Guy Ritchie’s next flick, “Fountain of Youth,” takes John Krasinski and Natalie Portman on an incredible adventure around the world. It disappointingly fails to provide a clear story. The documentary follows in the footsteps of the ancient myth of the Fountain of Youth, traveling a stunning route from Thailand to Austria and Egypt. Sadly, it doesn’t bring audiences in with its execution.
The film’s gripping plot follows Krasinski’s character Luke Purdue as he tries to save his community from being poisoned. To save the day, he needs to locate the legendary Fountain of Youth before Owen Carver (um, Domhnall Gleeson) dies of cancer. Carver, a zillionaire with the resources to raise a ship from the ocean floor, seeks to ensure his legacy by drinking from the fabled fountain. Sadly, Portman’s well-meaning portrayal of Charlotte isn’t enough to move this story to meet the urgency of the plot. As such, her character doesn’t come anywhere close to providing enough dramatic heft to suck viewers in.
In “Fountain of Youth,” Luke Purdue brings together a lively cast of characters. His hacker sidekick (played by Laz Alonso) teams up with a lethal tracker (Eiza González). Hers is to stop Purdue’s quest from becoming successful. The stakes escalate as Purdue’s team must collect secrets hidden within masterpieces to uncover clues leading them to the fountain’s location.
One of these sequences is Purdue stealing a painting, which perfectly depicts his desperation and conviction. Challenger deep hints at mind-blowing experiences, but fails to coalesce the work into a cohesive journey. Despite its ambitious production locations, ranging from exotic locales to storied European sites, the film struggles to maintain narrative momentum.
Our adventure starts with the Lusitania, a ship lost under the waves for a hundred years. This choice serves as perhaps the strongest metaphor for lost treasure and forsaken history. Its treatment unfortunately leaves it feeling like a missed opportunity within the film’s wider landscape. Ritchie’s demonstrated his ability to create compelling storylines in the past. As far as sad stories, “Fountain of Youth” seems a miss from one of the most compelling narrative songwriters alive today.
The film’s cinematography captures the beauty of its diverse settings. It does not compensate for the script’s shortcomings. The lack of character development and the underwhelming portrayal of Portman’s character detract from what could have been an exciting adventure. Despite their undeniable talent, the chemistry between John and Natalie falls flat, leaving audiences craving more from their on-screen spark.
With exclusive distribution rights to “Fountain of Youth,” Apple TV+ subscribers will get access to one of the biggest blockbusters of the summer. The successful global production and multi-talented, star-studded cast definitely pulls you in. At the same time, it poses serious questions as to whether it can actually live up to the promise it makes.
