The Lost City is a romcom/adventure about grieving romance novelist Loretta Sage(Sandra Bullock) who is forced to go on a book tour with her cover model Alan(Channing Tatum) by her publicist Beth(Da'Vine Joy Randolph) despite her reticence. After the first event goes poorly Loretta is escorted to a meeting with eccentric billionaire Abagail(Daniel Radcliffe) who has discerned her knowledge of antiquity from her latest book and wants her to translate directions to an ancient treasure.
Bullock brings her undeniable charm and comedic ability to the role and its nice to see her return to this type of part, which she hasn't done in about a decade, she's got great chemistry with Tatum and has a understated but confident acuity with the humor and action. Tatum is a pleasure to watch as usual and he takes evident pleasure playing opposite Bullock. But Radcliffe is the one who's really having a ball as the over the top, mustache twirling, villain, it's really delicious. Randolph is great if somewhat underutilized and Brad Pitt has a wonderful, frenetic supporting role. All in all a pretty flawless cast.
A serviceable production that doesn't have much flash or uniqueness but gets the job done, solid location shooting with some decent and judicious CGI, an engaging score with some effective needle drops, all taken together its fun and it works if not terribly different. The movie is in the laudable tradition of Romancing The Stone and its great to get a movie like that now particularly that isn't a reboot or sequel. If there is a fault it's that the runtime is a bit long, the first act is absolutely propulsive and things roll in the third but the middle is bogged down by tonal confusion and stagnated momentum, it doesn't ruin it but it brings it down a bit. It would really cook at 100 minutes.
A great cast, compelling romance, and fun action if lacking some umph.
Currently in theaters, coming soon to VOD.
Rent It.
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