christian movie review the lost city

The Lost City

Reviewed by: Shawna Ellis CONTRIBUTOR

Romance novels and their authors

Is it right for women to read what amounts to literary porn? To fantasize about a handsome cover model and objectify him?

Love is more important than material possessions.

TRUE LOVE —What is true love and how do you know when you have found it? Answer

Politically correct messages included in entertainment films — feminism, environmentalism, gender neutrality, etc.

Nudity —Why are humans supposed to wear clothes?

I t seems that people have been hungry for a straightforward comedy/action/romance/adventure featuring fun characters and exciting situations. From the comments I’ve seen, “The Lost City” is striking the right note with many viewers, recalling classics of this once-popular genera.

Much of the appeal of this film hinges on the cast, with Sandra Bullock as the reclusive romance novelist Loretta Sage, Channing Tatum as Alan the dashing cover model, and Daniel Radcliffe as the eccentric villain Abigail Fairfax. Other stars and extended cameos add to the mix, with no one taking himself or herself too seriously in this zany jungle adventure. It is refreshing in its way and leads to a somewhat predictable but still entertaining film. The audience with which I was watching laughed and giggled their way through with obvious enjoyment as they immersed themselves into the simple story.

Having just completed her book “The Lost City of D,” novelist Loretta Sage seems ready to give up on her popular romance adventure series. Grieving the loss of her archaeologist husband, she feels that her adventuring days are long behind her. Now she’s just going through the motions to satisfy her driven publicist Beth ( Da'Vine Joy Randalph ) with public appearances. Loretta is dismayed to learn that she will be sharing the stage with the cover model for her books, Alan, who portrays himself as the embodiment of Loretta’s adventurous and capable hero “Dash McMahon.” After a singularly disastrous public appearance, Loretta disappears. It is now up to Beth and Alan to find her.

It’s a shame that such an adventure is marred by many sexual themes, lewd jokes and extended male nudity . The premise of the movie is based upon a lurid romance novel, after all. But thankfully, mixed in with the unwholesome content are also some redemptive themes. Characters learn that even though one stage of life may seem over, future stories are yet to be written. Others who may have seemed vain and shallow present more depth, and friends show unwavering loyalty even in the face of mortal danger. When characters are pushed to defend themselves, they lament the loss of life.

The directors (siblings Aaron and Adam Nee) brought together a great cast for this film. Channing Tatum brings humor, heart and charismatic appeal to his character. Alan is not adept at adventuring like “Dash” in the novels, but he is undeniably heroic. He respects Loretta, appreciates the fans and takes his role as Dash seriously not because of vanity but because it brings joy to the readers. He is sincere, kind and devoted. Tatum is skilled at physical comedy coupled with banter, and paired with Sandra Bullock the duo is quite funny.

Sandra Bullock is believable as an authoress struggling with her identity. It is only a crisis situation which brings her out of despondency. Her physical style of comedy blended with clever dialog is perfect for this role.

Publicist Beth cares about Loretta and Alan, but has her own set of motivations and struggles which are explored in a side plot. Although Da'Vine Joy Randalph’s character is engaging, Beth’s subplot feels a little tacked on and interrupts the flow of the adventure.

Daniel Radcliffe was a pleasant surprise as the incredibly polite eccentric millionaire Abigail Fairfax. Abigail is obsessed with finding the Lost City’s treasure which will esteem him in the eyes of his judging father.

Other characters add color, excitement and whimsy, even in brief roles. One of the best elements of the film for me was that it was very self-aware, poking fun at its own genre and never taking itself too seriously. Even so, a few heartfelt moments are interspersed amongst the action and comedy sequences without seeming terribly out of place.

Some of these present valuable themes, such as one’s story not being over just because a chapter has closed. At one point, Loretta reminisces that she and her late husband would use the Latin phrase dulcius ex asperis after accomplishing a goal, which means “it is sweeter after difficulty.” Although none of the characters seem to be believers or reference God except to use His name in vain, this phrase carries Biblical truth. Romans 5:3 says that sufferings produce perseverance , and perseverance produces character, and character produces hope . Going through difficulties and trials grow us in many ways, hopefully toward service for God. For the unbeliever, growth can still happen but it will not have as much “sweetness” as for those whose sufferings have grown them in Christ. For Loretta, she does not understand that even the loss of her husband was a difficulty after which she could grow.

