The Lost City Movie Review: Indiana Jones Meets Romancing The Stone

The Lost City marketing has been unstoppable ever since that first trailer dropped months ago. And for good reason when you've got the odd yet potentially very winning rom com pairing of Sandra Bullock & Channing Tatum, plus Harry Potter himself in Daniel Radcliffe and Brad Pitt in supporting roles. The trailers didn't necessarily wow me by any means, but I was really digging the very old fashioned romantic adventurous vibes that the previews were certainly presenting (clearly in the veins of classics like Indiana Jones or most notably Romancing The Stone), and of course I love this entire cast. And while the final product isn't an exceptional film by any means, I'm glad to report this was quite the good time at the movies.

This felt as if I was essentially transported back into the 2000s or even earlier era where these action romantic comedies were much more present, but I very much mean that in a good sense. As formulaic of a film it may be, it's ultimately delightful, very funny, and a hugely entertaining ride. The script is undoubtedly riddle with plenty of rom com cliches, but never once do filmmakers Aaron and Adam Nee make the critical mistake of having a film with a premise this over the top take itself too seriously. While there are some noticeable green screen, the action for the most part is even solid and I appreciated the fact that the film actually felt like it was taking me on an adventure through the jungle. And boy it sure is a funny film. As with almost any comedy, there are a handful of jokes that do fall quite flat, but more often than not the comedic moments are a success, and I was surely laughing many times.

And much of that success is for sure from the contributions of its dynamite cast members. Sandra Bullock & Channing Tatum may have initially seemed like a bizarre pairing (at least to me), but they are absolutely perfect and charming playing off one another in this film. The two of them have always had natural comedic sensibilities and are very much an inspiring match for these roles. I shouldn't be too surprised considering how good he is in the Jump Street films or even his cameo in This Is The End, but Tatum continues to really impress me with how naturally funny he is. As wonderful as the two main stars are, it's some of the supporting players that threaten to steal the whole show. Daniel Radcliffe is obviously having a ball as the villain and brings such a fun energy to the film whenever he appears. And while it pretty much is a 10-minute extended cameo that the trailers gave much of away, Brad Pitt is still a total riot in this film and certainly will garner much of the biggest laughs from the audience.

Now as fun as the film is, I'm not going to pretend it's an awards caliber film without noticeable faults. If you've seen any of the trailers or even just read off the short synopsis, you can pinpoint just about every single beat this plot will hit. There isn't anything particularly surprising nor unique about this film's structure or storytelling. It certainly borrows plenty of elements from adventure or rom com films you've seen before. As someone who does have a bit of a soft spot for these films this wasn't exactly a deal breaker by any means, but it would have been nice if the film had a few more tricks up its sleeves. And the pacing during the middle act slows down quite a bit, but the film does find its momentum again with what is a fun climatic showdown.

If you're walking into The Lost City hoping for an action rom com that also transcends genres, you'll leave very disappointed. But if you're just looking for a fun, shut your brain off type of old fashioned romantic action adventure where charismatic movie stars are having a blast, then make sure to treat yourself (and significant other if you have one) to a good time at the cinemas when this releases this weekend. It's nice to know that original mainstream films like this can still exist and I really hope a lot of people go see it to make for a smashing hit at the box office.

Final Grade: B