--- title: "Fountain of Youth" year: 2025 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/fountain-of-youth" fi1m_id: "fountain-of-youth" imdb_id: "tt27075958" tmdb_id: 1098006 wikidata_id: "Q124256460" fi1m_score: 48 critics_score: 46 critics_reviews: 17 published: "2026-09-27T09:11:18.400970+00:00" updated: "2026-09-27T09:11:19.510525+00:00" region: "CZ" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Fountain of Youth (2025) Directed by Guy Ritchie · 2h 06m · MK 12+ · Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery ## Identity Fountain of Youth - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/fountain-of-youth - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** fountain-of-youth - **IMDb ID:** tt27075958 - **TMDB ID:** 1098006 - **Wikidata ID:** Q124256460 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27075958/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1098006, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124256460 **Fi1m score: 48** · Critics 46 from 17 reviews *In a sentence:* A hunt for eternal life conducted by people who cannot wait for it to be over > Guy Ritchie sends a bickering brother and sister round the world after immortality, stages two good chases, and then lets the map take over. Portman, Gleeson and Moayed do what they can; the film explains its treasure at length and never once makes us want it. ## Synopsis Luke Purdue (John Krasinski) steals paintings for a living and is good at running away. After a tussle in Thailand with Esme (Eiza Gonzalez), who seems to know exactly what he is after, he turns up in London to find his sister Charlotte Purdue (Natalie Portman). She has a young son, Thomas (Benjamin Chivers), and no wish to be involved. A dying billionaire, Owen Carver (Domhnall Gleeson), is paying Luke’s crew, including Patrick Murphy (Laz Alonso) and Deb McCall (Carmen Ejogo), to follow a trail of clues hidden in old masters towards the Fountain of Youth. Inspector Jamal Abbas (Arian Moayed) is a few steps behind them, and Esme is a few steps ahead. ## Review Guy Ritchie directs, from a script by James Vanderbilt, a 126-minute treasure hunt in which a thief and his sister follow clues hidden in paintings towards the Fountain of Youth. The model is plain from the first reel: a rogue in a jacket, a scholar who disapproves of him, a policeman in pursuit. There is nothing wrong with the model. [*Raiders of the Lost Ark*](https://film.one/film/raiders-of-the-lost-ark) has fed a great many films and most of them were better than their ingredients. This one is about as good as its ingredients and no better, and its ingredients are only fair. The chases are the reason anyone will finish it. Ritchie opens in Thailand with a scrap that gets Luke Purdue (John Krasinski) out of a building the long way, and later runs a car chase through London that Ed Wild shoots low and close, the camera tucked in behind the wheel arches so that the streets go past as a blur of railings and wet stone. James Herbert cuts it fast but legibly; you always know which car is which, which is rarer than it should be. Christopher Benstead’s score does the Ritchie thing of drums under a loping bass and it suits the traffic. A moped sequence later on is smaller and funnier and over too soon. Krasinski is the problem, and it is not entirely his fault. Vanderbilt writes Luke as a man who is always right and always pleased about it, and Krasinski plays him at one speed, grinning through the exposition as if it were a joke he has told before. Natalie Portman’s Charlotte is written to be dragged along and object, and Portman does the objecting with real, tired conviction; she is the only person in the film who behaves as though a child were waiting for her at home. Their rows are meant to be the engine. They are more like the radio. The supporting cast are better served. Domhnall Gleeson plays Owen Carver, the billionaire footing the bill, as a courteous man in a cardigan whose smile arrives a beat too late, and he gets more interesting the less the film needs him to. Arian Moayed’s Inspector Jamal Abbas has the best lines and the good sense to underplay them. Eiza Gonzalez, as Esme, is given a purpose we will not describe and a wardrobe by Loulou Bontemps that tells you her side of the argument before she does. What does not work is the treasure. Vanderbilt’s clues are announced rather than solved: someone stands in front of a canvas, Martyn John’s handsome vaults and libraries fill the frame behind them, and a paragraph of history is read out. We understood every step and cared about none of them. By the time the film went underwater to a wreck we were checking how much was left, and then we were cross with ourselves for checking, because the dive is nicely lit and nobody on screen seems to think anything is at stake either. A hunt for eternal life ought to make you feel what it would be to lose it. This one makes you feel you have been shown a lecture with fights in it. Ritchie has done this sort of thing well before. *The Man from U.N.C.L.E.