Why does God allow innocent people to suffer?

What about the issue of suffering ? Doesn’t this prove that there is no God and that we are on our own? Answer

Does God feel our pain?

ORIGIN OF BAD THINGS —Why are they in our world if a good God created us? Answer

Other beneficial themes may be overshadowed by the problematic content in the film, which lies mainly in sexualizing the attractive lead characters and referencing Loretta’s erotic novels. It’s clear that the romance books depicted in this film are rather lewd as some parts are read aloud. This leads to a question… is it right for women to read what amounts to literary porn? To fantasize about a handsome cover model and objectify him? These books may not contain graphic photos but they are still fueling lust and idealizing a “perfect man” with which most real life husbands could never compete. Jesus made it clear in Matthew 5:27-28 that adultery begins in the mind, and that lusting after someone is the same as committing the act in one’s heart.

Sexual lust outside of marriage —Why does God strongly warn us about it?

What does it mean to be LASCIVIOUS? Answer

This can surely apply to both genders. Many women consider romance novels to be “escapism” from mundane daily life, but they can certainly lead to unwholesome desires. The female fans in the movie are obsessed with “Dash,” calling out for him to remove his shirt. They do not seem to see Alan as a person but objectify him as an item of sexual desire. Likewise, viewers who are watching the film to lust after and objectify the actor Channing Tatum are doing the same. There are plenty of opportunities to do so, and those who find themselves struggling with lust should be cautious in viewing this film. Content of concern for both male and female viewers is high .

LANGUAGE: Crude and vulgar language is peppered throughout, although not as heavily as most movies of this genre and rating. There are several uses of sh*t, a**, a**hole, bada**, d*cks, cr*p, and more, including “Motherf**k.” A character is called a slut as a good-natured taunt. Lewd talk is fairly frequent (see section below). Profane language includes d*mn and h*ll , several inappropriate uses of God’s name such as “Oh G*d!” (6) and “Oh my G*d!” (13) and one exclamation of “Holy mother of G*d!” as well as two misuses of Jesus Christ’s name.

SEX: Sexual innuendo and discussions come up frequently . Loretta’s books are lurid romance novels, and some sexualized dialog and discussions will reflect this. There is mention of Kegel exercises and “front and back” wedgies, when to use the word “throbbing” in a novel, and Loretta often uses language with double meaning such as “I’ve seen your engorged sacks” (actually referring to leeches) and a similar reference to being “sucked off.” The covers of the novels show models in immodest clothing and poses. The title of the most recent novel is “The Lost City of D,” leaving some people to assume that the D stands for “dick” although we learn it does not.

Female fans clamor for Alan to remove his shirt and fawn over him as a sex object (he treats them with courtesy and respect). Loretta is seen in a bath (nothing shown). She is dressed in an ultra-tight outfit with a gaping front for most of the film, showing considerable skin. In another outfit, she has extensive bare shoulders. At one point Loretta is seen in a bikini with a semi-sheer cover-up. Beth the publicist wears an outfit with extreme cleavage in the first half of the film. Alan is frequently shirtless. In a lengthy scene, Alan’s naked rear fills the screen as Loretta looks for leeches on his front. She makes several comments about what she is seeing (played for humor). This extended, very close nudity really pushed the limits of the rating, in my opinion . (The rear nudity could easily be avoided by leaving at the beginning of the leech scene and returning in about 3 minutes.) Several situations place Alan and Loretta in close and awkward contact, such as squeezing into a small car or sharing a hammock. Alan boosts Loretta up a cliff by placing his head between her legs, to which she exclaims, “That’s my hoo-hoo!” There is a steamy dance scene and a couple of kisses.

