The Lost City

By Jonah Naplan

March 25, 2022

I just didn’t find it very funny.

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum star as Loretta and Alan in “The Lost City,” the 2022 rendition of that adventure/comedy formula we’ve seen many times before. You know how it goes - one character is uptight, the other is more free-sailing. Through some predictable events, the two end up on an adventure together, as they have to sort out their differences to reach a specific goal. This time it’s in a jungle, as the two go after the treasure of the Lost City before a volcano erupts and covers up any discoveries they could make. But of course, an eccentric billionaire, Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe), and his henchmen remain right on their heels as the duo travels from picturesque landscape to picturesque landscape. And most of it didn’t seem worthwhile.

For one, there was really only a single memorable scene in the whole movie; I won’t spoil which scene specifically, although it’s featured in the trailers. This scene perfectly encapsulated everything that the rest of “The Lost City” could have been. It hilariously combines the physical and verbal talent that both Tatum and Bullock have when it comes to comedy, and each exchange between the two of them is actually amusing to behold. These are two talented actors afterall, and they aren’t really doing anything wrong as they’re both decent in the film.

The issue is that the script they were paid a fat check to perform is so dull in its convention that it’s sometimes a bore to sit through. There’s the occasional twist here and there, but none of it compelled me so much as to raise an eyebrow. Yes, of course they kiss in this scene. Yes, of course his phone is broken. Yes, of course the villain did that. Yes, of course…well, you get the idea.

It wouldn’t necessarily matter as much if the characters were fascinating to witness, but at times they’re painfully two-dimensional. It could be argued that Loretta changes from that cynical author by the end of the movie, but I disagree. It’s not that she’s unlikeable, but it’s just difficult to root for her when she sometimes feels like a piece of plain, brown cardboard. Her chemistry with Tatum is enjoyable to an extent, but even I, a sucker for classic slapstick, got bored of their relationship after a while. Even Daniel Radcliffe, The Boy Who Lived himself, isn’t charismatic enough to make this film succeed. It’s clear he’s supposed to be the definitive villain of “The Lost City,” but he rarely acts like it. His character is trying to be both charming and antagonistic, and succeeds at neither. It doesn’t really seem like he has a real motivation, rather he’s evil just for the sake of being evil. He even attempts some jokes in a few scenes, but like I said at the start of this review, they’re just not very funny.

But, don’t worry. “The Lost City,” isn’t all bad. Because Brad Pitt is here to save the day…in an extended cameo. Jack Trainer, the man initially assigned to save Loretta from Fairfax’s apparent “kidnapping,” presents the wide range of what Brad Pitt can really do. (My theater loved him, and laughed whenever he was on screen.) But, like most of “The Lost City,” I only found him vaguely amusing rather than outright funny. This wasn’t necessarily an issue, but rather another disappointing reminder of the film’s true potential.

“The Lost City” tries to make its formulaic plot and characters work, but it just doesn’t succeed. It takes a story we’re all too familiar with, and doesn’t add any new variables. It’s predictable from the first scene to the last. However, I can admire the directors, Aaron and Adam Nee, for choosing to make the type of film that Hollywood doesn’t make anymore. Comedies are difficult to be put into production, because nowadays you have to be so careful about what jokes you execute. In the vast world of social media, any filmmaker could be instantly reprimanded or even canceled on Twitter for producing any content that could even be considered potentially offensive. I can appreciate the filmmakers for showing clear interest in making a comedy movie. I just don’t think they made a very good one.

Although the people around me showed enthusiasm towards the film playing before them, my own family members included, I just didn’t feel the same way. I went into “The Lost City” longing for the good belly laugh that never came. I could daintily forgive the film’s dry lack of actual humor without a care in the world, so much as the rest of the movie was engaging enough. But that wasn’t the case. In some of the film’s most dramatic moments, I could barely grasp onto anything that occurred. It was as if I was trying to drink water from a strainer. No matter how hard I tried, the plot and the characters just kept slipping away.