Directors: Andy Tennant
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland, Alexis Dziena, Ray Winstone, Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance
Rated: Rated PG-13 for action violence, some sexual material, brief nudity and language.
Plot: In this action packed, romantic comedy, formerly married couple Benjamin ‘Fin’ and Tess Finnegan hunt for a ship wreck and the legendary treasure it contains. With the help of Tess’ wealthy employer and his daughter they race against fellow treasure hunters and fight off island pirates in their quest for underwater gold.

My Review: In this action packed, romantic comedy, formerly married couple Benjamin ‘Fin’ (Matthew McConaughey) and Tess Finnegan (Kate Hudson) hunt for a ship wreck and the legendary treasure it contains. With the help of Tess’ wealthy employer (Donald Sutherland) and his daughter, they race against fellow treasure hunters and fight off island pirates in their quest for underwater gold. If you read this plot for Fool’s Gold, you’ll know that this is not a new story. Fool’s Gold is a somewhat watered down comic version of the 2005 Jessica Alba film Into the Blue. Into the Blue is of course a watered down modernized version of one of my favorite movies of all time, Peter Benchley’s 1977 classic film The Deep. That being said I will also say that I loved this movie. I also loved Into the Blue and The Deep too. That probably has a lot to do about my feelings about Fool’s Gold. I love diving and shipwrecks. I have never met a movie on these topics that I didn’t like.

Matthew McConaughey pretty much plays the same character he always does, the lovable, disorganized, yet handsome ex-surfer (who never wears a shirt). Hey, it works for him and lots of people keep going to see his films. Kate Hudson plays the woman who is in love with him but is of course feed up with his nonchalant ways. This is a classic romantic comedy formula which succeeds as usual. Donald Sutherland is fantastic as always. Alexis Dziena is a relatively unknown actress and this film is unlikely to put her on the map. One actor I was happy to see in this move was Ray Winstone who plays Moe the old treasure hunter trying to beat them to the gold. You probably won’t recognize him. Winstone was one of the stars of the 1980’s BBC television series Robin of Sherwood which, was also one of my favorite television shows of all time.

So the plot is old, the action is a little weak, and the sex is almost non-existent, Fool’s Gold is still a fun and entertaining movie. When I walked out of the theater I didn’t feel like I had wasted my $9.50. It is not a movie I would go see with my buddies and it probably doesn’t qualify as a chick flick. It is however a great date movie. In fact, I saw it with my wife after with left the kids with a sitter. Women will not only love the romantic comedy but Matthew McConaughey spends almost the entire movie with his shirt off. There is enough action, even if it is a bit weak, to keep the guys entertained and seeing Kate Hudson in a bikini isn’t the worst thing either. So take your wife, or your girlfriend, or the girl in the next cube and head out to see Fool’s Gold. If not, Netflix it. You two can watch it together some Saturday night. I’ll probably buy it but then I already own Into the Blue and The Deep as well. Oh, and if you haven’t seen The Deep, get that one off Netflix or Amazon too.

Rating: 3/5 stars
(If you like diving and shipwrecks throw in an extra star)

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