The Lost City: Movie Review

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Brad Pitt

Director: Aaron Nee, Adam Nee

Essentially rehashing the tropes of a trashy romance novel, The Lost City flips the narrative to muted effect.

When reclusive author Loretta Sage (Bullock) is forced to go on a book tour to promote her latest trashy fantasy novel, The City of the Lost D, she's kidnapped by eccentric billionaire Ashley Fairfax (a truly game and energetic Radcliffe) who believes she has the key to the actual lost city.

However, the cover model of her books, the long-blonde haired Alan (Tatum, playing for comedic laughs initially in a Fabio-like wig before softening for the obligatory romance) decides he can be more than just a himbo and sets out to rescue her.

The Lost City obviously riffs on Romancing The Stone with a swap of the characters and a touch of Indiana Jones thrown in for good measure.

While the leads have reasonable chemistry and Bullock once again demonstrates her prowess for physical comedy, The Lost City's underwhelming script is the major issue for the film. From obvious adlibbing to lines that somehow feel flat, the film's flair for the muted is obvious from the start.

There are a couple of exceptions here.

Brad Pitt makes fantastic use of his very limited time on screen, with a cameo appearance that utilises all of his evident charisma. Daniel Radcliffe's villain of the piece is also a lively injection into proceedings with his energy a welcome presence - even if his intentions are a little on the crazed side.

However, there's an inescapable feeling that The Lost City could have been more of a film with a stronger and tighter script - especially one that has dalliances with romance novels and their obvious pulpy intentions. You can see essentially where it's going from the start, but that shouldn't be a problem if a film uses the premise and weight of expectation to its advantage.

Ultimately though, The Lost City doesn't do that - it may offer a few scattered and scant laughs here and there, and it may coast by on its stars' chemistry, but in this jungle-set adventure, that can only take you so far before the feeling of ennui sets in.