Guy Ritchie's *Fountain of Youth* Breaks Streaming Records Despite Poor Reviews

Guy Ritchie's *Fountain of Youth* Breaks Streaming Records Despite Poor Reviews

*Fountain of Youth*, the latest cinematic offering from acclaimed director Guy Ritchie, has unexpectedly risen to become a streaming phenomenon around the globe, even as it struggles to win over critics and audiences alike.

Starring Natalie Portman and John Krasinski, the film follows estranged siblings Luke and Charlotte Purdue, both archaeologists, who reunite in search of the mythical fountain of youth. Their adventure takes them on a whirlwind journey across the globe, piecing together clues hidden within Renaissance paintings that lead them to various locations, including Bangkok and Ireland.

Joining the impressive cast are Eiza González, Domhnall Gleeson, and Stanley Tucci, making this film one of Ritchie's notable recent productions. The director, well-known for films such as *Snatch* (2000) and *Sherlock Holmes* (2009), continues his prolific streak with recent projects like *The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare* and *The Covenant*.

Despite its ambitious premise and familiar vibes echoing adventure classics like *Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade* (1989) and *National Treasure* (2004), the cinematic reception has been decidedly lukewarm. As it stands, *Fountain of Youth* boasts a disappointing 36 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, highlighting the critical backlash against it.

Reviewers have expressed their discontent, with Clarisse Loughrey from The Independent criticizing the film for its "aggravating, smart-alec streak" in the dialogue and comparing the sets to the “cartoonish look of a themed escape room.” Similarly, Kevin Maher of The Times described the film as "chaotic, numbing and dull". William Bibbiani from The Wrap took a more extreme approach, remarking, "I would seriously consider cutting off one of my own fingers if it meant I didn’t have to spend two hours alone in a room with John Krasinski’s protagonist."

Audience feedback has also been lackluster, with an average score of only 44 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting a general dissatisfaction with the film's execution. However, this critical failure hasn't deterred viewers from flocking to the streaming platform. Released on Apple TV+ on May 23, the film debuted at the top spot in 99 countries and quickly climbed into the top 10 on Prime Video across the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany.

As the film garners significant streaming viewership, questions arise about Guy Ritchie's future direction. While his exploration into the action-adventure genre is noteworthy, Ritchie has proven his versatility as a filmmaker with projects spanning various genres. In an interview, he mentioned his desire to avoid being pigeonholed in the comedy-action-gangster genre, emphasizing the need for creative evolution as a writer-director.

“I found myself feeling like if I wasn’t too careful, I was ending up in a comedy-action-gangster genre, of which, of course, I’m comfortable and enjoy,” Ritchie stated in a recent interview. “But at some point, I thought, you have to spread your wings as a writer-director.”

As *Fountain of Youth* continues to defy expectations in the streaming landscape, it will be fascinating to see whether it influences Ritchie's future endeavors in film.