* was also a pretty, glib caper about attractive people in good tailoring, and it had wit in its cutting and a pair of leads who seemed to enjoy each other’s company. Here the wit is in the chases and nowhere else, and the leads seem to be waiting for their sides of the scene to end. It is not lazy. Wild, Herbert and John have plainly worked at it. It is a film that mistook a checklist for a story. Most critics have landed where we have, some warmer, a few much colder, and the split is easy to explain: if a well-shot car chase through London is enough for an evening, this has one. Watch it at home, where the exposition is easier to forgive because you can make tea through it. The 12 certificate is accurate and the runtime is generous to a film with this much to say and this little to feel. *Fi1m score 48, published 27 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics find Fountain of Youth a brisk, derivative treasure hunt that never justifies the trip. The lean is negative, with only two reviews on the positive side, but almost everyone grants Guy Ritchie the action: praise clusters on a long car chase, a shipwreck dive and a cleverly staged heist, and on a pace that even the harshest reviews concede rarely flags. The supporting cast fares well, with Eiza González, Arian Moayed and Domhnall Gleeson each singled out. The reservations gather around the leads and the script. Several reviews find John Krasinski miscast or, in The Wrap’s case, plainly obnoxious, and his bickering with Natalie Portman is called forced more often than charming; Polygon dissents, thinking him a good fit for Ritchie’s fast talk. The spread is wide, from IndieWire and The AV Club calling it mostly successful to The Guardian finding it soulless. The middle ground is a shrug: watchable, forgettable, and explained rather than felt. ## Straight answers **Is Fountain of Youth worth watching?** *Fountain of Youth* is only worth watching if a well-shot London car chase and a moped sequence are enough for your evening, and we scored it 48. Guy Ritchie stages the action with real skill, but the treasure hunt itself is read out rather than solved, and John Krasinski plays the lead at one grinning speed. Watch it at home, where the exposition is easier to forgive. **How long is Fountain of Youth, and what is it rated?** *Fountain of Youth* runs 2h 06m and is rated 12+ by the MK in Czechia. It is an adventure and fantasy film. **Where can I watch Fountain of Youth in Czechia?** *Fountain of Youth* is streaming on Apple TV in Czechia. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is Fountain of Youth, and is it suitable for children?** *Fountain of Youth* carries a 12 certificate in the UK and is a light adventure, not a frightening one. The violence is punch-ups and car chases in the Guy Ritchie manner, shot fast but without gore, and nothing on screen is likely to disturb a child of secondary-school age. Younger children may find the long stretches of art-history explanation more of a trial than the fights. **How does Fountain of Youth compare to Raiders of the Lost Ark?** *Fountain of Youth* is openly copying [*Raiders of the Lost Ark*](https://film.one/film/raiders-of-the-lost-ark), and the earlier film is far better. Spielberg's adventure makes you feel what is at stake in every chase; Ritchie's has two good chases and a treasure nobody on screen seems to want. Choose *Raiders* unless you have seen it recently and only want new tailoring and old paintings. ### Reviews we read (17) - **IndieWire**, Kate Erbland (B-): Erbland finds the adventure muddled and overlong but broadly entertaining. She praises its extended car chase and shipwreck deep-dive action sequences. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/fountain-of-youth-review-john-krasinski-natalie-portman-1235124648/) - **The AV Club**, Jesse Hassenger (B-): The critic finds this a mostly successful streaming adventure, though Krasinski is miscast and the banter often falls flat. The globe-trotting locations, production design, and Ritchie’s energetic visual style give the caper much of its appeal. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/fountain-of-youth) - **The New York Times** (64/100, inferred): The URL identifies this as a review of the 2025 film. The page content is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict and any singled-out praise or complaint cannot be determined. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/movies/fountain-of-youth-review.html) - **Radio Times**, Jayne Nelson (60/100, inferred): Nelson presents the adventure as entertaining but silly. She singles out its fast pace and Indiana Jones-inspired fun, while noting its dumbness. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/fountain-of-youth-review/) - **The Observer**, Ellen E Jones (55/100, inferred): Jones finds the globe-trotting caper brisk and plausibly erudite, though its hero lacks the appeal of his adventure-film inspirations. She singles out the script’s historical detail as helping keep the plot moving. [Read](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/film-reviews-the-phoenician-scheme-mongrel-when-the-light-breaks-lilo-stitch-and-fountain-of-youth) - **Variety**, Todd Gilchrist (40/100, inferred): Gilchrist finds the film a brisk but derivative time-filler whose bickering leads fail to make it consistently charming. He praises the supporting cast and nimble action set pieces, while faulting the unresolved plot strands. [Read](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/fountain-of-youth-review-guy-ritchie-john-krasinski-1236405297/) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Frank Scheck (35/100, inferred): The critic finds the film predictable and overly familiar, with little wit to distinguish it. He praises several inventive action set-pieces and Ritchie’s humor amid the nonstop action. