – 3 STARS

Back in July of 2021, Netflix made the audacious choice to release a slasher movie trilogy over the course of three weeks. The movies were inspired by the popular Fear Street book series from author R.L. Stine. Unfortunately, the quality of the three films ranged from so-so to all-out terrible. Overall the trilogy wasted a really cool idea that had the potential to stand out from the many movies that clearly inspired it.

For better or for worse (depending on your opinion of the previous movies) the Fear Street film franchise hasn’t gone away. “Fear Street: Prom Queen” is a new standalone installment with very little in common with its predecessors outside of taking place in the same cursed town and once again disappointing in its execution. It’s a woefully unoriginal slasher that offers no tension, no scares, no humor, and no distinct flavor of its own.

The story is as cliche and conventional as can be. With Shadyside High School’s senior prom only days away, the candidates for prom queen are preparing for their big night. Among them are three Mean Girls from a pampered and popular clique who call themselves the “Wolfpack”. Then there’s the pot-selling rebel who’s only entered to stir things up. Then we have our protagonist, Lori Granger (India Fowler). She’s your prototypical inoffensive good girl who is easy to like and root for.

Pretty much all of that is revealed through a drawn-out opening info-dump. From there the film tries to give the soon-to-be fodder some semblance of personality. Sadly it doesn’t work. Outside of Lori, the movie is littered with uninspired characters, from the thinly sketched teens to the dimwitted adults. They’re neither interesting or amusing which makes caring about what happens to them all but impossible.

Everything leads to prom night where the candidates for queen (and any unfortunate soul with them) become the target of an ax-wielding masked killer in a red rain slicker. The kills that follow are fittingly bloody and gruesome with some being outlandish enough to qualify as comically entertaining. But the semi-inventive hacking, impaling, and disemboweling can only carry the movie so far. And while director Matt Palmer clearly has a love for the genre, he desperately needs more to work with.

“Prom Queen” doesn’t even make the most out of its ripe 1980s setting. Aside from the soundtrack (which features great tracks from Duran Duran, Laura Branigan, Billy Idol, and more) and a few cool references (“Phantasm II”, Fangoria magazine, etc.), the movie could easily be set in modern day. It’s one of the many frustrations that steadily mount as the movie mercilessly makes its way to its ludicrous finish. “Fear Street: Prom Queen” is now streaming on Netflix.

VERDICT – 1.5 STARS