February 8, 2008 Fool's Gold Rating: PG-13 for action violence, some sexual material, brief nudity and language.
Having teamed up successfully earlier in their careers, Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson look to make romantic comedy magic strike twice in "Fool's Gold."
Unfortunately, for a couple who clicked so well in the good-natured "How to Lose A Guy In Ten Days," they create very few sparks.
Ben Finnegan (McConaughey) is a treasure hunter, but you can call him Finn. The surf bum treasure desperately wants to find the lost Queen's Dowry, a fortune that sunk to the bottom of the sea in the early 1700s.
But his immaturity and lack of focus has cost him his wife Tess (Hudson.)
However, after finding a new clue that could finally reveal the treasure's whereabouts, Finn goes looking for Tess and tries to convince both his ex and her billionaire employer (Donald Sutherland) the Queen's Dowry is worth looking for.
Of course, Finn isn't the only person looking for gold. HIs old mentor Moe Fitch (Ray Winstone) is also on the trail.
It's easy to find flaws with many of today's romantic comedies. They're filled with clich»s and plot holes and all too often follow the same formula.
That doesn't mean you can't have fun watching them. However, I wouldn't recommend this one.
I know it's a part of his image, but McConaughey really comes across as a goofball in this film and he doesn't get much help from Hudson. Any chemistry they displayed in "How to lose a guy..." is not on display here. Finn is such a flake and a loser it's hard to believe Tess would have ever wanted him to be her husband. I don't care how good looking or charming he is, Finn is ultimately a loser.
Combining adventure with romance is a tricky proposition. You have to get the ingredients just right to come up with a winner. That is not what happens here.
On my rating scale, "Fool's Gold" earns a Single.
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