THE LOST CITY movie review

THE LOST CITY is directed by Aaron and Adam Nee, who co-wrote the screenplay with Oren Uziel and Dana Fox. It stars Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Brad Pitt.

Loretta Sage is a successful college-educated author who has become a recluse following the death of her husband. She loathes going out in public and dealing with her aggressive publicist and Alan, the Fabio-esque cover model who appears on the front of her books, who doesn’t understand he’s not really the character he’s depicting. When Loretta is kidnapped by an eccentric millionaire who forces her to help him find a treasure in an Atlantic island, it’s up to Alan to spring into action to rescue the author he secretly pines for. But will it be too late?

THE LOST CITY’s influences are pretty obvious in its trailers and TV spots, drawing inspiration from INDIANA JONES and ROMANCING THE STONE. I was afraid this movie would be a pointless retread that relied on cheap laughs and brought nothing new to the table. And while the final result is certainly predictable, it may be the hardest I’ve laughed at the movies in 2022 so far. The chemistry between the stars, particularly Bullock and Tatum, is fantastic and makes for some great moments.

When it comes to casting, THE LOST CITY couldn’t be better. Putting Bullock as a disenfranchised author in need of rescuing and Tatum as a dimwitted pretty boy with no real talents for rescues makes for a laugh riot. But one of the surprising performances is Daniel Radcliffe as the villainous millionaire who flies around in a jet it looks like he stole from the Avengers. When their paths cross, all hell breaks loose. And so do a lot of laughs. The best thing about the movie is that it’s funny, but it has a heart too.

The tone of the movie is comedic in nearly every scene, but I’m happy to say that the movie never takes cheap shortcuts to earn laughs from its audience. Much of the humor is verbal, and the witty dialogue with the chemistry between the actors is impressive. I saw the film in a crowded theater at an advance screening, and there was rarely a moment the viewers weren’t in an uproar of laughter.

If there’s one weakness of the movie, it’s the predictability. I could see nearly every major plot point and outcome coming a mile away, and the movie does tend to “play it safe” when it comes to the narrative structure. Some characters don’t quite get the emphasis they could have, though this isn’t necessarily a bad thing since it lets us focus, perhaps rightly, on Tatum and Bullock. Attempts to make characters funny who shouldn’t be comedic fall flat, but I’m glad to see that there aren’t too many of these moments.

THE LOST CITY is hilarious and succeeds with the chemistry of its co-stars, garnering countless laughs. It’s hilarious, relatable, and touching, and you won’t walk out of the theater without laughing. For fans of comedies, this one comes highly recommended.