Action-adventure titles seem to have their heydays in theaters. Despite critics putting many down, I often like them. Such is true of Fool’s Gold, a romantic-adventure comedy that is a good time if nothing else.
Fool’s Gold (2008) Film Review
Since treasure brings them together, it only seems fitting that it also tear them apart. Ben ‘Finn’ Finnegan (Matthew McConaughey) finds a vital piece of that treasure on the eve he’s to finalize his divorce to his wife of eight years. Finn and his now ex-wife Tess (Kate Hudson) have been relentlessly searching for a treasure called The Queen’s Dowry for eight years now…and Tess is fed up. With plans to attend school and make something of her life, Finn tries to lure her yet again with another piece. Having run out of money and in debt in high numbers, Finn is desperate to find the treasure and wipe the slate clean. This is where millionaire Nigel Honeycutt (Donald Sutherland) may help.
Finn and Tess regale the Honeycutt’s about the location of the treasure. Unbelievably, Nigel decides to fund them which means they are again in business. With so much at stake, what no one realizes is danger may be just around the corner.
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What follows is pure entertainment and nothing more. There’s not a brilliant screenplay, just an enjoyable two-hour distraction. Director Andy Tennant hasn’t had much experience, but he has had some hits in the romance genre like Hitch, Ever After and Sweet Home Alabama. In all of these he’s also has big names to direct, as is true here. Also if Hudson and McConaughey are familiar together, they were in the 2003 comedy How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days as well. While they seem to have a little more of a spark in the previous, they still play off each other well.
The comedy largely comes at the expense of the ditzy Honeycutt daughter, Gemma (Alexis Dziena). Many reviewers commented on her annoying personality, but I like her and appreciate she isn’t the stereotype we assume. Counting this, I’m a fan of Tennant’s films. At the conclusion he shows that little extra “epilogue,” if you will that the viewer delights in seeing. The scenery is breathtaking too, with some of them shot in Australia. You can just imagine; the water is the most beautiful shade of blue/green and the beaches and palm trees complete the scene.
By the end, I did enjoy this. It’s easy to like the characters, there’s decent acting and while the story is predictable, it has its moments too. If you go into this just expecting fun without a lot of substance, it’s a good time. This isn’t an epic miniseries by a classic author or an extraordinary true story, rather a fun rainy day flick that engages some laughs. There are a few moments that seem over dramatized, but for the most part everything is on par for this genre. If you enjoyed Sahara, check out Fool’s Gold. It’s really quite cute and has a decent conclusion that casts a positive light on marriage.
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Content: This film also has standard PG-13 content involved and really doesn’t overstep its bounds. There’s tense moments and threats made (gunfire, knives, etc). Characters nearly die and do. Profanity runs throughout with uses of “sh**”, “b***h” and a few misuses of God’s name are in abundance. As for the sexual content, there’s comments about Finn being good in bed; there’s a few other “jokes” about sex. A couple has sex in a church. There is very brief nudity when two girls unsnap their swimsuit tops (in Finn’s viewing). There’s also two minor homosexual characters if that bothers you.
Photos: Warner Bros