Fool's Gold (2008 film)

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Fool’s Gold is a 2008 American romantic action comedy from Warner Bros. Pictures. It stars Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson as a divorced couple who rekindle their romance while hunting for a legendary treasure.

Plot
Treasure hunter Finn Finnegan is chasing the sunken Spanish galleon Aurelia from the 1715 Treasure Fleet. He finds a fragment of dishware linked to the treasure, but his creditor Bigg Bunny wants the loot for himself. Finn’s ex-wife Tess works as a steward on a yacht owned by rich Nigel Honeycutt, who soon hears about the Queen’s Dowry and may fund the search. Finn and Tess reunite, and Nigel’s family agrees to back the hunt. They follow clues to an old church and discover a diary that describes the treasure’s location. The pair reconnect romantically, but Bigg is on their trail and captures Tess. Finn teams up with his former mentor Moe Fitch to rescue her. After a dramatic series of chases, Tess is kidnapped again onto Bigg’s plane, but Tess helps Finn reach the aircraft and Bigg falls to his death. The treasure ends up on display in Moe’s museum, and Finn and Tess, who is pregnant, mend their relationship.

Cast
The film features Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland, Ewen Bremner, Alexis Dziena, Kevin Hart, and Ray Winstone.

Production
Filming took place mainly in Queensland, Australia, with scenes shot in Port Douglas, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and other locations. Some water scenes were moved to the Caribbean for safety. The production used a yacht model later renamed Penny Mae. The crew faced a few hazards, including jellyfish stings, during filming.

Release and reception
Fool’s Gold opened on February 8, 2008, and topped the box office with about $21.5 million in its first weekend. It grossed around $111 million worldwide on a $70 million budget. Critics largely disliked the film: Rotten Tomatoes gave it about 11% positive reviews, and Metacritic scored it 29 out of 100. Audiences gave it a B− from CinemaScore. Many reviewers compared it unfavorably to National Treasure and Romancing the Stone, calling it dull or repetitive. Kate Hudson received a Razzie nomination for Worst Actress.

Home media
The movie was released on DVD and Blu-ray on June 17, 2008. About 1.23 million DVDs were sold, earning roughly $20.5 million in DVD sales. Extras included a chemistry featurette and a gag reel.

Box office, budget, and legacy
Budget: $70 million. Worldwide gross: about $111 million. The film is remembered more for its sun-soaked locations and lighter, carefree tone than for critical praise.