VIOLENCE: The film involves action adventure and features chases, gunshots, kidnapping, captivity, attacks, danger in water, explosions, fire, off-screen deaths, constrictive places, chokings and more. One scene shows blood spray (the only real gore). Leeches leave small wounds. The characters are in frequent deadly peril from both enemies and nature.

DRUGS AND ALCOHOL: Alcohol is frequently served and consumed. One character appears drunk . A toast is offered to a dead person. Chloroform is used to subdue someone. A character smokes cigars.

OCCULT: New Age meditation is mentioned and is also shown in a mid-credits scene. There is discussion of ancient tribal rituals.

Although the movie was fun, entertaining, and even had its moments of thoughtful sentimentality, viewers should use caution here. There are many areas in this film that can lead to stumbling. It’s a shame, because the directors have hit upon a winsome formula in every other way.

• Profane language: Heavy
• Nudity: Heavy
• Sex: Moderately Heavy
• Vulgar/Crude language: Moderately Heavy
• Drugs/Alcohol: Moderately Heavy
• Violence: Moderate
• Occult: Minor

• Learn about DISCERNMENT —find wisdom in making personal entertainment decisions

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers .

PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.

The Lost City (Christian Movie Review)

Final Verdict: A delightful story concept undone by a lazy script and a lack of laughs.   

About The Film

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if real life reflected a trashy romance novel? If so, then shame on you. But also, The Lost City is here to explore that hypothetical scenario. Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) is a popular author of sleazy romance novels, which feature a fictionalized version of herself and Alan (Channing Tatum), a hunky cover model who plays a Fabio-inspired character named “Dash”. When Loretta is kidnapped by Daniel Radcliffe’s delightful villain, she soon finds herself living out one of her fictional adventures. Sprinkle in some scenes of Brad Pitt hamming it up in a secondary role, and you’ve got yourself a romantic comedy.

The premise is fun, and all the actors are fine (even if Tatum’s character changes his personality from scene-to-scene depending on who the plot needs him to be). All the pieces are available for an enjoyable and refreshingly original story. Unfortunately, these pieces are never successfully put together in interesting or amusing ways.

The film simply isn’t very clever. The intriguing “author inside her story” concept is sadly underutilized. The opening scene (featured prominently in the trailers) is an amusing and creative way to get inside a writer’s head, but that technique is abandoned and never used again. The idea of characters living out a real-life adventure like their fictional characters is interesting, but the film rarely draws connections between the two. There’s a repeated joke where Loretta reminds Alan that he’s not actually “Dash.” But Alan rarely seems to try and be Dash and has a firm grasp that he is more than his cover photos. Similarly, Loretta thinks little of her novels, and has no unrealistic expectations that they present any form of truth. As a result, the promising concept falls mostly flat.

Comedies are among the trickiest movies to evaluate since humor is largely subjective. The success of a comedy hinges on its ability to make people laugh, but not everyone laughs at the same jokes. For my part, at least, this is not an overly funny film. My theater was not crowded, but with the lights dimmed it may as well have been empty. This is not a laugh-out-loud, belly-clutching comedy. The jokes come mostly in the banter between characters, which is hit-or-miss. There are several lines that are quite funny, but most feel extremely forced. The actors are trying really hard to be funny , almost begging audiences to laugh. Think a Marvel quip but drawn out for 30-60 seconds.

As an original story, The Lost City is the type of movie I’d love to see more of. Unfortunately, this particular movie is unlikely to inspire much appetite for more. The premise falls flat, the comedy rarely hits, and the romance feels emotionless, resulting in a movie that never manages to capitalize on its promising concept.  

For Consideration

Profanity: Possibly 1 F-bomb (I did not hear it but have read that there may be one). Beyond that, there are a handful of other minor profanities, a lot of sexual innuendos and crude talk, and frequent ‘placeholder’ swears (ie. “Cheese and Rice”).

Sexuality: While there is no actual sex, there is plenty of talk about sex (unsurprising given the plot). There are also a lot of sexual innuendos. There is a scene where Tatum’s bare butt is on full display, followed by a prolonged gag where Bullock looks at and talks about his exposed genitals (which are not visible to the audience).   

