Back in the day (30 years ago) Sandra Bullock was the Queen of RomComs (“While you were sleeping”, “Two If by Sea”, “Hope Floats”, etc.). But in recent years she has focused on dramatic roles. That is until “The Lost City” which opens this week.
The setup for TLC is remarkably similar to “Romancing the Stone” (1984) where Kathleen Turner played a romance novelist (check) who is forlorn (check), and is forced by criminal (check), to find a treasure (check), and becomes irritated by the man trying to help her (check) BUT they slowly fall in love (check).
The two films are so similar that The Lost City could have been a sequel or reboot of the Romancing the Stone (or the subject of a copyright infringement lawsuit)!
Before diving into the core of the plot - I’ve got to address the elephant in the room - or should I say Botox vial. At the age of 58, Bullock looks good, but there are shots where her face looks unnaturally smooth and plasticky. Of course she’s not the only older star to seek out age-defying treatments. But when paired opposite a leading man 16 years younger - the Botox looks more obvious.
I hadn’t planned to see TLC until I saw the trailer which featured Brad Pitt. He plays a parody of an action star and (while he’s on screen) it’s a lot of fun. But (spoiler alert) Pitt doesn’t have many scenes because Channing Tatum is the actual costar and is also 16 years younger.
Daniel Radcliffe plays the villain and does his best Lucius Malfoy impression. Later in the movie someone refers to him as “the boy with a beard”. I suspect Radcliffe will suffer that comparison far into his old age.
The movie is a comedy… but resorts to lame and juvenile attempts at humor (Tatum feels the warm water when Bullock pees in a stream; they both comment on how a tunnel opening looks like an anus).
Tatum’s character is one-dimension at first (a walking talking hair swishing Fabio joke). Although he develops, I can’t understand why he is so desperate for Bullock’s approval (other than modeling for her books is his meal ticket). He wants her because the script tells him he wants her.
Bullock’s character has been mourning the loss of her husband for 5 years but it seems as if it’s only yesterday. She is very dismissive of everyone around her - especially Tatum (who she treats like a Him-bo).
One of the funnier scenes (included in the trailer) is when Tatum discovers leeches on his back. But in the film - both Bullock and the audience see a whole lot more… Tatum displays his might fine leech covered butt (for more than just a glimpse). While Tatum’s naked ass might be worth the price of admission - I’d recommend waiting a couple months when it will likely be available on Paramount+.
Note: The director said that’s Tatum’s actual butt, not a butt double. Here are a couple shots of Tatum’s butt from his modeling career and another movie. You’ll get a better closeup in The Lost City (but fake leeches will be glued to it).
Yeah, Sandy and Channing () have no chemistry. The plot is okay, think it would’ve been a whole lot better with someone like Lucien León Laviscount. Now that would’ve been
At one point during The Lost City, a topless hero drops the cliche ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’. This could well be the film’s mission statement - take life as it comes, and you might just surprise yourself. Well, there aren’t many surprises in store here, but that isn’t really the point. A charming cast and some inspired laughs are just enough to make this adventure worthwhile.
Written by Seth Gordon, the brains behind Horrible BossesandIdentify Theft, the plot is as wacky as you’d expect. Loretta (Sandra Bullock) used to be an archaeologist with her late husband, but now she’s the author of a smutty adventure series (think Fifty Shades mixed with Indiana Jones) that has become more famous for its dashing and dim-witted cover model, Alan (Channing Tatum). On a tour to promote her poorly received new book, she is abducted by the bitter son of a media tycoon (a hot-tempered Daniel Radcliffe) who wants her help to locate the island treasure described in her book. Alan, who might also have feelings for Loretta, sets off on a daring rescue mission.
No ancient medallions for guessing where this is heading. As Loretta and Alan are unwittingly thrown together on a dangerous island, expect a lot of soul-searching, near scrapes with death, and villainous monologues. Thankfully, that doesn’t make this any less entertaining.
Directors Aaron and Adam Nee keep things fast-paced and funny, with a madcap streak of humour lined through it. There’s also a memorable cameo from Brad Pitt as a spiritual military man who makes Liam Neeson look like a puppy. Not all of the jokes land, and a subplot about a fearless publicist (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) detracts too much from the action, but it’s hard not to be swept up by the sheer silliness on display here.
The Lost City is at its best when its leads are sharing the screen. While Bullock can do high-strung deadpan comedy in her sleep, Tatum threatens to run away with the film as a well-meaning but completely useless ‘hero’ who is way out of his depth. Their chemistry is truly inspired and draws in the biggest laughs of the film, including a hilarious scene where they try to justify sending a goon to his death. It’s with this dream pairing that the film really strikes gold.
While the story isn’t exactly a page-turner, The Lost City is elevated by some silly laughs and a comic pairing to treasure in Bullock and Tatum.
Channing Tatum’s book cover model in The Lost City is a reference to Fabio, but is also styled after Brad Pitt from Interview with A Vampire. Pitt was 30 when he filmed Louis in 1993, Channing was 41 when he filmed The Lost City in 2021.
I just realize Dash (aka Channing Tatum), the cover model from the movie The Lost City has a very similar costume as Catwoman (aka Zoë Kravitz) from The Batman. Dash just needs a mask.
I watched “The Lost City” and I would like gifs of Daniel Radcliffe calling the burly men he pays to do stuff for him “snowflakes” and saying “I love watching hunks fail.”
