Fountain of Youth Review
Director: Guy Ritchie,
Date Created: 2025-05-23 14:00
3.5
Fountain of Youth Review: Directed by Guy Ritchie, written by James Vanderbilt, the movie is led by John Krasinski, playing Luke Purdue, and Natalie Portman, who plays his sister, Charlotte Purdue, the strangely bonded siblings leading this high-stakes treasure quest. It also features Eiza González, Domhnall Gleeson and Arian Moayed, among others.
Fountain of Youth Review
Apple TV+’s Fountain of Youth story revolves around two estranged siblings who are reunited in the name of an international adventure. They’re trying to track down the mythical Fountain of Youth — yes, the one that grants eternal life. Their journey takes them through mysterious ruins, cryptic riddles and more than a few dangerous predicaments. It is a mix of action and history, and myth, a formula I have always enjoyed, reminiscent of the classic adventure movies that I love.
Now, of course, I was not expecting anything new here. And to my surprise, I was absolutely right — but I wasn’t disappointed, because! The Fountain of Youth movie is not the most original one out there I’ve ever watched, but it’s a fun ride for anyone who enjoys a fast-paced treasure hunting movie. It may be derivative of older movies like Indiana Jones and National Treasure, but it’s got enough charm and energy in its back pocket to keep things running.
However, the thing that I absolutely adored, the mesmerising chemistry between John Krasinski and Natalie Portman. The brother-sister pair bicker and tease and support each other in a manner that’s realistic and fun. One of the best things about the movie is their relationship. They’re smart; they’re competent and funny in all sorts of different ways, and that keeps the story moving even when the plot feels formulaic.
It is a beautiful film to watch. Apple TV+ clearly poured some moolah into making this feel like an epic adventure. The two leads have good chemistry, and their location, which takes them from desert to jungle to the underground ruins of a temple, is exciting and gorgeously rendered. It made me feel like I was on the road with the characters. The action sequences are just as commendable — not overblown, but full of energy and motion.
One thing that did bother me a bit was that the film tried too hard to express its theme: “the journey is more important than the destination.” I am not knocking it — it is a nice thought, and right for that story. But I started rolling my eyes by about the fifth or sixth time I’d heard it. It felt like the movie didn’t think we’d be able to figure that out once.
Another small issue I had was with the treatment of clues and puzzles. Instead of giving the audience the chance to solve the mystery along with the characters, but the film dumbed down the entire process. Occasionally, the solutions would just materialise out of thin air, or a character would suddenly “remember” something extremely specific at exactly the time it was called for. It spoiled the adventure just a little, and I wished there were more moments when I could predict a thing, wonder at another thing, and wonder whether one thing might predict another.
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That isn’t to say that Guy Ritchie doesn’t have his cinematic flourishes. His breathless blog of quick cuts, whiplash dialogue and slick transitions, religions and workplaces and families mashed messily together, fulminates at us and out from both at once, and the two-hour running time flies past. It has its typical energy, which is also very well-suited to this sort of story. The music is worth a shout-out here too — the score runs bright and loud in the appropriate places, adding to the feeling that you’re watching a big, thrilling movie.
Fountain of Youth Movie Review: Summing Up
Overall, I think I’d still describe the Fountain of Youth film as “a rollicking good time, family adventure romp.” It doesn’t even take all that many risks, and that might make it feel a bit forgettable for some viewers. But if you’re in the mood for a direct, no-nonsense story with engaging characters, cool settings and action to burn, this flick delivers the goods. It’s not perfect, and I won’t call it a must-watch. But it’s entertaining, easy to follow, and sometimes that’s all you need.
Fountain of Youth 2025 is now streaming on Apple TV+.
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