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/fountain-of-youth-review-john-krasinski-natalie-portman-1236224248/) - **Empire**, Ben Travis (30/100, inferred): The review finds the adventure disappointing, saying it never lives up to its promising ingredients. It praises Guy Ritchie’s energetic action direction but faults the bland characters and forced banter. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/fountain-of-youth/) - **The Guardian**, Ryan Gilbey (10/100, inferred): Gilbey finds the film a soulless, derivative misadventure that offers little excitement. He singles out Domhnall Gleeson’s increasingly murky performance as a bright spot. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/may/22/fountain-of-youth-review-guy-ritchie-indiana-jones-john-krasinski) - **Collider**, Nate Richard (6/10): Richard finds the adventure entertaining and watchable, but ultimately serviceable and forgettable. He praises Eiza González and Arian Moayed for bringing the most personality to their supporting roles. [Read](https://collider.com/fountain-of-youth-review-john-krasinski-natalie-portman-guy-ritchie/) - **Paste**, Matthew Jackson (6.0/10): Jackson finds the film hollow despite its appealing cast, brisk adventure, and polished style. He praises Ritchie’s engaging visual approach but criticizes the story for explaining its themes without giving them emotional payoff. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/fountain-of-youth/fountain-of-youth-review-apple-tv-guy-ritchie-movie-john-krasinski-natalie-portman) - **/Film**, Witney Seibold (5/10): The critic finds the film watchable but forgettable, an unambitious and derivative adventure. He singles out its tight pacing and clear visuals as virtues, while faulting its lack of excitement and originality. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1866188/fountain-of-youth-movie-review/) - **HeyUGuys** (50/100, inferred): The critic finds the adventure entertaining but uneven, saying it never lives up to its potential. They praise the leads’ chemistry and a cleverly choreographed heist, while faulting the thin script and sluggish pacing. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/fountain-of-youth-review/) - **The Playlist** (39/100, inferred): The review dismisses the film as an empty globetrotting adventure with little worthwhile treasure. The headline’s main complaint is that the adventure offers no worthwhile treasure. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/fountain-of-youth-review-john-krasinski-natalie-portman-find-no-worthwhile-treasure-in-guy-ritchies-empty-globetrotting-adventure-20250522/) - **Film Stories**, A J Black (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the adventure derivative and unable to make its premise come alive. They praise the leads’ engaging performances, especially the sibling dynamic between Portman and Krasinski. [Read](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/fountain-of-youth-review-a-slick-wannabe-indiana-jones-misses-the-mark/) - **Polygon**, Sam Nelson (25/100, inferred): The critic finds the film dull and predictable after a promising start, with thin characters undermining its emotional payoff. They praise Krasinski’s fit with Ritchie’s fast-talking style and the early action, but fault the script for making Charlotte an unconvincing, sidelined character. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/review/600818/fountain-of-youth-review-guy-ritchie-john-krasinski-natalie-portman/) - **The Wrap**, William Bibbiani (15/100, inferred): The critic finds the film tedious and its adventure hollow, largely because its hero is so obnoxious. They praise Natalie Portman’s believable frustration with being dragged into the adventure, while finding the action merely competent. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/fountain-of-youth-review-john-krasinski-natalie-portman-apple/) ## Details - **Director:** Guy Ritchie - **Director:** Guy Ritchie - **Writer:** James Vanderbilt - **Cinematography:** Ed Wild - **Editor:** James Herbert - **Music:** Christopher Benstead - **Production design:** Martyn John - **Costume design:** Loulou Bontemps - **Producer:** Ivan Atkinson, Guy Ritchie, Jake Myers - **Cast:** John Krasinski as Luke Purdue; Natalie Portman as Charlotte Purdue; Eiza Gonzalez as Esme; Domhnall Gleeson as Owen Carver; Arian Moayed as Inspector Jamal Abbas; Laz Alonso as Patrick Murphy; Carmen Ejogo as Deb McCall; Stanley Tucci as The Elder - **Runtime:** 2h 06m - **Certificate (MK):** 12+ - **Release (Czechia):** 23 May 2025 - **Genres:** Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery - **Budget:** $180 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7S28bH8iDs ## Where to watch in Czechia - Apple TV: streaming, uhd *Checked 2026-09-27.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PL, PT, SE, SG, TH, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *Raiders of the Lost Ark* (1981), Fi1m 93: The film this one is copying, and the reason the copy looks thin — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/raiders-of-the-lost-ark.md) - *Romancing the Stone* (1984): A treasure hunt where the bickering couple are the treasure - *Charade* (1963): Paris, a dead husband and a lie a scene; the glib caper done properly - *The Man from U.N.C.L.E.* (2015): Ritchie’s own caper, with better suits and leads who like each other - *The Adventures of Tintin* (2011): Clues, a drunk captain and a sunken ship, with real momentum --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/fountain-of-youth