Violence: There is one moment of intentionally shocking violence where a character is killed and his blood splatters onto the other characters (the murdered character is not shown). Later, the characters talk about the blood, wondering if it is brains. The moment is played for laughs. 

Engage the Film

Don’t judge a book by its cover.

Midway through the movie, Alan lectures Loretta, “You of all people should know not to judge a book by its cover.” The maxim is fairly universal and not unique to Christianity, but it is nevertheless consistent with biblical teaching ( James 2, John 7:24 , 1 Samuel 16:7 ). The theme is explored with both main characters. As a romance novel cover model, Alan is perceived as vain and air-headed, his entire identity defined by his good looks. Yet, as Loretta discovers, his personal story is much more than that. Similarly, Loretta is perceived as a love guru novelist, but in real life she is grieving the loss of a loved one and is far more interested in academia than her sleazy romantic fiction. She writes the content that sells, but her heart is not into it. The way the movie presents this message is on the nose and never subtle, but the theme remains a worthy one and is a good reminder to look beyond and not judge other people by outward appearances alone.  

Fiction and Reality

The movie explores the relationship between reality and fiction. On the one hand, it exposes the shortcomings and danger of escapist entertainment. Loretta writes novels about perfect and idealistic romances, but it is not until she experiences one of these adventures in real life that she is finally able to confront the heartbreak and grief in her own life. Similarly, Alan realizes that there is an immense difference between playing the hunky, comically perfect Dash and actually being the hero in real life. At its worst, fiction and fantasy allow people to escape and hide from reality.

On the other hand, fictional storytelling—even the more trivial stories—is not wholly negative. People connect to stories because they reflect a part of themselves. While neither Loretta or Alan are much like their fictional characters, there is a part of their true selves in those characters. At one point in the film, Alan reprimands Loretta for dismissing her novels as meaningless nonsense and fluff. The stories make a difference and provide comfort for many people, he explains, and there is value in that.

The Lost City  is far more interested in trying to make people laugh than in exploring these themes in much depth, but the story can perhaps spark questions about our own relationship with stories and media, both for good and for bad. 

Daniel holds a PhD in "Christianity and the Arts" from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author/co-author of multiple books and he speaks in churches and schools across the country on the topics of Christian worldview, apologetics, creative writing, and the Arts.

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The Lost City (2022)

A reclusive romance novelist on a book tour with her cover model gets swept up in a kidnapping attempt that lands them both in a cutthroat jungle adventure.

Dove Review

The blockbuster has come to signify a very specific type of film in Hollywood — the big, epic, world-building franchises and ensembles that make billions of dollars ( Avengers , Mission Impossible , Suicide Squad ). But what if I told you there was a time when blockbusters could have two stars, a couple jokes, and a few dozen set-pieces?

The Lost City is here to bring that modest entertainment back into the mainstream, with Seth Gordon serving as co-producer on this production of a very specific cinematic product. Featuring beloved actors in loose clothing as they traverse the globe, The Lost City is the kind of light escapism that feels like an actual adventure. And though it clearly shares DNA with other movies, the sharp screenplay, written by Gordon, is modern and sly, enchantingly stupid and poignant at times too.

Sandra Bullock stars as Loretta Sage, the author of The Lost City of D , a romantic novel that mixes Indiana Jones and 50 Shades Grey , and features a shirtless Alan Caprison (Channing Tatum) on the cover. So, of course it’s a success, but it also attracts the attention of some unwanted people. It turns out a billionaire named Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe) has been searching for an ancient relic, a headdress known as the Crown of Fire, and Loretta’s novel holds the answers. Before you can say “Romancing the Stone,” Abigail kidnaps Loretta and takes her to a jungle, where he’s got an army at his disposal.

Armed with airpods, a plush pillow and a rolling suitcase, Alan mounts a rescue mission with his friend from meditation class, Jack (Brad Pitt), whose resemblance to Loretta’s fictional character ignites Alan’s envy. However, before long, the mission goes off the rails, and Alan and Loretta are left to their own devices, caught between finding their way off this Atlantic island, and potentially finding love.

