Matthew McCoughnahey stars in this interesting film playing a down on his luck prospector trying to find his fortune with a potential gold mine strike in Indonesia.

Matthew McCougnahey is enamored with the idea of playing a down on his luck treasure hunter looking for redemption. From 2005’s Sahara to 2008’s similarly named Fool’s Gold, McCoughnahey has played similar characters with similar plots to that of Gold. Here, McCoughnahey plays Kenny Wells, a scion of a one successful geology company in Nevada. His father, played by Craig T. Nelson passes early on in the narrative and we fast forward to nearly a decade later to the 1980’s, where Kenny now operates out of a bar where his long suffering girlfriend (played by Bryce Dallas Howard) serves up beer and encouragement. Down to his last dime after hocking her gold watch, Kenny bets it all on a geologist named Michael Acosta (Edgar Ramirez), who promises that he can deliver a gold strike in Indonesia. Against all odds, the two find gold and then it becomes a race to bring investors in to collect on their find; but is there more to this mine that meets the eye?

Ostensibly, there isn’t much to Gold; McCoughnahey’s charisma keeps the viewer engaged, even if it is McCoughnahey in a bad bald cap and a fake belly. Bryce Dallas-Howard isn’t really given a lot to do except cry and be supportive to McCoughnahey’s man-child Kenny Wells. The most developed relationship throughout is that between McCoughnahey’s Wells and Ramirez’ Acosta. They’re presented as opposing sides of the same coin, but the narrative doesn’t serve their relationship much. For the most part, its a working class Wolf of Wall Street; one where the apex of partying and success is winning a geology award in Reno, Nevada.

Gold is a fun film for those who enjoy the highs and lows of excess portrayed on film. Much like Wall Street or The Wolf of Wall Street, the film finds its footing in charismatic leads even if the narrative is a little undercooked.