Fool's Gold (2008 film)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film production and distribution |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Headquarters | Burbank, California , United States |
| Products | Motion pictures |
| Parent | Warner Bros. Entertainment |
Fool's Gold is a 2008 American romantic action comedy produced by Warner Bros. Pictures that follows a divorced pair who reignite their romance amid a quest for hidden treasure. Directed by Andy Tennant, the movie reunites How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days leads Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson. Despite unfavorable critical reception, it achieved a global box office total of $111 million.
Plot
Ben "Finn" Finnegan, a treasure seeker, is on a mission to locate the submerged Spanish galleon Aurelia, part of the lost 1715 Treasure Fleet famously called the Queen's Dowry. Upon discovering a piece of antique dishware, Finn approaches his creditor Bigg Bunny for funding, unaware that Bigg desires the treasure for himself.
Finn's former spouse Tess works as a stewardess aboard a yacht owned by wealthy Nigel Honeycutt. After rescuing Nigel’s daughter Gemma’s hat from being lost at sea, Finn gains access to the yacht and reconnects with Tess. Together, they persuade Nigel and Gemma to bankroll their expedition. Tracing clues to an old church, they uncover a diary revealing the treasure’s whereabouts and celebrate their breakthrough.
Bigg, who has been shadowing their progress, kidnaps Tess. Finn calls upon his mentor Moe Fitch for assistance in her rescue; however, Bigg manages to abduct Tess again via airplane. With Gemma’s help, Finn uses a jet ski to board the aircraft. During the ensuing struggle, Tess pushes Bigg out of the plane, resulting in his death. The recovered treasure is ultimately exhibited at Moe’s museum, which is renamed the Fitch-Finnegan Maritime Museum. Tess and Finn reconcile, with Tess revealed to be expecting a child.
Production
Warner Bros. and director Andy Tennant initially intended to film in the Caribbean, but concerns over hurricane season causing delays prompted relocation to Queensland, Australia. Scenes set in Key West were shot in Port Douglas, with additional filming locations including Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Lizard Island, Airlie Beach, and Hervey Bay. Some sequences were also captured at Batt Reef, known for the 2006 incident involving Steve Irwin.
Interior shots were completed on sound stages at Warner Bros studios while cast and crew resided in upscale accommodations along the Gold Coast. McConaughey noted memorable encounters with local wildlife during production, such as interactions with a python and swimming alongside a dugong.
After two crew members suffered stings from Irukandji jellyfish, certain water sequences were moved back to Caribbean locations to prioritize safety.
The featured luxury motor yacht was originally named Keri Lee during filming and later renamed Penny Mae. It was designed by yacht architect Ward Setzer of Setzer Design Group and initially bore the name Status Quo.
2011 lawsuit
In 2011, Warner Brothers Entertainment was involved in a Canadian legal dispute initiated by novelist Lou Boudreau, who claimed copyright infringement regarding the screenplay’s authorship. Warner Brothers chose not to issue any public statement about the matter.
Box office
Released on February 8, 2008, across North America, Fool's Gold opened in 3,125 theaters and earned $21.5 million during its debut weekend, securing the top spot at the box office. The film went on to accumulate over $110.5 million worldwide—$70.2 million domestically and $40.3 million internationally.
Critical response
The movie was met with predominantly negative critiques, holding a mere 11% approval on Rotten Tomatoes and earning a Metacritic rating of 29. Audience feedback collected by CinemaScore resulted in a "B−" grade.
Reviewers often unfavorably contrasted Fool's Gold with films like National Treasure and Romancing the Stone, labeling it as "dull" and lacking energy. Peter Travers from Rolling Stone assigned it zero stars, describing it as "mindless, sluggish, and devoid of passion." Carrie Rickey of The Philadelphia Inquirer pointed out the absence of on-screen chemistry between the leads, Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson.
Pete Vonder Haar of Film Threat criticized the predictable storyline and uninspired antagonists, also questioning the frequent shirtless scenes featuring McConaughey. Sid Smith from the Chicago Tribune emphasized the reliance on comic book stereotypes and squandered potential, while Brian Lowry of Variety noted the appealing tropical backdrop but found little else to commend.
Carina Chocano from the Los Angeles Times described the film as a "corny, overly familiar dull experience," yet praised Hudson’s grounded performance as a highlight. Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club awarded it a "C+," acknowledging its picturesque settings and relaxed soundtrack as some positive elements despite its lengthy duration and weak narrative.
Lowry remarked that the conclusion suffered from inconsistent tone, whereas Simon Braund of Empire magazine dismissed the film as "complete rubbish," citing monotonous plotting and uninspired acting.
Kate Hudson earned a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Actress for her performances in this film as well as in My Best Friend's Girl.
Home media
Fool's Gold was made available on DVD and Blu-ray starting June 17, 2008. The DVD sales reached about 1,225,904 units, generating $20,502,574 in revenue, not including Blu-ray earnings. The DVD edition features an anamorphic widescreen format along with an English 5.1 digital surround sound track. Special features include a "Flirting with Adventure" featurette focusing on the chemistry between McConaughey and Hudson, plus a blooper reel. An R4 DVD version was also released in Australia on June 5, 2008.