To enjoy an action/adventure movie in these times, you’ll have to take a large step away from reality.

For example, Dr. Indiana Jones, a nerdy college professor by day, spent his time off the job policing the world with his whip and hunting down ancient artifacts.

Or how about Jack T. Colton escorting Kathleen Turner around the swampy rainforests of Cartagena, battling everything from local guerrillas, crocodiles, and even a silly Danny DeVito?

Recently we had XXX, a muscle head sanctioned by the U.S. government. Unfortunately, he seemed to skip an acting class or two.

Sure, roll your eyes, but these are summer movies! However, today is April 14. Although the temperature has reached 70 degrees lately, the buds on the trees indicate summer is not quite here. Another indicator of the approach of summer is the new film “Sahara” – a movie that should look and feel like summer, but isn’t quite there.

Matthew McConaughey plays Dirk Pitt, a treasure hunter who may or may not be affiliated with the U.S. government. When asked whether he’s in the CIA, Dirk will say “No.” When asked about antique cars, the Civil War, speedboats, marine life, cave drawings, solar energy plants, airline excavation and repair, the dynamics of 19th-century cannons and so much more, Dirk will tell you he’s your man.

As an audience member in a film like “Sahara,” you are supposed to believe that someone like Dirk really exists. So when some evil warlord in Africa threatens to contaminate the world’s water supply with a deadly virus, you will know somebody like Dirk is out there to stop that from happening.

“Sahara” works well until the mysteries to its plot are revealed. The audience is led down an intriguing path. Dirk is looking for lost treasure aboard an old Civil War iron ship that may once have made its way to Africa. Along the way he discovers natives who fear the stories of the ship. The ship is cursed, they tell him – statements that only intrigue our explorer, and the audience, even more.

But then a ridiculous side story dominates the rest of the story. A sexy Latina doctor from the World Health Organization (a useless Penelope Cruz) finds herself tangled up with Dirk and his sidekick Al (a useful, funny Steve Zahn). Together they track down the origins of a new plague infecting the region. So instead of fishing for gold, our heroes are out to save the world’s water supply.

“Sahara” is frustrating for new reasons. Usually these movies pack interesting stories and forget to entertain us with strong characters and performances. “Sahara” provides us with great characters, but fails miserably in its ridiculous third act.

This is an act with gunfight after gunfight and villains with tanks, choppers and automatic weapons who can’t hit two fellas running through the sand. We even have an evil lair right out of “Austin Powers.” It is one equipped with vile henchmen driving forklifts that carry nuclear waste. There is even a public address woman who tells our heroes when the whole place will self-destruct.

Also, how can one man know that an empty solar energy plant indicates an evil businessman is attempting to blow it up in order to cover up an even grander, more complicated evil scheme? And what does one do with chests full of gold coins once they are found? I’m pretty sure taking them to a currency exchange might raise a few eyebrows.

It’s really a shame, because like everyone else I’m really ready for summer to start. But if “Sahara” is any indication, you might not want to put the snow gear away just yet.