'Fountain of Youth' Review: Guy Ritchie's Hunt for Treasure Comes Up Empty
- Elliot Lines
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
By Elliot Lines - May 23, 2025
Adventure, heist, or treasure hunt—call it what you will—Fountain of Youth manages to tick all the boxes. With an all-star cast globe-trotting in pursuit of a mythical relic, it feels familiar in the best (and worst) ways. Think National Treasure with Nicolas Cage or the original treasure hunter, Indiana Jones—the blueprint is there.
With Guy Ritchie at the helm and big stars such as John Krasinski and Natalie Portman it was a surprise this was a straight to streaming film. But upon viewing I can't help but feel the reason was justified. On the surface Fountain of Youth has the makings of a blockbuster action-adventure, but flaws in the writing and the need to deliver a big finale turn this into a frustrating treasure hunt.
What is the Fountain of Youth About?
The film centres on Luke (John Krasinski) and Charlotte (Natalie Portman) Purdue, two estranged siblings who reunite when Luke pulls Charlotte back into the high-stakes world of treasure hunting they once shared.
Led by terminally ill billionaire Owen Carver (Domhnall Gleeson), the team follows a trail of historical clues on a globe-spanning quest to uncover the legendary—and until now, mythical—Fountain of Youth. But they’re not the only ones on the hunt. As danger closes in, it becomes clear that others will stop at nothing to find the fountain—and claim its secrets for themselves.
Around the World in Familiar Steps
There’s a sense of adventure that only comes with globe-trotting storytelling—Fountain of Youth delivers this in spades. It kicks off with a chase through the bustling streets of Bangkok, then moves to London, a shipwreck in the Irish Sea, the Austrian National Library in Vienna, and finally, the iconic Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, Egypt.
The standout sequence involves the raising of the Lusitania, a ship sunk by a German U-boat in 1915. However implausible it may be, it stands out as a fresh and imaginative set piece in a genre that often recycles its beats—this film is no exception. That’s not to say the other locations aren’t visually stunning—though at times they feel overly polished—but one can’t help but wonder: how many treasure hunts can really end at the Pyramids?
Guy Ritchie's fingerprints are all over this one, but it's a far cry from his best work. The action set pieces, set against a backdrop of globe-spanning locations, are fast-paced and well choreographed—injecting tension and a sense of high stakes into the treasure hunt.
There’s an attempt at giving the characters emotional depth—something Ritchie usually handles well—but here it ends up feeling more like a distraction. Luke’s repeated references to their father’s mantra come off less as heartfelt and more as if he's trying to convince himself of its value.
The absence of Ritchie's signature quick-witted dialogue is glaring. Known for writing his own films, his lack of involvement in the script is evident—and it's perhaps the most obvious flaw in Fountain of Youth.
How much involvement Guy Ritchie had in the screenplay remains unclear, but with James Vanderbilt—writer of Zodiac—on board, you’d expect the script to be in safe hands. Unfortunately, the writing is the film’s biggest flaw. Attempts at injecting quick wit fall flat, resulting in dull, unmemorable exchanges.
There’s a noticeable lack of chemistry between the characters, though it’s hard to say whether that stems from the script or miscasting. Krasinski brings some charm and occasional comic relief, but his character never feels fully realized. The most convincing dynamic comes from his scenes with Eiza González, who plays Esme—one of the adversaries trying to stop him from reaching the fountain.
Portman, meanwhile, feels more like a marquee name than a fully integrated part of the story. She’s serviceable in action sequences, but her character interactions often feel hollow and disengaged.
That brings us to Domhnall Gleeson, whose attempt at an Irish accent wavers throughout. His standout moment comes in a quiet scene where he’s questioned by an 11-year-old about being a billionaire—a rare glimpse of genuine character work. He may be the only one with a clear arc, but even that is undercut by the film’s relentless need to deliver a loud, CGI-heavy finale that leaves a sour aftertaste.
Is the 'Fountain of Youth' Worth Watching?
No—Fountain of Youth had all the right ingredients on paper—an acclaimed director, an A-list cast, globe-trotting adventure, and a myth worth chasing. But what could’ve been a sharp, stylish entry into the treasure-hunting genre ends up feeling more like a missed opportunity. The action delivers in bursts, and there are glimpses of the film it could have been, but those moments are buried beneath clunky writing, thin character work, and an over-reliance on spectacle.
To top it off, the film makes a late, not-so-subtle attempt to set up a sequel—one that, based on this outing, feels more obligatory than earned. It’s not a total misfire, just a frustratingly safe and forgettable ride that never quite earns the legacy it’s chasing.
The Fountain of Youth is streaming now on Apple TV+
Want more film reviews from Guy Ritchie? Check out our reviews for Operation Fortune & The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare plus more content on our website Film Focus Online!
