The Lost City is like an updated version of the 1984 classic Romancing the Stone, and that is a huge compliment! That Kathleen Turner-Michael Douglas adventure comedy is one of my favorite films and this new film definitely has plenty of that films elements while at the same time not being a total rip-off. The script has a good amount of laughs and a surprising amount of heart.
The action sequences are well choreographed and pretty exciting too, especially the ones Brad Pitt is involved in. And Brad is just one of the very talented cast members that headline this blockbuster. Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum bring their A game to this and have crackling romantic/sexual energy.
You can tell Sandra Bullock is really having a lot of fun here and that comes through clearly in her performance. She’s able to portray a very likable capable character while being funny at the same time.
Channing Tatum also portrays a well formed character that’s impossible not to love. He’s a lot more than just a hot body and biceps in this. His role is given just enough depth to inform us on who he is and make us like him. The Lost City understands that this type of fun popcorn blockbuster needs more than just action and explosions, you also need lead characters who the audience will both pull for and have an affection for.
The supporting cast is also good, for the most part. Brad Pitt turns in a delightfully fun and sexy minor performance. He performs some really well done high octane fight scenes and damn he is still as sexy as ever! Sandra Bullock’s literary agent in The Lost City, played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph, is a also a delightful minor character. I don’t think I’ve seen Randolph in anything else but I hope she’ll show up in more. She has a great energy.
The only cast member that I unfortunately didn’t love was The Office‘s Oscar Nunez. Thankfully he only plays a minor role and while he doesn’t really hurt the film most of his material is just flat. He’s good in The Office but he just doesn’t really work well in this particular project. Lucky for us as the audience, he’s really the only the low point.
There’s a healthy balance between the romance and thrilling action. The chemistry between Bullock and Tatum really does sizzle! They have a connection that seems really natural. And I love that they weren’t afraid to get sexy and push the boundary a little. They’re definitely not prudish about their desire for one another and I found that refreshing.
Side note: Channing Tatum is aging like FINE WINE, just like Pitt!
Like I said, the adventure side of The Lost City is also satisfying. The fight scenes that lead up to the grand finale are well staged and the finale is what you would want out of a film like this.
The final chapter makes good on the promise to bring the adventure. That big cinematic feel is definitely present. And I must say that I really enjoyed the final scene which wraps things up very nicely and is sure to put a smile on your face.
Full disclosure, amongst all this fun and positivity there is a minor handful of jokes that don’t quite land or overstay their welcome. So while this isn’t a total homerun, the pile of stuff that works stacks far higher than the pile that doesn’t.
The Lost City is a fun adventure comedy that has the feel of an updated Romancing the Stone. This film is a success due to the stellar cast and their chemistry and due to a script that knows how to balance romance and thrills.
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