Usually, I’ll watch a “rom-com” and find a decent storyline that straddles both genres fairly well.
My personal preference is more for a film leaning towards comedy rather than romance.
“The Lost City” sadly falls short of the middle mark and pretty much used up all of its jokes in the trailer preview.
But, like any dutiful critic, I stuck it out to the very end.
Sadly, I can’t say that it got better by the end.
The Lost City is a 2022 American romantic action-adventure comedy film directed by The Nee Brothers, who co-wrote the screenplay with Oren Uziel and Dana Fox, from a story conceived by Seth Gordon.
It’s rated PG-13 for violence and some bloody images, suggestive material, partial nudity, and language and is 112 minutes long.
The film stars Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Brad Pitt.
Loretta Sage (Bullock) is a grumpy middle-aged author who writes romance-adventure novels centered on a fictional hero named Dash McMahon, who is portrayed by cover model Alan Caprison (Tatum).
Her publisher Beth (Randolph), insists that she must embark on a book tour with Alan in an effort to relieve Loretta of her reclusiveness.
After a disastrous start, mostly due to Alan’s popularity of his Dash persona, Loretta is met by eccentric billionaire Abigail Fairfax (Radcliffe).
Fairfax realizes that Loretta has based her books on actual historic research she did with her deceased archaeologist husband.
Fairfax has discovered a lost city on a remote Atlantic island and is convinced that this is the location of ‘The Crown of Fire,’ a priceless treasure.
In fact, he bought the entire island and has been unearthing the fabled city in search of the crown.
Sadly, the ancient city sits atop a lava dome and the island’s volcano is nearing another eruption.
When Loretta declines to help decipher an ancient map to the treasure, Fairfax, who fears the site will be destroyed by an active volcano, kidnaps Loretta and takes her to the island.
Alan, who is secretly enamored with Loretta, witnesses her kidnapping.
He recruits Jack Trainer (Pitt), an ex-Navy SEAL turned CIA operative, to meet him at the island and coordinate a rescue attempt.
Jack, with no assistance from Alan, breaches Fairfax’s compound and frees Loretta.
Unfortunately, Jack is shot in the head before the trio can make it to the airport, forcing Alan and Loretta to escape into the jungle.
Loretta and Alan spend a day fighting off Fairfax’s henchmen and trying to survive everything the jungle can throw at them.
Later, they reach a nearby village, whereupon hearing a folk song from a local, Loretta deduces that the crown is hidden in a sinkhole in the jungle.
The pair is kidnapped again and forced to share the treasure’s location with Fairfax.
Even then, Loretta makes an attempt at escaping Fairfax and Alan tries his best to be the hero.
Sadly his trusty steed is a sad, run-down moped.
I do have to say that there is an interesting twist at the end and Fairfax does get his comeuppance for being a nasty villain – but that’s it.
The jokes fall flat and I think the film is entirely too long.
If you’re a fan of Bullock or Tatum this might work for you – or as a girl’s night with lots of libations!