It takes a while to rev up, but The Lost City eventually works because of the cast. Bullock is great as the novelist with a penchant for sexual innuendos, and Tatum steps into his own as a comedic actor — and owns the shtick. He’s shown his faculty for comedy in Magic Mike and 21 Jump Street , and he has a gift for delivery and timing. As the straight man, he’s often the butt of the joke, but he leans into this persona like a happy Labrador. 

The standout, however, was always going to be Pitt. Watching him inhabit the muscular, wavy-haired Jake is like watching Fabio do a Bruce Lee impression. We watch him take over every scene, and the comedic chemistry he shares with Tatum, who sees Jake as a role-model, is the best part of the movie. 

The whole thing is a wacky homage to old-school blockbusters, and it never sacrifices the dumb, weird or childish moments that make them so endearing. The cast is game, the vibe is cool and the audience is always entertained.

But there’s enough language and sexual content to keep this movie from Dove approval

The Dove Take

This is an old-school adventure with some great performances, a few good jokes but the sexual content and language are the biggest causes for concern.

Dove Rating Details

Give Alan, the hunky model featured on Loretta’s books, credit for his honesty, bravery and being willing to endure hardship to come to Loretta’s aid, even if he’s overmatched. Give Beth, Loretta’s publisher, credit for her prizing people over money-making concerns in her quest to rescue her friend.

A shot of Bullock looking at and describing Tatum’s crotch (not shown). Lots of ogling and touching. Lots of sexual innuendos.

1 F***, multiple uses of “a**,” “s**t,” “b***h,” plus a number of slang words for genitalia.

Car chases, car crashes, punches, gun fights, but not much blood.

Characters do a lot of drinking, whether it’s beer, champagne, tequila, whiskey or wine. There’s a drunken twentysomething. And there’s even some cigar-smoking by the bad guys.

Multiple shots of male buttocks.

More Information

Film information, dove content.

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Romancing the Stone meets Indiana Jones – But Not Really

When I saw the trailer for The Lost City, there was something about it that made me want to see this movie. It looked cheesy and unbelievable. I had seen Romancing the Stone years ago, but I think if I saw Romancing the Stone now, I would think it hasn’t aged well. In The Lost City Christian Movie Review, I give you an idea of the content so you can make a determination if this is a movie suitable for you and your family. To read more about my movie review guidelines, visit HERE!

Synopsis from Paramount:

From Paramount: “Brilliant, but reclusive author Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) has spent her career writing about exotic places in her popular romance-adventure novels featuring handsome cover model Alan (Channing Tatum), who has dedicated his life to embodying the hero character, “Dash.” While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) who hopes that she can lead him to the ancient lost city’s treasure from her latest story. Wanting to prove that he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her. Thrust into an epic jungle adventure, the unlikely pair will need to work together to survive the elements and find the ancient treasure before it’s lost forever.”

The Lost City Christian Movie Review: Synopsis

While much of this movie reminds me of Romancing the Stone it takes a unique twist. Romancing the Stone is a 1984 action-adventure, romantic comedy directed by Robert Zemeckis starring Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas. Turner played Joan Wilder who was a quiet and reserved romance novelist who sets on for Colombia to ransom her kidnapped sister. Douglas plays Jack T. Colton who is an American exotic bird smuggler. Turner agrees to pay Douglas to help her navigate her surroundings and get her sister back. 

In The Lost City, Loretta Sage is a romance writer. Channing Tatum plays the role of Dash who is the hero in the romance novels. In actuality, he is just the model for the cover of her books. The female interest in the books is Lovemore. 

While promoting her latest book, The Lost City of D, Loretta is not on board with appearing with Dash – the blond-haired Fabio. When she is kidnapped by Abigail Fairfax, a billionaire who wants Loretta’s help to find the Lost City of D, Alan goes in search of her, and they have an adventure usually only found in romance novels while Fairfax is searching for the Lost City and the fabled Crown of Fire.

