- THE LOST CITY
- Starring: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum and Daniel Radcliffe
- Directed by: Aaron Nee and Adam Nee
- Rated: PG 13
- Running time: 1 hr 52 mins
- Paramount
Fun. That’s the first thing I thought of as the credits rolled on “The Lost City.” This movie was Fun!
Following the death of her husband, romance/adventure author Loretta (Bullock) is struggling to finish her next book. She has the action. She has the romance. But she just can’t find an ending. However, when Loretta finds HERSELF in peril, the story almost writes itself.
I have to admit that when I sat down I was expecting a watered-down retelling of “Romancing the Stone.” Nope. “The Lost City” is a film with great characters, rich locations and, darn it, here’s that word again…fun. I had no idea that Sandra Bullock was such an amazing physical comedienne. Whether traipsing through the jungle in a spangled jumpsuit or caught in the middle of a high-speed chase while tied to a chair, she effortlessly uses the situation to the audience’s benefit. She is joined by Tatum, who longs to be thought of as more than Ash, the cover model of Loretta’s novels. Radcliffe is also well cast as the villain of the piece, who is searching for a long-lost treasure. You may even spot a very familiar face who is enlisted to help track down the missing Loretta.
The is witty and adds a few surprises to the normal tropes found in a film like this. The pace is fast, but never hurried and the locations are lush and exotic. The musical score, by Pinar Toprak, helps set the mood and keep the story moving.
To sum it all up, “The Lost City” is a fun way to usher in the spring movie season.