The Lost City Movie Review

“The Lost City” is a modern-day romp that feels like it was pulled from the 1980’s. The jungle adventure adds some weight to the lead character’s distress. A popular romance novel writer and her fabulous cover model friend get pulled into a reenactment of the latest work of fiction. Then add in some kidnapping, general havoc, and some fabled treasures on a Caribbean island — then you have the makings of a crazy tale.

Loretta Sage (played by Sandra Bullock) is a famous novelist of a long series of romantic adventures. Her deceased husband, along with Loretta, had visited many of the sites written of in the novels. They had both been adventurous archeologists. But since his death, she can do little travelling and instead writes fictional adventures of her memories. Her latest novel is about “The Lost City of D”. She feels that it is a real place on a real island. The adventure leads to the discovery of mythical ruby red jewels hidden deep in the jungle.

Part of the novel’s success is due to Alan Caprison, known as cover model Dash McMahon, (played by Channing Tatum). He has flowing blond hair and chiseled features. The cover of every Loretta Sage has to include the literary hero and star, Dash, on the front. He is a popular fellow, and always ready to help people out. He cares a lot more about his stunning good looks than his average brain. He does not have any of the actual skills that fictional Dash has in the novels. Alan is whole lot more ‘metrosexual’ than ‘manly’. He puts the ‘man’ into “Mani-Pedi”.

Loretta has a publicist named Beth (played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph). It’s her job to make sure Loretta gets her novels completed on time, and to get Alan out front as the public face of Loretta’s work. The new book tour has a stop where everything goes wrong. Loretta huffs out to get into a large vehicle, and she thinks it is some ride-share to take her home. But instead, she gets kidnapped by an ultra-wealthy man named Fairfax (played by Daniel Radcliffe). He is an eccentric billionaire, but he has a single goal – to get Loretta to help him find the City and jewels. After all, Loretta did write all about them in her latest book.

Fairfax and his seedy henchman get Loretta to the island, and it is the same location as her most recent novel. Alan and Beth are worried that they have not heard anything from Loretta. Alan remembers a guy he met from a meditation weekend. He was an ex-Special Forces-trained, CIA-connected spook. He could locate anyone. Jack Trainer (played by Brad Pitt) agrees to meet Alan on the island and to find Loretta. Jack is everything that Alan is not. He has an easy time getting to Loretta and getting her away. He does not have such an easy time himself…

Loretta and Alan are alone now in the jungle, and they have very few provisions. They have even fewer survival skills. The Fairfax henchmen are out to find them and to bring Loretta back. Her job was to translate some cryptic writing, so that Fairfax would have a clue as to where he could find the treasure.  Alan might not have the best skills, but he has a huge attraction to Loretta. He would do anything for her. Loretta is feeling lost and insecure, but she feels a little better when Alan is around.

Fairfax will stop at nothing to bride the locals, or just threaten them. Anything that he can do to get Loretta’s help to locate that stash of jewels — nothing will get in his way. Jack Trainer has been pushed aside. It will be easy for his henchmen to do the same to Alan Caprison, once they see he is getting in the way. There is an active volcano, and that means his plans are running out of time. But he will make any sacrifice to get what wants. As long that sacrifice is of somebody else…

“The Lost City” delivers a nostalgic vibe from the 1980’s action adventure movies, with a big romantic comedy plot that is thrown in. The leads are both very accomplished actors with each getting a major boost from their attractive chemistry. The story line leans into big 1980’s type movies, such as “Romancing the Stone”, with a bit of “Nim’s Island” also included in there.

Sandra Bullock has a wonderfully wacky way about her in this role. She is always charismatic and yet down-to-earth. Channing Tatum does a really good job playing a lovable lunkhead who is in way over his head. Daniel Radcliffe plays a ‘love to hate him’ villain, and he does it well. Also, Brad Pitt has his extended cameo appearance that just leans way into his debonair action hero personal.

“The Lost City” might not be a super original story, but with the personal chemistry of the two leads – it makes sure that your time seeing this movie is not ‘Lost’…