The Lost City
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Directed By: Aaron Nee, Adam Nee
Rated: PG-13
Did you recently watch Uncharted and think to yourself…”I wish Sandra Bullock, Brad Pitt, and Channing Tatum were in this?” Then did you say to yourself, “I wish that this was a romantic comedy instead of a video game adaptation?” Then did you say, “I wish that this was a fun movie instead of a terrible one?”
Oh my gosh, me too!
Well, good news for everyone who suffered through Uncharted and felt those things. The Lost City is here to give us a treasure hunting adventure that you’ll actually enjoy watching!
The Lost City follows romance novelist Loretta (Sandra Bullock) who has fallen into a rut. She used to be an adventurer but the death of her husband five years ago changed everything. She now sticks to a safe routine schedule at home that consists of writing, cooking, and drinking wine in the bathtub. Her trusty smartwatch reminds her when it’s time for the next step in her daily routine.
Much to her dismay, Loretta’s publisher Beth (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) informs her that she must embark on a book tour for her latest novel, “The Lost City of D” with the book’s beloved cover model, Alan. (Channing Tatum) After attempting to leave the tour after the first stop, Loretta is kidnapped by millionaire Abigail Fairfax (Danielle Radcliffe) who hopes to find the ancient ruins of the Lost City. He takes her to a mysterious island and enlists her help to find the treasure. Meanwhile, Alan and Beth try to hatch a plan to save Loretta. What started as a book tour for Loretta’s adventure romance novel becomes Loretta’s real-life adventure. Will Alan find her? Will she make it out of the Lost City?
It’s so great to have a star-studded romantic comedy back in the theaters. This is a hilarious and fun movie that’s perfect for a fun night out. Directors Aaron and Adam Nee craft a wild island adventure that has an absolutely crazy plot with some truly ridiculous scenarios. That being said, it never fails to be a fun ride.
I particularly enjoyed the parallels that connect Loretta’s romance novels to the storyline of the film. The plot itself is like watching a romance novel come to life with over-the-top story elements, will they or won’t they moments, crazy side characters, and the dramatic island setting.
If there’s one thing Sandra Bullock is gonna do it’s deliver a romantic comedy performance you remember. From While You Were Sleeping to The Proposal to Miss Congeniality, she has brought some iconic characters to life. She’s back in The Lost City as Loretta Sage, an uptight adventure romance novelist who’s seemingly lost her sense of adventure. Bullock plays the character with anxious energy and witty one-liners.
Channing Tatum is Alan, the pretty boy cover model who’s in over his head for this rescue operation. The jungle isn’t exactly the most welcoming place for this model. Loretta and Alan trying to survive in the jungle provides for some very humorous scenes. The two are quite an unexpected team. It’s Tatum and Bullock’s back and forth banter that sells so much of the movie.
No surprise that I’m saying this but Brad Pitt is the scene-stealer in the film. His character, Jack Trainer, is a trained operative hired to help save Loretta after she’s kidnapped. Pitt is cool under pressure for every second of his screen time. You won’t be forgetting his character any time soon.
While The Lost City is a very fun time at the movies, I would say it does fall victim to some typical romantic comedy cliches that are easy to predict long before they happen. If anything else, I would say the ending is a little too rushed. Everything is wrapped up so quickly and the filmmakers could’ve easily added a few more minutes. The pacing throughout the film is great so this movie could’ve run 2 hours and it wouldn’t have been an issue at all.
The Lost City is a star-studded return to true romantic comedy form. Despite some typical rom-com clichés, this is a fun ride that will keep you entertained from start to finish.
My Rating: 7/10