{googleAds}
<div style="float:left">
<script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-9764823118029583";
/* 125x125, created 12/10/07 */
google_ad_slot = "8167036710";
google_ad_width = 125;
google_ad_height = 125;
//-->
</script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>{/googleAds}A good friend of mine, Aussie actress Natalie Taylor, was involved in this production so I was delighted to receive it in the mail for review. Knowing she was in it, I followed the press on it and was aware it had a less than spectacular run in theatres and critics didn't think much of it. Feeling guilty I missed this at theatres (sorry, Nat) this was my chance to watch it, watch her, and hopefully give it a glowing review...
They cut her out of the movie! It happens all the time, but that has to be the greatest disappointment to this reviewer. For cutting her out of the movie, I wanna tear this film a new one... but anyhow I have job to do, so:
Fool's Gold tells the story of a soon to be divorced couple a pair of treasure hunters that after 8 years of marriage have found no treasure. On the day of the divorce proceedings, Finn (Matthew McConaughey) finds a pivotal clue to the treasure he's been chasing, but run ins with a local rapper/gangster, and his boat sinking, complicate things... including him getting to his divorce to stop it. When he does meet up with his now ex wife, (Kate Hudson) and finds she is working on a rich British dude's yacht as a steward, he charms them all into going in search of the treasure ... also trying to get his wife back.
This story has been done before in many different variations, so its not going to score points for originality. However the story is a good one you're not going to say ‘Haven't seen that before' or ‘Ooooh, this is very exciting stuff' but on a lazy Sunday afternoon, you could do much worse than this. It's something of a benign creature, neither getting your pulse up, nor irritating you. With exotic settings and a script that just coasts along steadily, you can relax, shut off your brain and maybe even have a little fun.
Devoted fans of McConaughey or Hudson, who created something of a buzz with their last pairing How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, will take something even more out of it. Both of them with their equal ease, charm, and chemistry elevate this movie above its essentially pedestrian rehash of adventure films of yore. They're both fun to watch and succeed in making you forget the banality at times.
The films comedic center is pretty thin, and the supporting characters the most tired of one-note-wonder clichés imaginable: from the rich, introverted Brit (Donald Sutherland) who wants to connect with his spoiled rich daughter to the gangster/rapper and the seasoned, ambiguous, gruff competing treasure hunter. Following well laid conventions isn't the problem the whole film does this - the problem is they're just not serving their function in the story - to be funny.
The cinematography is pretty breathtaking. An early scene with Finn's - at first - burning boat... then sinking boat... is staged well and is probably the funniest moment in the movie. The score is fun and in keeping with the tone of the film. There are definitely some effects and scope that announce there's money behind this production, but it doesn't do anything to elevate its enjoyability.
Australia was used to sub for the Bahamas and that jaw dropping crystal clear water landscape is used to great effect. I'm biased, being Aussie, but it looks pretty damn good.
After reading countless lambastings of this production it adds itself in this reviewers mind - to a number of films that are savaged unnecessarily. No, it's not a masterpiece, but is that the benchmark we critics are expecting for a film to be enjoyable? I hope not, because if a dude who's friend was cut out of the movie can say it's okay, I wonder what they're all expecting from this.
|
||||||||||||||||||
DVD Details:
Screen Formats: 2.40:1
Subtitles: Spanish, English SDH, French
Language and Sound: English: English: Dolby Digital 5.1; French-Canadian: Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Other Features: Color; interactive menus; scene access; behind-the-scenes featurette; gag reel.
* Commentary
o No commentary track available
* Featurettes
o Gag Reel (02:44) - Features behind the scenes cut-ups and shenanigans
o Flirting with Adventure (04:30) - Interviews with Hudson and crew
Number of Discs: 1 - with Keepcase Packaging
{pgomakase}
