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.
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.
Mike Tyrkus
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