‘The Lost City’ Is An A-List Take On The Jungle Film Format: Review

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Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in The Lost City (2022)

In Hollywood’s latest tropical outing, this easy and predictable watch isn’t wholly saved by its star-studded cast.

★★★✰✰

In recent years, there have been many movies involving celebrities stranded in jungles, trying to avoid any villains that are after them. Although The Lost City does somewhat follow a similar structure, it’s humorous, action-packed, and adventurous.

The film follows Loretta Sage, (Sandra Bullock), an author of a book series featuring a handsome protagonist Dash McMahon, who is portrayed on the front cover by Alan (Channing Tatum). Loretta is struggling to motivate herself to progress in her career or life in general, since the passing of her husband. Nonetheless, she is forced onto a book tour and isn’t happy to find it’s with her cover model adored by thousands. One thing leads to another and Loretta leaves, where she is kidnapped by antagonist Abigail (Daniel Radcliffe), who wants her help in finding a lost treasure that she had written about in her book. Alan tries to rescue her from this situation to prove he is more than just a pretty face.

Tatum’s Alan initially appears as a laughing stock—the cliché attractive male that aspires to be the hero Loretta writes about in her books. As the story progresses, the audience is able to see a more in-depth view of his backstory, and his character seems to mature throughout. His comedic timing was impeccable, and it’s hard to picture anyone else taking on his role due to his unique charm and charisma. Sandra Bullock fits her role as Loretta well, but it wasn’t a necessarily unique performance. The character was relatable, likeable, and held fantastic rapport, but didn’t feel overly different from the characters she has played in other films.

However, Daniel Radcliffe’s performance as the antagonist of The Lost City is one of its highlights. It is not often that he portrays a villain, yet he does a phenomenal job. His desperate tone of voice and shocking assertiveness is interesting to see, and his unpredictable behaviour leaves viewers unsure of what his next move would be or when he would turn up next.

One aspect that the film did not lack was action. From explosions to gunfights and fires, there is a lot to visually entertain, being brightly coloured and easy on the eye. There are a few unexpected moments throughout that would have audience members audibly gasping, alongside twists and turns—including the unpredictable relationship between the leading duo. The balance of shock factor, humour, and action is ideal—there isn’t too much or too little, which makes it extremely enjoyable. 

Throughout the journey to find the lost treasure, there is time to see Alan and Loretta’s relationship blossom into a romantic one, which is smoothly portrayed. It doesn’t feel rushed or forced but instead comes naturally. Loretta’s character development is satisfying to watch, as she grows from someone struggling with grief to a much happier and more content version of herself. 

At the heart of the film is an action-packed, well-paced, and funny portrayal of a journey to uncover a lost treasure. There’s an ideal balance of humour and uncertainty in its unfolding events, all while having a solid amount of character development throughout for both protagonists. Although the film is enjoyable, the overall plot was relatively safe, and it seems that it would not be as enticing to watch if it lacked the amount of A-list celebrities that were featured. 

The Verdict

Ultimately, The Lost City is an exciting yet easy watch but is sadly rather predictable. The humour is witty and the action is prevalent throughout, making it easily enjoyable. Unfortunately, it isn’t something we haven’t seen before, despite its star-studded cast. 

Words by Connie Burke


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