The Lost City Christian Movie Review: What Parents May Want to Know

This movie was much better than I thought it would be. However, that doesn’t mean it didn’t have objectionable content. Moreover, this movie was rated PG-13 for violence, bloody images, suggestive material, partial nudity, and language.

Tatum and Bullock have great chemistry on screen.

There are scenes that are filled with action and adventure, and scenes that made me laugh out loud. The scenery was absolutely beautiful. The Lost City was filmed in the Dominican Republic. Parts of the filming took place in the country’s capital of Santo Domingo which has architecture that dates to the 1500s. Wonderful beaches, gorgeous mountains, spectacular waterfalls, lush jungle, and a charming city are all depicted in this movie.

Additionally, there is talk of the loss of a loved one, and how life seems sweeter after difficulty. It depicts moving on after loss.

What Parents May Want to Know:

There are numerous occasions of bad language, taking God’s name in vain, Jesus’ name, Holy Mother of G-d, Holy Christmas, and other crude language.

Someone asks if D in the title of the book is for Dick – the name of a man. Additionally, there are other uses of the word for a man’s body part. 

Additional language: S-it, a-s, and h-ll are used numerous times and with different sayings.

Additionally, there are numerous sexual innuendos, and that’s my hoo-hoo (for woman’s genital area), and anus is spoken a couple of times.

Plenty of violence fills this movie, however, most of the violence is fist fighting. In one scene a man is shot. You do not see his body, but what appears to be blood is splattered all over another individual. The other person talks about having brains and blood on his face and in his mouth.

There are plenty of guns, knives, fistfights, and even explosions. People are killed, maimed, and left to die. There is an active volcano on the island and there is the threat of it erupting.

This movie involves kidnapping and trying to get the kidnapped person back. A person is chloroformed.

There is a snake scene. “Why does it have to be snakes?”

Sexual Content:

While there are numerous sexual innuendos, Loretta Sage is a romance novelist, but is referred to as a “sex book writer.” Furthermore, there are mentions of “throbbing”, “hot lava pulsing from his… (and the line cuts off there). Much of the sexual innuendos are started but left hanging.

A man’s naked backside is shown with leeches on it. He turns around to have the leeches removed from the front (but the audience doesn’t see the front), and comments are made about engorged sacks – with the claim that it is about the leeches.

The word sexy is used multiple times.

In a few scenes, passages are spoken out loud that might appear in a steamy romance novel.

The term sapiosexual is used – it means intellectual sexy. 

Spiritual Content:

Besides the above language, there are other scenes. A person mentions reiki which is a Japanese form of energy healing. Furthermore, there is a scene in a mediation class. Also, there are “spiritual quotes” in the movie that are from religious leaders outside of Christianity.

“Sucking my soul out,” is spoken.

Other Content:

A person makes a comment about a body of water being warm and the implication is he is walking through an area someone peed.

Additionally, a person is said to have a Master’s in Gender Studies.

People are seen drinking and smoking throughout the movie.

The Lost City Christian Movie Review: My Review Recommendations:

Obviously, this movie is not for small children. In fact, it does have a PG-13 rating for good reason. While some content appears to be sexual, Sandra Bullock seems so innocent in what she is saying that it seems that her words are often misinterpreted. While we know they put that content there for cheap laughs, it is not that content that gets the laughs, but there are definitely laugh-out-loud moments.

Even seeing a man’s posterior doesn’t seem as offensive in other movies because the scene that it is in seems believable if you were being chased through the jungle.

Furthermore, what I have learned through the years about my recommendations is that not everyone finds the same content offensive. I would never let my young kids see violence, and I was very careful with words. But between the two, I avoided violence more because children retain those images in their heads. I have given you enough information here, for you to make an informed decision on whether to see this movie or not. 

Teachable Moments and Using The Lost City to Teach:

First, Dash is not anything like he appears in Loretta’s books. The lesson that is learned is not to judge a book by its cover. Where does that saying come from?

