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The Lost City
(Paramount Pictures)
By Lucas Allen
Remember back in the ‘90s when romance novels became popular with muscular model Fabio on the covers? Imagine taking that character from those books and dropping him in the middle of an Indiana Jones-esque adventure. That’s the premise for the action-packed romantic comedy “The Lost City,” which is also banking on a female audience that’s never seen “Romancing the Stone.”
A successful romance/adventure novelist, Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) has lost that creative spark since the passing of her archeologist husband. During a tour stop promoting her latest book “The Lost City of D,” she expresses her growing frustration with cover model Alan (Channing Tatum) in front of his screaming fans. Afterwards, she gets kidnapped and taken to millionaire Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe), who offers her a proposition. He believes her latest book offers clues to an actual lost treasure on an island somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, and he wants her to travel with him to decipher the clues and find the treasure.
Meanwhile, Alan and his personal trainer/special ops (Brad Pitt in an extended cameo) travel to the island to try to rescue Loretta. Lorette and Alan end up stranded in the jungles trying to stay one step ahead of Fairfax and his lackeys. Soon enough, the twosome tries to put aside their differences to find the lost treasure first before Fairfax does. But they’ll have to hurry because an erupting volcano threatens to wipe everything out.
Much like “Uncharted,” this movie is jam packed with familiar elements from the likes of Indiana Jones and other adventure titles to try to create something fantastical for its audience. But where that movie ended up being a mediocre video game adaptation, this one ends up being a surprisingly decent romantic comedy. Not to mention, the fact that its clash with the adventure genre makes it watchable for anyone who doesn’t usually care about the sub-genre. Of course, with its leading man and its tendency to get pretty mushy, it’ll likely gain more of a female audience than the male audience.
As for the comedy, it’s a mixed bag. There certainly are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, especially when it goes for shock value like the scene with the leeches. However, there is an issue with some comedy parts going for long rambling, line-a-rama improvisation that becomes too much to endure. When characters keep talking, it becomes a tough competition for the actors to see who can come up with the funniest, on-the-spot dialogue. Some people may be all right with it, but actors should strictly limit their improvisation and stay on script.
Ultimately, it’s the actors who helped keep this movie afloat despite the awkward comedy. Bullock brings both beauty and spark to her performance in what may be one of her better comedic parts. Tatum once again proves he has the good looks and timing when he’s excelling at being a funnyman. Radcliffe completes this acting trifecta in an over-the-top, scenery chewing bit of acting that actually helps to further his status from ex-child star to leading man status.
As far as recent adventure films that make you pine for the old days of Spielberg and Lucas go, you can do far worse than “The Lost City.” It has some good things going for it before almost being outweighed by its shortcomings. Still, it’s one of those movies best watched with friends on a quiet weekend afternoon. Just sit back, laugh along, and be sure to leave your brain at the door.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG-13 (for violence and some bloody images, suggestive material, partial nudity and language)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 2.75 Stars (Out of Four)
