Comedy

Film review, by Jason Day, of The Lost City, the action-packed comedy starring Sandra Bullock as a romantic fiction writer involved in a treasure hunt. Co-starring Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe and Brad Pitt.

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Synopsis

Best-selling romantic fiction author Loretta Sage lives as a recluse following the death of her ancient languages expert partner. But her life takes a surprising turn when she is kidnapped by nutty British billionaire Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe) intent on finding the ‘Crown of Fire’ treasure hidden on an island, she has to contend with two heroes trying to rescue her. The first is the handsome and capable Jack Trainer (Brad Pitt), the other is the useless but infatuated cover model from her books (Channing Tatum).

Review, by @Reelreviewer

Is that a Ken doll on a moped?

Abigail (Daniel Radcliffe) spots wannabe hero Alan (Channing Tatum) giving chase.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Here’s that most wonderfully promising of cinematic things…a comedy that looks like it has lots of good laughs. And The Lost City does…just about.

It’s a modern-day screwball comedy with a mismatched leading couple who grow to like each other, bonkers supporting characters, and a madcap plot that takes in a few more crudities than Katherine Hepburn or Cary Grant would have uttered.

The script is littered with juicy one-liners that’ll have most adults giggling with delight. It’s a shame there aren’t a few more of them as the comedy is perfectly judged:

• Why are you so handsome? Response: My father was a weatherman.
• You look like a disco ball
• It looks like a rock sphincter
• It looks like a troll’s anus

Bullock shines as this sort of comic romp is her forte, and she and Tatum make an engaging screen pair.

My only criticisms are that the writers (for some unaccountable reason) kill-off the best character after he’s only been on the screen for a few minutes.

For a long time, Brad Pitt was nothing more than the guy candy Tatum portrays in movies like this and not associated with giving decent performances. Although he sometimes coasts on his good looks, he has developed into a killer comic performer such as his superbly cool Nazi hunter in Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds (2009). The Lost City sees him continue in that vein, he hardly needs to try to be downright hilarious, so it’s a shame he gets his brains blown out so early on as his character could have carried the movie.

Also, the excessive concentration on Tatum’s physical attributes eventually get annoying. You can see why a handsome, well-built Hollywood A-lister would jump at the opportunity to be obsessed over. But there is a toe-curlingly extended scene where Bullock admires and comments on the enormity of his penis, but not for one minute do you believe that pert backside is anyone other’s than a hunky, faceless extra.

Cast & credits

Directors: Aaron Nee, Adam Nee. 1hr 52min/112 min. Paramount Pictures/3dot productions/Exhibit A/Fortis Films. (12a).

Producers: Sandra Bullock, Liza Chasin, Seth Gordon.
Writers: Oren Uziel, Dana Fox, Adam Nee, Aaron Nee.
Camera: Jonathan Sela.
Music: Pinar Toprak.
Sets: Jim Bissell.

Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Brad Pitt, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Oscar Nuñez, Patti Harrison, Bowen Yang, Joan Pringle, Héctor Aníbal, Thomas Forbes-Johnson, Sli Lewis.