Movie Review: The Lost City

Midway through The Lost City, or possibly even earlier, you may be faintly reminded of an “older” film called Romancing the Stone (1984). Of course, this depends primarily upon your age. If you do, in fact, remember that earlier film starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito then you are more than likely not the target audience for this new “sort of” incarnation of the story and any shortcomings found in the film will probably be yours to bear alone as The Lost City proves to be an entertaining piece carried primarily by the likability of the two leads.

As the film begins, we are introduced to reclusive romance novelist Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) is beginning a promotional tour for her new book along with the cover model for the series, Alan (Channing Tatum). During their first appearance on the tour, the pair are abducted by someone named Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe) who plans to force Loretta to lead him to the location of the ancient lost treasure detailed in her new novel. 

At the same time, Loretta’s agent, Beth (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) has uncovered Fairfax’s kidnapping plot and sets about heading across the globe to rescue her. Along the way, she picks up a pilot who just happens to be completely enamored with her (Oscar Nunez) and the two slowly trek towards the island on which Loretta and Alan are trapped. Meanwhile, once Loretta and Alan realize they are actually in peril, Alan manages to contact a former trainer of his, conveniently named Jack Trainer (Brad Pitt), to come and rescue them. This leads to a short-lived romantic triangle between Loretta, Alan, and Jack as they traverse the jungle in an ill-fated escape attempt. 

Sandra Bullock in “The Lost City.” Photo Credit: Kimberley French/Kimberley French – © 2021 Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved.

Of course, the hapless Alan gets the pair into more perilous situations than they need to be, but they somehow manage to make their way to the heart of the jungle where Loretta’s knowledge of the ancient city buried on the island begins to pay off. At the same time, Alan is determined to prove to Loretta that he is more than just a vapid book cover model. 

As directed by Adam and Aaron Nee, whose last film was the entertaining Mark Twain reimagining Band of Robbers (2015), the film moves along at a reasonably welcome pace. But this probably has more to do with the chemistry between the actors and the obvious fun everyone seems to be having in the film than it does with the actual nuts and bolts of the film itself.

Overall, The Lost City is remarkably enjoyable and incredibly fun. But there is not too much more to the film than the camaraderie between the players and the good time all involved seem to be having making the film to make it more than a random diversion.

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Mike Tyrkus

Editor in Chief at CinemaNerdz.com

An independent filmmaker, co-writer and director of over a dozen short films, the Editor in Chief of CinemaNerdz.com has spent much of the last three decades as a writer and editor specializing in biographical and critical reference sources in literature and the cinema, beginning in February 1991 reviewing films for his college newspaper. He was a member of the Detroit Film Critics Society, as well as the group's webmaster and one-time President for over a decade until the group ceased to exist. His contributions to film criticism can be found in Magill's Cinema Annual, VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (of which he was the editor for nearly a decade until it too ceased to exist), the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, and the St. James Film Directors Encyclopedia (on which he collaborated with editor Andrew Sarris). He has also appeared on the television program Critic LEE Speaking alongside Lee Thomas of FOX2 and Adam Graham, of The Detroit News. He currently lives in the Detroit area with his wife and their dogs.

@miketyrkus

Mike Tyrkus

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