Fool's Gold – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Fool's Gold

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2008

28%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A critically reviled 2008 treasure-hunting rom-com that proves not all gold is worth digging for.

11%

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Fool's Gold

movie

PG-13, 2008

28%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A critically reviled 2008 treasure-hunting rom-com that proves not all gold is worth digging for.

11%

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11%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, I'll be straight with you: this movie is bad. Like, really bad. An 11% on Rotten Tomatoes isn't a typo—critics universally panned this as a lazy, derivative rom-com that wastes its treasure-hunting premise on tired jokes and zero chemistry.

The WISE scores are low across the board because there's nothing particularly wholesome about a guy who destroyed his marriage through obsession, nothing imaginative about a plot we've seen a hundred times, safety concerns around violence and sexual content for younger viewers, and absolutely nothing enriching about 100 minutes of paint-by-numbers storytelling.

Even the audience wasn't feeling it—48% on RT, 2.7/5 on Letterboxd. If you're scrolling Netflix looking for a family adventure or even a decent date-night rom-com, keep scrolling. There are so many better options. This is the movie you put on when you're folding laundry and need something that won't distract you from the task at hand.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media suggests 14+, which feels right given the violence, likely sexual content, and romantic themes. But honestly, even 14-year-olds have better options. This is really for adults who want utterly mindless background noise on a lazy Saturday.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A romantic adventure-comedy centered on a divorced couple reuniting over treasure hunting. The relationship dynamic is built on obsession and poor life choices rather than healthy modeling. The tone is light but features a protagonist who literally sank his marriage and boat due to obsession. Characters include a 'rapper-turned-gangster' and violent antagonists, which doesn't exactly scream emotionally healthy. The ex-couple bickering and treasure-hunting hijinks lean more chaotic than balanced.

Imaginative

Treasure hunting premise offers some adventure and mystery elements around the Queen's Dowry legend. However, this is a formulaic rom-com adventure without much originality—the 'divorced couple reunites on adventure' trope is well-worn. The historical treasure angle provides mild curiosity, but the film doesn't invite creative expression or deeper exploration. It's more 'watch people hunt for gold' than 'imagine your own adventure.' The abysmal 11% critic score and 2.7/5 Letterboxd rating suggest the execution is painfully derivative.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates this for 14+, suggesting some concerning content for younger viewers. With a character described as 'rapper-turned-gangster' and a 'mentor-turned-enemy' who 'will stop at nothing,' there's clearly violence and threat. Romantic comedy elements likely include sexual innuendo and possibly some partial nudity typical of PG-13 rom-coms from this era. No MPAA rating provided, but context suggests PG-13 territory. Not shocking or traumatic, but definitely has content that would be inappropriate for younger kids stumbling upon it.

Enriching

The critical consensus is brutal: 11% on Rotten Tomatoes, 29 on Metacritic, 5.7 on IMDb. This is widely considered a forgettable, paint-by-numbers adventure rom-com with zero depth. Any potential learning about treasure hunting or history is buried under lazy writing and tired tropes. The 'obsessive treasure hunter ruins his life' angle could teach about priorities, but the film apparently doesn't handle it with any insight. Entertainment value is clearly low based on audience scores (48% RT audience, 2.7/5 Letterboxd). This is the definition of empty calories.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Tropical locations and underwater treasure hunting provide some visual appeal if you're into that Caribbean adventure aesthetic
Light, mindless entertainment if you're sick and need something that requires zero brain cells
Could spark interest in maritime history or treasure hunting for kids already obsessed with pirates and gold
The 'divorced couple forced back together' dynamic might resonate with families navigating blended situations, though it's handled clumsily

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What to Watch For

Violence and threats from gangster antagonists—this isn't a family-friendly adventure despite the treasure hunting premise
Likely sexual content and innuendo typical of mid-2000s PG-13 rom-coms
The protagonist is literally defined by his destructive obsession, which isn't exactly aspirational
With an 11% critic score, prepare for lazy writing, tired jokes, and a plot you've seen a dozen times before

Conversation Starters

"The main character destroyed his marriage because he was obsessed with finding treasure. When does a passion become unhealthy?"
"If you found a clue to real buried treasure, would you drop everything to chase it? What would you risk?"
"The movie has gangsters and violence mixed with comedy. Does that combination work, or does it feel weird?"
"Why do you think critics hated this movie so much but some regular people still kind of liked it?"

Deep Dive

The Caribbean "Vibe" Trap

There is a specific kind of movie that exists solely to look good while you’re scrolling through Netflix on a rainy Tuesday. Fool's Gold is the poster child for this. It promises turquoise water and the breezy energy of a tropical vacation. But once you actually press play, the "vacation" starts to feel like a timeshare presentation you can't escape.

The problem is the execution. With an 11% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s clear the professionals found it hollow, but even the 48% audience score suggests that regular viewers felt the exhaustion. It’s a rom-com where the romance feels like a chore and the comedy is mostly people falling off things. It wants to be a sexy, high-stakes caper, but it settles for being a loud, expensive-looking mess.

Tonal Whiplash and Bigg Bunny

One of the weirdest hurdles for a parent or a casual viewer is the movie's inability to pick a lane. It starts off like a goofy slapstick adventure where Finn is a lovable loser sinking his own boat. Then, suddenly, we’re dealing with Bigg Bunny, a rapper-turned-gangster who brings a level of genuine threat that feels totally out of place in a movie this light.

This creates a strange friction. It’s too violent and "edgy" to be a breezy family movie for the Goonies crowd, but it’s too silly and formulaic to work as a legitimate action-thriller. If you’re watching with a teenager, they’ll likely find the mentor-turned-enemy subplot with Moe Fitch predictable. Even the billionaire-on-a-yacht trope featuring Nigel Honeycutt is played so straight it feels dated.

The "National Treasure" Comparison

If your kid is currently in a phase where they want to find buried gold, they’ve probably already seen the heavy hitters. If they liked the Uncharted movie or the National Treasure series, they might be tempted by the synopsis here. Don’t fall for it.

Those movies work because they lean into the puzzles and the history. Fool's Gold leans into the bickering between Finn and Tess. It’s less about the search for the Queen's Dowry and more about two people who probably should have stayed divorced. If you want the treasure hunt itch scratched without the 2008-era cringe, stick to the classics. This is strictly for when you have reached the absolute end of the streaming library and just want to see some nice scenery while you do the dishes.

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