The only thing more flawed than Matthew McConaughey’s abs is the movie Fool’s Gold. McConaughey reunites with Kate Hudson to bring another predictable romantic comedy to the screen.
McConaughey’s role as Ben "Finn" Finnegan, a shoelace that has been in search of sunken treasure in the Bahamas, is a shining example of the disappointing trend of actors portraying roles that mirror their own narcissistic midlife crisis in search of roles past.
When we are introduced to Finn he is diving off the shore of Topsail Cay, where he and his interesting Ukrainian companion Alfonz (Ewen Bremner), discover a piece of a dinner plate bearing remnants of the crest of Vangor. Finn is ecstatic, because Vangor is a clue in his personal search for the 18th century Queen’s Dowry, a legendary stash of gold that was lost during a hurricane in 1715.
Everything Finn touched has turned to dust, including his marriage to Tess (Kate Hudson). Tess has grown tired of waiting for her husband to recognize her existence and begins a new life of her own by going to work on the massive yacht of billionaire Nigel Honeycutt (Donald Sutherland).
Just as she begins to kick back in the freedom of her new, laid-back life, McConaughey swoops in and takes her and the yacht he has sweet-talked his way onto on an adventure in search of his long-lost treasure.
Fool’s Gold only has two worthwhile aspects: the scenery, shot primarily in Australia, and Hudson’s character.
She is, oddly enough, the only character worth watching throughout the movie. Her personality brings some much-needed interest to scenes with McConaughey. Rather than McConaughey, she is really the shining star in this film.
Director Andy Tennant tries, once again, to give the audience the love-hate relationship between two characters that he gave, almost flawlessly, in Sweet Home Alabama. But Sweet Home Alabama was a bit sweeter than the sour taste of Fool’s Gold.
"Most of the film was Matthew McConaughey with no shirt or shoes on. He played the same character that he has always played in his films," moviegoer Charity Meyers said.
One must hope the next movie McConaughey makes will require him to be in a shirt for more than 50 percent of the running time.
