“Fool’s Gold” makes audiences less than impressed

Treasure hunting with a recently divorced couple in swimsuits - that is the crux of the plot in “Fool’s Gold”. Another blatant opportunity for Matthew McConaughey to take off his shirt and get a sun tan, the story is only semi-serious to the director and stars despite the occasional life or death struggle. I asked myself throughout the film- am I supposed to be laughing now or worried about the main characters? After the first hour of the film, you’ll have seen everything there is to see and will hope for a quick and tidy resolution. No such luck.

Kate Hudson and McConaughey paired successfully in the humorous relationship comedy “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”, but can’t revive the same chemistry here. They play a constantly bickering couple, who married primarily for the sex - they make this abundantly clear in several unfunny asides. McConaughey is Ben, a treasure hunting beach bum who is too easy going to be a real archeologist or a believable character. Hudson plays Tess, the intelligent woman who dropped out of school to follow this stud on his adventures.

His too-cool-for-this-movie attitude has become repetitive and agitating rather than charming. Even Hudson seems less than impressed with McConaughey in this film, with little of interest between the couple but constant verbal sparring. Its not even cute or pithy dialogue traded by the characters, but retreads of the same arguments over and over again. Why can’t you be more serious, she cries. Why can’t you love me for who I am, he retorts. Why is this supposed to be funny?

There is a Spanish treasure that the couple is searching for under the water and a wealthy yachter Nigel (Donald Sutherland; “An American Haunting”) and his spoiled daughter are their means for financing this expedition. While there was an interesting father-daughter dynamic going for a short while early in the film, this is resolved too early and too easily to justify the dramatic energy. All would have been forgiven if the film had been particularly funny or had some exciting chase sequences. When the highlight of the stunts is a leap for a stray hat, you know the film is in trouble. If you are a diehard McConaughey fan, maybe you will find something to justify watching this film but otherwise don’t be a fool and save your money.

Rated PG-13 for action violence, some sexual material, brief nudity and language.