 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Fool's Gold
- Review Date: June 15, 2008
- PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Blah romcom will bore teens. Some violence.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that with its likable, attractive stars -- Kate Hudson and the perpetually shirtless Matthew McConaughey (previously paired in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days) -- this romantic comedy is likely to appeal to teen girls and women in search of a little eye candy. But it isn't just a romantic comedy, it's also a treasure-hunting adventure that features a few unexpectedly violent scenes. In fact, there's more violence than romance, which is limited to a couple of scenes of passionate kissing. There's also some language ("s--t," "bitch") and drinking.
What's the story?
By romantic comedy standards, FOOL's GOLD is actually more of a treasure-hunting action/adventure. Matthew McConaughey plays Finn, a laid-back surfer dude obsessed with finding a buried Spanish treasure off the coast of the Florida Keys. To do so, he has to get rich (and, in some cases, dangerous) patrons to fund his expeditions. Meanwhile, his estranged wife, Tess (Kate Hudson), an amateur historian with academic ambitions, is sick of the endless hunt and is about to divorce her irresponsible, narrow-sighted husband. The two collide when Finn manages to gain access to the yacht belonging to Tess' employer, Nigel (Donald Sutherland), a multi-millionaire with a shallow, tabloid-fodder daughter (Alexis Dziena). Using Nigel's money and equipment, the almost-exes go on one last mission to find the gold -- if someone else doesn't get there first.
Is it any good?
McConaughey and Hudson reuniting isn't surprising, given the popularity of their successful 2003 romantic comedy How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. What's unexpected is how little chemistry they have this time around; the romantic electricity evident in the best romantic comedies is nowhere to be found. (Even anti-beefcake Billy Crystal was much more romantic in When Harry Met Sally.) Instead, there are blatant, near-constant references to Finn's "raw sexuality," his "genius" at three things ("treasure hunting, finding money for treasure hunting and, um, well, you know"), and other obvious innuendos.
Speaking of McConaughey's body, it should have received separate billing in the end credits. There are more shirtless scenes than not, making him one of the few leading men comfortable with emphasizing his physique over his talent as the main reason for his bankability. After the eighth or ninth scene of his tan shoulders, you start to wonder whether there's any purpose to this film other than to be one long eye-candy shot for swooning women. That kind of (over)exposure proves distracting in both actresses and actors, and it diminishes this already-thin film to the level of thoughtless date-night fluff.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what kind of movie this is -- a romantic comedy or an action/adventure. What do you expect from each kind of movie? What parts of the film "match" with each genre? Is the emphasis on McConaughey's body -- instead of Hudson's -- a departure from most romantic comedies? What does that say about who the filmmakers are trying to target? Kids: If you had made this movie, would you have included as much violence and as little romance? Why?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Not Worth Watching
This movie is not worth seeing. It looked like a alright romantic comedy from the trailer but i think that it was horrible having the "attractive" female be dumb. Because that is a stereotype and i think that that was unnecesarry. Added on to that they had language and a girl flashing. I don't think that it's very funny either, it's lame and shallow.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
I would have loved this show!!!
I don't mind a few cuss words here and there, but when they started taking the Lords name in vain it just totally turned me off to the movie completely
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Do Not Waste Your Money
This movie was just plain awful!!!
When these two stars paired up in "How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days" it was cute...this was awful. Not funny at all. Go see something else.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
good movie, i guess
kinda stuipd plot, i mean a divorced couple searching for gold? matthew mcanahey is protrayed as dimm witted. and a girl flashes her boobs from a far but its still obvious. i would take no child younger than 12. still at 12, its kinda, well you know
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
not the best one ever
This movie looks funny but in the middle it actually gets really boring. The is some language and violance but it isn't that bad. I would say its ok for kids 13+
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Shocked by porno flash!
I could not believe that whoever rated this movie thought it would be ok for someone 13 years old to see. It is all about sex. I was planning on seeing a cute chick flick like how to lose a guy in 10 days. I felt especially awful that my brother you is autistic was exposed to it. There was no real substance to this movie. And since when was it ok for a full on flash to be in pg13 movies?!?
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Not for younger kids
I love all the stars in this movie, and I was really looking forward to seeing this movie. The previews make the movie out to be a "National Treasure" kinda movie. I took my 11 and 16 year old children to see the movie. The movie was entertaining, however, I was didn't think the writers needed to put in the movie the two homosexual chefs, or the strong sexual content. The movie would have been just as entertaining without all this information.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
I kinda liked it. I searched for it on google and read some good things. So far nice movie
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Andy Tennant |
| Cast: | Donald Sutherland, Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 110 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | February 7, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | June 16, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | action violence, some sexual material, brief nudity and language. |
Review It
Video review
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
