A few male actors made a lasting, lifelong impression on me when I was growing up; Harrison Ford was one of them.
When the first Star Wars movie came out in 1977 (known as Star Wars then, but later renamed Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope), I was an impressionable seven-year-old who loved going to the movies.
I remember that I liked Luke and Leia, I loved Chewbacca and C3PO, and I was OBSESSED with the cocky rebel pilot known as Han Solo and played by Harrison Ford. Isn’t it crazy that even at seven, I already loved a bad boy?!
Ford continued to be Hollywood’s leading man of the ’80s and ’90s, starring in more Star Wars movies as well as the epic, adventurous Indiana Jones series.
Girls my age were all obsessed with him, which is fairly unlikely, considering he was old enough to be our dad! But Harrison Ford was ageless, even then. He always had that engaging spark, a twinkle in his eye and a rogueish, yet boyish charm that drew you in. And he’s funny in a dry, witty, self-deprecating way.
I guess that’s why he’s still worthy of obsessing over, 40 years later. Ford is having a renaissance of sorts and he’s still lighting up the screen – albeit this time the slightly smaller screens in our homes.
After a career spent mostly in film, Ford’s star turns on Taylor Sheridan’s 1923 and Apple TV’s Shrinking are a welcome return to form.
In 1923, Ford plays an aging badass – the worn, weathered and weary Jacob Dutton, the great-great (great?) uncle of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton character on the even more popular series Yellowstone. Although 1923 has its flaws as a show, Ford is wonderful in every scene. He’s hardcore, yet also tender in his romantic scenes with Helen Mirren, who plays his tough-as-nails wife, Cara Dutton. We get to see Ford ride horses, shoot guns and get in fights. Playing Jacob Dutton is about as physically demanding as his Indy roles – only now he’s in his 80s!
But it’s in Ford’s role in Shrinking, alongside costar Jason Segel, that Ford truly shines. He’s the heart of this wonderful show – the center of its humor and humanity. I love everything about Shrinking, from the superb acting and writing to the sunny California setting and depth of its subject matter, which is primarily mental health, coping with grief, and relationships.
Harrison Ford is my favorite part of a show filled with standout performances. Whether in his humorous moments with the brilliant Jessica Williams, his constant fatherly scolding of Jason Segel, or his sweet and caring grandfather-esque scenes with Lukita Maxwell, the daughter of Segel’s character, Ford is pure gold. I never thought I’d get to see Harrison Ford say “raw-dogging” – it’s priceless.
Shrinking perfectly showcases Ford’s rugged charm, comedic timing and yes, the fact that he’s still a stone-cold hottie even as an octogenarian. If you are a Harrison Ford fan, you need to find a way to watch Shrinking on Apple TV. I can hardly wait for season three.
