Publications
Partners
MOVIE:
The Lost City
WHERE TO WATCH:
OUR RATING:
3.5/5 Stars
WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
A reclusive romance novelist on a book tour with her cover model gets swept up in a kidnapping attempt that lands them both in a cutthroat jungle adventure.
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Just on paper, there's very little not to like about The Lost City. The hilarious Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in the leads, a race through the jungle searching for treasure, and Daniel Radcliffe plays an obnoxiously rich British villain. While reminiscent of the early 2000's stock of blockbusters, it plays into a lightheartedness that has perhaps been a little lacking in pandemic cinema - especially a movie that hasn't just skipped right to streaming. It's got big stars, a big budget with top-tier action, and a great repertoire of silly jokes that will leave you laughing instead of cringing. While this kind of nostalgia could have been its downfall, the talent involved milked it just enough to get you through the door. The rest of it will make you want to stay.
It starts with romance novelist Loretta who has lost her zest for life, forced onto a book tour with her foolish cover model Alan, who just wants respect in her eyes. She's kidnapped during a book event by billionaire Fairfax, deadset on finding a real treasure from her book and lifetime research. Seeing his chance, Alan embarks on a mission to rescue her, with her tenacious publisher not far behind.
There's also a Brad Pitt cameo that is just perfectly hilarious.
Luckily, this movie and those involved don't take themselves too seriously, yet just serious enough to deliver great comedic oneliners with a sprinkle of emotional and romantic character development that takes the edge off the more ridiculous moments. All it wants to do is entertain its audience and make them laugh, and with Bullock and Tatum, you will get that and so much more. Both actors are masters at humorous reactive monologues and physical comedy, specifically when they accidentally kill their pursuers and the leeches scene that will make you belly laugh. Both lean hard into their well-known strengths that you have seen them do a million times before, but honestly, it's what you buy a ticket for.
And the fact that a woman closer to 60 than 50 (??!!) is playing the lead in a romantic film like this is more proof of the real star power of Bullock, and alongside Tatum, you get exactly what you pay for.
As for good ol' Daniel Radcliffe, who plays a rich man with a stupidly funny chip on his shoulder, he pulls off the big selfish villain trope perfectly - complete with tantrums and henchmen abuse. Luckily, his character wasn't neglected in the script, as sometimes happens in these films, and he has his own zingers. They also take a decent jab at white men's audacity when it comes to defiling local heritage in non-Western countries, offering the character a few layers. The supporting cast is then sweetly rounded off by Da'Vine Joy Randolph as the loyal yet tired publisher and friend Beth. However small, Randolph fills her role with grit and makes her mark in every one of her scenes. Beth exists outside of the Best Friend trope with oddly well-fleshed out motivations and is a great addition to the ensemble.
While The Lost City follows an old adventure-comedy blueprint, its script and directing style are fresh and meaty, helmed by the not-as-known-yet Nee Brothers, with only two other little-known features under their belt. They have already been hired to reboot the Masters of the Universe film for Netflix (outside of the animations), and if their knack for comedy is anything to go by, I am excited to see what they do with the franchise.
Even if the movie appears a little outdated, it's a worthwhile nostalgia trip that only aims to entertain and not express some deeply contrived message about the state of the world. It's about two people coming together in a ridiculous situation, the thrill of discovery and finding someone that's willing to pull nasty leeches off your butt.
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
