Fun entertainment...

The only reason someone would decide to view Fool's Gold is because it looks like a simple, bright, light-hearted romantic comedy with a sense of adventure. In a sense, this is the 2008 answer to films like Indiana Jones or Romancing the Stone...except this film never even gets close to matching its genre forerunners. This is a straightforward attempt to resurrect the good old-fashioned romantic-comedy adventures that were so successful during the 1980s. However the filmmakers never quite achieve their goal...Fool's Gold is more silly than romantic, more frantic than comedic, and more busy than adventurous. Nevertheless it's an admirable attempt at the genre that features an appealing cast and results in a flimsy slice of fun. You do want to be entertained, right? If you're prepared to overlook the sleazy elements, gaping plot holes and a few major illogical downfalls...you should enjoy watching this one.

Fool's Gold features Matthew McConaughey as Benjamin "Finn" Finnegan. In a nutshell, Finn is a good-natured man with a passion for treasure hunting. However Finn is also an irresponsible hoodlum who borrows money from investors to fund treasure hunts...then conveniently forgets to pay them back. Finn has more enemies than friends, and in the first 10 minutes it's established that his wife Tess (Hudson) is divorcing him. Although Finn appears to be unaware about why Tess is leaving him, it becomes pretty clear in the first few minutes: plain and simply, he's a complete moron! During their short-lived marriage (that was basically formed on great sex) they adopted an obsession for some exotic treasure lost in the 18th century by the Spaniards. In the lead up to the official divorce, Tess begins rebuilding her life by working for the wealthy Nigel Honeycutt (Sutherland) aboard his luxury yacht as a stewardess with plans to use the money to get back to the US and gain a Ph.D. However as Tess begins executing this plan, Finn discovers a vital clue that could lead to the discovery of the legendary treasure they are so obsessed with. After the divorce is finalised by default...Finn manoeuvres himself onto the yacht of Nigel Honeycutt who is currently in the company of his spoilt, ditzy daughter Gemma (Dziena). Using his good-natured charm, he convinces Nigel to fund his expedition in search of the treasure he has been so obsessed with.

So there you have it: Finn is passionately pursuing treasure and endeavouring to get his ex-wife back. Meanwhile, his ex-wife Tess is trying to get as far away from Finn as possible...obviously not succeeding or we wouldn't have a romance in this romantic comedy. The adventure also confounds Nigel, but he's such a good sport so he goes along with Finn's romantic dreams anyway. And then there's Gemma...she's frankly too much of an airhead for anything to perplex her. There's a garbage sub-plot about Nigel and his daughter that is far too superficial and superfluous, and supplies us with nothing to even remotely care about. Moe Fitch (Winstone) is Finn's rival in the story but never an enemy. Also, even though Bigg Bunny (Hart) is the film's principal bad guy, he's too much of a comic villain to be a genuine threat.

Fool's Gold at least has a decent entertainment value. This is not absolute, though, because from the outset we can predict how it will end. As a scene establishes itself, we can predict how things will pan out. It's what you expect from the genre, I suppose. The film's shortcomings are also in the script. I will admit that I chuckled a few times at the hysterical dialogue. There is a good supply of laughs to be found here: be it in the dialogue or in the over-the-top stunts. Unfortunately, the laughs are quite non-existent upon a second screening. The script is just typical genre fluff for the most part.

Even despite all these faults, the film is at least extremely attractive to look at. It was filmed in the beautiful locations of Australia and more marginally in the Bahamas (interestingly, the whole film is set in the Bahamas but prominently filmed in Queensland, Australia). The colour scheme is always bright and atmospheric. The mood of the beautiful waters of the Bahamas is perfectly captured here.

Matthew McConaughey is not exactly a great actor through my eyes. He has never done anything that's anywhere near Oscar-worthy. Here there is plenty of opportunity for McConaughey to display his new physique. He's been working out, and he wants people to be aware of it. Alas, about 800 times for McConaughey to take off the shirt and show the audience his muscles. Kate Hudson has some good chemistry with McConaughey. Both of them will never produce Oscar material of course. Despite this, there's a lovely romance sizzling here. Also in the cast there's a very funny Ewen Bremner, as well as an admirable supporting cast with names like Donald Sutherland, Ray Winstone and Kevin Hart. Alexis Dziena in particular is a stand out. Looking for someone to perfectly represent the ditsy, stupid young spoiled rich girl? You've come to the right place! Her dialogue is the most memorable.

Overall, the critics detested Fool's Gold but I have to be part of the minority that enjoyed it. In terms of production values, impressive stunts and dazzling locations...the film stocks an astronomical supply! The action is also high energy and enjoyable. It has its downfalls and major flaws, but by no means is this a terrible movie. Average at best...not terrible! The film puts forth a bundle of energy and it builds up to an interesting climax. At the end of the day it just tries too hard with too little; extending sequences that aren't very good to begin with before piling on more. Lord knows, it wants us to like it, and maybe that's enough.

Film's most notable moment: a group of zoned-out, bizarre young folk on a speed boat worshipping an unusual form of drink.

5.9/10