.:: BATMAN ON FILM's ON-FILM.NET -- "FOOL'S GOLD" Review by Christopher Echols ::.

Reuniting on-screen couples in more than one picture isn't a new concept at all. Its been done plenty of times in the past. After the success of SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks were again joined in YOU’VE GOT MAIL to try and recreate the onscreen magic they'd had years before.

The same trick was attempted when Julia Roberts and Richard Gere gave it a second go-round in the film RUNAWAY BRIDE after the smash success that their original pairing PRETY WOMEN had brought them.

Once again Hollywood has attempted to cash in on this lightning in a bottle chemistry by bringing back the duo that made HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS, a hit in 2003.

FOOLS GOLD pairs Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson once again, this time as Finn and Tess, a pair of recently divorced treasure hunters searching for 300 year old gold somewhere at the bottom of the Caribbean. Adding to this A-list cast are Donald Sutherland as Hudson's filthy rich employer and Ray Winstone as their local competition for the loot.

What works for this film is the charming chemistry that seems to ooze from the McConaughey/Hudson duo. They can simply exchange a glance onscreen and it feels like there's something between them, whereas other actors could deliver two hours of dialogue while barely igniting a spark of romantic interest.

McConaughey of course plays the majority of the film shirtless, as it seems to be a contractual agreement he now has for every film. His character Finn is fairly typical of a beach bum persona and not much depth is given to developing who he is beyond his desire for the lost goods.

Hudson is likeable as Tess, but never quite gets to bring out much of the comedic gifting that she's shown in previous works.

KATE HUDSON stars as Tess Finnegan and MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY stars as Ben “Finn” Finnegan
in Warner Bros. Pictures’ romantic comedy adventure FOOL'S GOLD.
(Photo by Vince Valitutti © Warner Bros. Pictures)

While the two work well while sharing the screen together, the story isn't all that captivating. The plot itself isn't that involved, however a scene between the characters explaining their knowledge of the coordinates of the missing treasure becomes so convoluted and full of detail that you'd think you stepped into a Naval history book, not a romantic comedy.

At times the action itself becomes so over the top and the villains such pitiful caricatures that it pulls you out of the otherwise believable atmosphere that director Andy Tennant has created with both his gorgeous underwater scenery and the films’ historical sounding back-story.

It is almost as if FOOL’S GOLD can’t decide whether it’s a exciting adventure film or a loveable romantic comedy -- never quite settling on one or the other.

As it is with most things, it’s hard to make something work as well as it does the first time around. PRETTY WOMENwill always be the romantic comedy vehicle that people remember when thinking of “Roberts and Gere.” Now, it looks as if HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS will stand as the better film for the “McConaughey and Hudson” team as well.

FOOL’S GOLD certainly has its moments. While it will work as an enjoyable afternoon matinee for a couple, there really isn't much more beyond that in this film's treasure chest.

GRADE: B-

Christopher Echols is a lifelong comic book fan and avid film enthusiast
and contributes his movie reviews to BATMAN ON FILM.
He can be reached via email at SUPERMANECHOLS@YAHOO.COM.