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Guy Ritchie is no stranger to reinventing genres. From the gritty streets of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels to the stylish reinvention of Sherlock Holmes, he has carved out a signature style that marries chaos with charm. Given this reputation, when it was announced that Ritchie would be teaming up with John Krasinski and Natalie Portman for a treasure-hunting caper called Fountain of Youth, expectations were sky-high. Released on Apple TV+ on May 23, 2025, the film promised an exhilarating blend of history, humor, and heist, all revolving around the myth of the elusive elixir of immortality.
However, the final product seems to have landed with more of a dull splash than a triumphant dive. Critics and audiences alike are unimpressed, although the film has performed well on streaming. With a meager 35% critic rating and an underwhelming 41% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, Fountain of Youth now holds the dubious distinction of being Ritchie’s second-worst-reviewed film by audiences, just narrowly escaping the bottom spot held by Swept Away, which has an audience score of just 28%.
Fountain of Youth
- Release Date
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May 23, 2025
- Runtime
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125 minutes
- Writers
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James Vanderbilt
- Producers
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Jake Myers, William Sherak, Dana Goldberg, David Ellison, Don Granger, Tripp Vinson, Ivan Atkinson
Star Power Wasn’t Enough To Save ‘Fountain of Youth’
Apple TV+
Any viewer would have expected a film starring John Krasinski and Natalie Portman, both well-known for their emotive range and charisma, to be a knockout. The premise undoubtedly had potential: two estranged siblings teaming up for a globe-spanning heist to uncover the mythical Fountain of Youth. It sounds like a modern-day National Treasure with more heart. However, quite unfortunately, as many Rotten Tomatoes users have been quick to point out, the stars seem to be working with a script that just doesn’t give them room to shine.
Krasinski, best known for his subtle intensity in Jack Ryan and his breakout role in The Office, feels oddly miscast as the adventurous yet emotionally detached brother. Portman, while as luminous as ever, is saddled with clunky exposition and dialogue that leans heavily on clichés. As per critics from Entertainment Weekly:
“The characterizations are flat, the would-be quippy dialogue rarely elicits laughs, and the action sequences seldom rise above the level of satisfactory.”
Rotten Tomatoes users echo this disappointment. The plot has moments of intrigue, but without emotional weight or sharp wit, even high-octane scenes feel mechanical. Ritchie’s usual flair for dialogue is notably absent, replaced by flat, predictable lines that lack the spark fans have come to expect. According to critic Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle:
“Ritchie remains lacking in his ability to direct actors. John Krasinski, Eiza González and Natalie Portman all star in “Fountain of Youth,” and they’ve never been so unappealing.”
The Globetrotting Adventure in ‘Fountain of Youth’ Plays Like a Travel Brochure
When a film is referred to as a “treasure hunt film,” audiences envision lush locations, heart-pounding chases, and jaw-dropping clues hidden in ancient artifacts. Fountain of Youth has all the ingredients for a visual feast, including exotic locales and underground temples. Yet somehow, the film manages to make the world feel surprisingly small.
Critics and users alike have slammed the film for being style over substance. While Ritchie has often been praised for his kinetic visuals, this time around, the direction feels oddly restrained, almost bordering on lazy. There is little narrative urgency in the way scenes are stitched together, and transitions from one country to another lack dramatic weight or storytelling purpose.
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The film’s attempts at puzzle-solving often boil down to quick info dumps and miraculous leaps in logic, making the adventure feel contrived rather than earned. As a result, instead of drawing viewers into a rich, immersive world, Fountain of Youth gives audiences a slideshow of missed opportunities. “Given all the elements involved, Fountain of Youth should be a blast. That it isn’t is a real disappointment,” said Ben Travis of Empire Magazine. The sentiments are echoed by MovieWeb’s Mark Keizer.
“There’s no hiding the mechanical nature of this globe-trotting beast, which sends an ill-matched John Krasinski and Natalie Portman to Thailand, England, Austria, Egypt and wherever else Apple TV+ presumably needs a subscriber boost.”
Guy Ritchie’s Signature Style Feels Watered Down in ‘Fountain of Youth’
Apple TV+
Guy Ritchie has built a brand on brash, fast-talking characters, stylized violence, and nonlinear storytelling. This characteristic style is what made works such as Snatch and The Gentleman cult favorites. However, in Fountain of Youth, Ritchie seems to be playing it surprisingly safe, and it is definitely not working in his favor.
The film ditches the director’s usual swagger in favor of a more generic, family-friendly tone. That might be intentional, considering the wide-appeal approach that Apple TV+ tends to favor. However, the result is a lackluster movie that lacks identity and fails to feel like a Guy Ritchie film. Although there are a few moments where Ritchie’s fingerprints are visible, a split-screen sequence here and a fast-cut montage there, they still feel shoehorned into an otherwise straightforward narrative.
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Need a little more adventure in your life? Here’s our collective ranking of the best treasure hunt movies of all time.
As the second-lowest-rated film in Guy Ritchie’s career on Rotten Tomatoes, Fountain of Youth stands as a reminder that audiences crave more than just shiny locations and famous faces. They want story, spark, and that unmistakable sense of ‘Ritchie’. Without it, Fountain of Youth becomes exactly what viewers and critics have accused it of being: a forgettable adventure dressed up in an expensive costume.
Fountain of Youth is available to stream on Apple TV+.
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