Fool's Gold
Warner Home Video
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland
Extras: Gag Reel, Featurette
Rating:
A light-hearted action adventure set in the sunny Bahamas is something that will always catch my eye. If it involves treasure hunting and Matthew McConaughey, I'm sold. Therefore I was eager to take a look at Warner Home Video's Blu-Ray version of "Fool's Gold" when it arrived on my desk.
Finn (Matthew McConaughey) is a down-on-his-luck undersea treasure hunter who could use a break. Fascinated by history and the detailed work necessary to track down treasure forgotten by time, he has put everything on the line trying to find a treasure that shouldn't even exist. The Conquistador gold of the Aurelia, a ship filled with gold on its way to Spain that disappeared somewhere in the Bahamas.
Too bad, he used local gangster boss Bigg Bunny to finance his operation because the man has very little patience for disappointment and can only see the bucket at the end of the rainbow. When Finn can't pay back his debt, Bigg Bunny forces him to find the treasure for him and hand it all over – and all that just for the privilege of being allowed to stay alive.
After a string of disastrous – though funny – accidents Finn finally finds some evidence of the treasure and wants to share the great news with his wife Tess (Kate Hudson). Or ex-wife, one should say, because they got divorced about 60 seconds ago. Tess is disillusioned with Finn's dreams and eternal promises, although she shares his passion for treasure hunting. When Finn show's her the artifact he uncovered from the Aurelia she is soon back on board and even helps him find the money necessary to fund the recovery – through he boss, the millionaire Nigel Honeycutt (Donald Sutherland) who sees a treasure hunt as a nice diversion and entertainment for his bimbo brat daughter Gemma (Alexis Dziema).
"Fool's Gold" is a silly and funny adventure that may come off as goofy at times but also packs quite a punch in terms of its action. Wonderfully photographed underwater scenes – the moment of the sinking boat is priceless – go hand in hand with moments of sweet romance as Finn and Tess rekindle their love. Dialogues are snappy and with a number of cool one-liners that actually work, the film does have a great amount of charm. It has to be attributed to the cast also, of course. Kate Hudson is mesmerizing – and is every bit as funny and beautiful as her mother – in this role. Whether she's laughing or pouting, she always makes your heart jump. Together with McConaughey the two carry the film with such natural ease that you will just emerge into the goofy action and forget everything around you.
"Fool's Gold" comes in a wonderful high definition transfer on this Blu-Ray Disc. The 1080p transfer is absolutely flawless and without any blemishes or mars. No grain is visible and with its solid contrast and deep black levels, the image has solid visual depth. The most striking thing about the transfer is the color reproduction, though. Incredibly rich and vibrant, the color palette is exactly what your memories of a beach vacation in the Caribbean are like. Turquoise water, golden tones, glaring whites, it is all there in absolute perfection, giving the movie a lot of its visual appeal. The level of detail visible in this high definition transfer is also astounding, rendering an image that is leaving you breathless. The sharpness and detail is making this treasure hunt look like a million bucks in every frame.
Warner Home Video has added Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track to the release. While a lossless audio track would have been welcome, of course, this high bitrate Dolby Digital track serves its purpose absolutely fine. The spatial separation is flawless making sure surround effects are perfectly placed in the discrete channel without collapsing. The track's wide frequency response ensures solid basses and crystal clear high ends that are free of any distortion.
There's not a whole lot to be found on this disc in terms of extras, but you will find a gag reel and short featurette on the collaboration between Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson on the release – presented in standard definition.
I had a great time with "Fool's Gold." It may not be a super-blockbuster or a film that is truly memorable or important, but it is a film that entertains thoroughly. It is one of those movies that lets you forget about your surroundings, completely absorbing your senses. It is goofy fun with a lot of spunk, a cool treasure hunting story with a sweet romance, all carried by a great cast. If you are looking for some fun entertainment to whisk you away for 2 hours, "Fools Gold" is the ticket.
