Rent The Lost City (2022)

If Romance Leaves You Stone Cold, Avoid This [see what I did there] - The Lost City review by Strovey

Whilst the Lost City (of D) might have been elusive and hard to find the romantic, opposites attract story it is wrapped in is familiar with nothing you have not seen before over many years. Here is the problem, no matter your age and film-watching experience you have seen this done, many times. In fact, many times over the years starring Sandra Bullock who is the female lead and executive producer of The Lost City.

The brothers Adam and Aaron Nee jointly helmed the film, it would be fair to say this would be their biggest film with some serious A-listers in the cast. They also shared screenwriting with Orien Uziel and Dana Fox, so for good or bad their fingerprints are all over this film.

The film garnered some very positive reviews when it arrived in cinemas and some good PR so with the Blu-Ray dropping onto my doormat, I was looking forward to a light entertaining romp that would put me in mind of Romancing the Stone.

Perhaps it is my age, the specific time in my life, or just my increasing grumpiness but the overwhelming feeling of familiarity certainly diminished my enjoyment.

Comically the film is at its best when it introduces the main protagonists, Bullock playing the serious academic widower who wanted to write important serious works but ends up making a great living from trashy romantic potboilers is in her cinematic comfort zone, too comfortably if truth be told, and Channing Tatum increases his portfolio of dumbos-muscle bound jocks who turn out not to be – all safe and cosy. Supporting these main two we have Daniel Radcliffe bearded, suited and booted, the pleasant face of unapologetic nastiness, easily the best thing in the whole film, closely followed with a knowing wink and nod by Brad Pitt as the super-hero ex-special forces hippy Jack Trainer - a personal trainer. So far so good and it would seem great ingredients for a fun romp.

There is fun to be romped but it is all too familiar and where the laughs do come early these slowly turn into chuckles and snorts as we progress. Da'Vine Joy Randolph rolls up as, I am not kidding, the sassy black friend, well agent, who is really Loretta’s friend. Honestly, is this as far as we have got? There was no sassy gay friend I suppose. The role was pointless and purposeless and frankly Randolph’s comedic talents could have been used better. We also were treated, yet again to Channing Tatum’s buttocks once more, and ho-hoo Sandra Bullock’s character Loretta then has her breath taken away when she sees (we don’t) his presumably massive shlong when he forgetfully turns around sans trousers – it was sooooo funny I wondered why other film’s had not used this comic event in their stories….I will not touch on the chemistry between the leads either, because there was very little.

Although fun could be found throughout the running time, I was thinking do we really need another perilous situation romantic comedy again, and also does Sandra Bullock need to muscle in on male-movie-star-trope that does not need muscling in on? At 58 years old with a good catalogue and no mean influence in the industry does the well-established actor need to be playing a role like this?

If I am being a little mean, but ultimately honest, I was disappointed in the film and especially in the star who can turn her hand to most roles going back down a well-worn path to make a film that has to be exceptionally good to stand out from the thousands of others in the field.

It does not.

This city can stay lost. - The Lost City review by cr

Judging by the reviews and the fact that i like sandra bullock i thought this might be fun.

But its a pretty dull re tread of romancing the stone.

Its not funny exciting original or likeable.

Avoid.

Unfunny, unromantic and unexciting - The Lost City review by Alphaville

A romantic comedy adventure in the Romancing the Stone mould, but with unconvincing romance and excruciating ‘comedy’. Much of the dialogue between romantic novelist Sandra Bullock and irritatingly klutzy companion Channing Tatum seems to be improvised. If you’ve seen Uncharted, which tried a similar disastrous ploy, you’ll know what to expect.

Check the bloopers reel where they practise one-liners on each other. They’re certainly having a fun time making the movie, but it’s embarrassingly bad on screen. At least Romancing the Stone had a proper script.

With such toe-curling dialogue, lacklustre direction, bog-standard action scenes and an annoying subplot concerning Bullock’s obese editor, this would be a one-star enterprise were it not for the Dominican Republic scenery and a scintillating scene-stealing cameo from Brad Pitt as the Michael Douglas character.