With all of the hysteria over pirates in the past few years, and with many films on the subject to boot, the prospect of another entry in the genre doesn�t sound too appealing. Only the most zealous pirate fan could have eagerly awaited this past weekend�s new release, �Fool�s Gold.�

But don�t be fooled. Though the basic storyline is one that has been used repeatedly in the past, the movie takes a fresh look at the subjects of love and money.

Marriage is idealized as a union between those who wish to spend every waking moment with one another, but Benjamin �Finn� Finnegan (Matthew McConaughey, �Failure to Launch�) and Tess Finnegan (Kate Hudson, �You, Me and Dupree�) claim no bond other than mutual physical attraction. But who�s to blame them, anyway? These actors are both spectacularly good-looking human beings.

Tess and Finn have a long history together, with past lives as treasure hunters searching for a mysterious fortune known as the Queen�s Dowry in the 18th century. This quest not only tore apart their marriage but left poor Finn desperate for money. So desperate, in fact, that he sinks to being �employed� by one of the baddest men of the seas, Bigg Bunny, artfully portrayed by Kevin Hart (�Extreme Movie� and �Celebrity Rap Superstar�). Don�t let his name fool you � this man is one of the leaders of the most deadly �mafias� of the Florida Keys.

While attempting to settle a debt with Bigg Bunny, Finn finds a spectacular piece of treasure that rekindles not only his desire to find the Queen�s Dowry, but in turn his flame with recently divorced wife, Tess. This newfound clue leads Finn on a frantic chase to find the rest of the treasure and a desperate quest to keep his faltering marriage together.

You can see how this is bound to lead only to formulaic trouble. As the plot unfolds, the audience falls into a trance. Their hearts will go out to Finn and his daring attempts to win back the love of his life. The nonstop action will also keep the men in the audience content, and in doing so redefines the meaning of the word �hero.� �Fool�s Gold� mixes the fast-paced swashbuckling of �Pirates of the Caribbean� with the traditional romantic comedy.

While the film is generally well-constructed, it does display a few typical Hollywood faults. The action scenes are often severely overdone, and at points, Finn and gang almost seem to take on supernatural powers in some of their fighting stunts. By overcoming all prejudices and teaming the stereotypical daddy�s girl and the ever-willing-to-please billionaire with your average surfer bum and rowdy friends, the protagonists form an unlikely crew. And what Hollywood romantic comedy is complete without a standard, boring storybook ending?

�Fool�s Gold� is definitely no exception, but nonetheless the story is, for the most part, believable and entertaining. With all said and done, it is still well worth the money and the drive. As the tagline says, �This February true love takes a dive,� and it surfaces with a smile.

3 stars out of 5