I remember the first time I watched a trailer for The Lost City, and that was all it took to hook me in. I like self-aware adventure films; I like Sandra Bullock (not only is she hilarious, she ages better than a fine wine in a French monastery), and Daniel Radcliffe‘s choices continue to surprise me. Plus, since watching both Jump Street films, I knew Channing Tatum has an unexpectedly brilliant comedic talent and timing… this guy is actually hilarious! So when I finally got around to watching this film, I expected to have a good time with zero to no stakes, and that’s what I got exactly.
Let’s be honest; is The Lost City some new, revolutionary comedy during which you will laugh so hard you will piss your pants? No. Is it predictable in almost every aspect? Yes. Does it make fun of a genre of films we don’t really see anymore, at least not done well on the big screen? You bet. But does it also let you know that it respects the genre it is making fun of? Absolutely. The Lost City feels like that kind of film that was designed to bring butts back to the cinemas after the pandemic ended. Or when we decided that we would just ignore it to the best of our abilities whilst hoping that no new, much deadlier, variations won’t arise and eventually kill all of us, same difference. And the task was completed successfully. This film has no desire to blow your mind, to give you something meaningful to ponder; The Lost City simply wants you to have fun.
And for the majority of this film, it works. This film made me realise it’s been almost ten years since we last saw Sandra in a full-on comedy movie; that movie was The Heat (2013, my review here). And The Lost City reminded me how much I missed her in this genre because she is the undisputed queen of that genre. She is funny enough, so she carries this film with ease; she is talented enough to switch between comedy and drama if needed, and most importantly, she knows when to slow down or take a step back to let others around her have their moment. I don’t think Sandra gets the appreciation for the comedy skills she possesses, as she is making it look too easy. So, to the surprise of absolutely nobody, she was great in this film. Her character has funny moments, but she isn’t the centre of attention at all times, which is crucial, as that lets the other performers shine alongside her, not instead of her. And that’s important, especially in some other comedies, and I saw many of them; you could swear you could see the tension between the leading actors. Everybody wants to be “the funny one”, to stand out, and sometimes it shows in the film being simply not funny. But in The Lost City, I felt like Sandra, Channing, and Brad Pitt were just three drinking buddies who had decided one day to make an adventure film together; because why not.
Speaking of Brad Pitt, he might have been the highlight of this film. His over-the-top, nothing can stop me Jack Trainer was a perfect mix of parody and homage to these macho men of mainly the 1980s. I have to repeat myself, but I am enjoying this late stage of Pitt’s career where he got his acting Oscar, and now he seems to be doing projects “just for fun”, where he doesn’t take himself seriously. Good for him, and I hope he continues.
Staying on the “not taking yourself seriously” theme, Channing Tatum, yet again, didn’t disappoint. I think the best thing he decided to do (or maybe somebody gave him this advice some time ago) was: “Don’t be afraid to look absolutely ludicrous.” And he commits, in both Jump Street films and in this movie too; he plays this character of a big, dumb guy who isn’t too dumb to exist but dumb enough for him to be funny, especially when we get a scene or two of his impressive physique. That contrast of him being so awkward and dumb with his physique will never not be funny to me. And this film knows how to utilise it without driving it into overkill. Same with Daniel Radcliffe, who enjoys making odd choices and isn’t afraid to go weird, literally. Even his performance is more subtle than expected, where he never goes overboard with either too nice or too menacing.
And that’s the best thing The Lost City has going for it. It never reached the point of nonsensical jokes or characters that would be so one note they’d become annoying. Again, the worst thing I can say about this film is that it won’t surprise you. There is one “shocking” thing, but even that you will be able to see coming miles away if you have ever seen a comedy. And sometimes, having something reliably predictable can be a nice, almost comforting thing, especially with a cast as great as this one.
Overall, The Lost City delivered exactly; what the trailer promised me some time ago. If you saw any trailers for this movie and it looked good/funny to you, then you should 100% seek this film out as it shouldn’t disappoint you. If you saw the trailer and didn’t like it, it’s probably best for you to avoid this film altogether. That might sound obvious, but from my experience, especially lately, I have seen many great trailers for pretty average to downright terrible movies and vice versa. The Lost City is a rare example where the film delivers on a promise made by a trailer. Nothing less, but unfortunately, nothing more. And based on where you stand, sometimes that’s more than enough.
That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!
Until next time,
Luke