While there is a scene at the opening of the movie that appears to be a “steamy scene,” it turns out to be something entirely different. How can you use this scene to teach that if we only see a snippet of something we can misjudge a situation?

Watch videos about the filming location, Dominican Republic. What other movies have been filmed in this location?

Finally, have you ever had your words twisted to imply something you didn’t actually mean? Talk about words taken out of context, and how often words have double meanings.

The Lost City Christian Movie Review: More Information

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: March 25, 2022, by Paramount Pictures

Run Time: 1 hr, 52 mins.

CAST of The Lost City:

Sandra Bullock as Loretta Sage

Channing Tatum as Dash/Alan

Daniel Radcliffe as Abigail Fairfax

Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Beth

Brad Pitt as Jack Trainer

Oscar Nunez as Adrian Austin

Patti Harrison as Pratt

Bowen Yang as Tomshi

Hector Anibal as Rafi

Thomas Forbes-Johnson as Julian

Director: Adam Née and Aaron Nee 

Executive Producers: J.J. Hook, Dana Fox, Julia Gunn

Story by Seth Gordon

Frequently Asked Questions:

When will this film be released on dvd.

There is not currently a date set for the DVD release.

Is this movie available for streaming?

As of May 10, 2022, the movie is streaming on Paramount Plus with a subscription to the service. Additionally, you can buy it on Amazon Prime streaming or on Blu-Ray/DVD and on Vudu or Apple TV.

Have you seen the movie? Let me know if you see it and what you think below!

For a full list of the movie reviews I have done, visit HERE!

Reviewing movies for parents from a Christian perspective since 2005. Know Before You Go!

Christian Homeschooling mom – 30 years and counting

Autism Mom & Disney enthusiast

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Thank you for the review. I only wish I had read more reviews before bringing my 12 year old daughter to this movie with a friend today for her birthday. We thought it would be a funny, cheesy, Hollywood action, comedy movie. The scene where brad pitt’s character’s blood and brain matter are suddenly and graphically sprayed across Channing’s face was too much. I was shocked that this scene made it into a PG-13 movie. Along with all of the swear words and sexual innuendo, it felt more like an R movie. The poor girls were shocked and we left the movie soon after that scene.

Thank you for a Christian print of view ❤️

Thank you for commenting and reading my review.

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Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, chaz's journal, great movies, contributors, the lost city.

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“The Lost City” isn’t an especially unique film; its premise draws on “ Romancing the Stone ” and countless other adventure movies. Its punchlines are recognizable from a distance as the volcano dominating the remote island where most of the story takes place. This is a movie you can get a clear sense of from its opening moments, every beat clearly telegraphed.

There is, however, a significant amount of comfort and delight in all this familiarity. Directors and co-writers Adam and Aaron Nee understand exactly what their audience wants—much like a good romance novelist might—and deliver an undeniably charming (and refreshingly IP-free) romantic romp. This is a movie you watch in the theater, with popcorn, then again and again on streaming, with a glass of wine.

Loretta Sage ( Sandra Bullock ) is a burnt-out romance writer whose grief after the loss of her husband threatens to derail her career. Her disdain for her books is only matched by her dislike of their cover model, Alan ( Channing Tatum ), a seemingly dim beefcake who indulges her readers at signing events.

After an event promoting her latest book, Loretta is abducted by explorer/rich guy Abigail (it’s a gender-neutral name, apparently) Fairfax, played by Daniel Radcliffe . Fairfax knows that the lost city from Loretta’s book is real, and he wants her to translate some ancient writing that leads to a treasure before a volcano erupts and covers the whole thing. Alan mounts an ill-advised expedition to save Loretta, with help from his meditation guru, Jack ( Brad Pitt ), and Loretta’s beleaguered editor Beth (Da’Vine Joy Randolph).

Loretta and Alan’s eventual romance is unavoidable, but “The Lost City” does a great job exploring the mounting chemistry between Bullock and Tatum’s characters. In particular, the movie highlights Alan’s emotional intelligence and unwavering support. He may be the kind of guy who refers to Loretta as a “human mummy,” but he also knows she gets cranky without snacks, and that she could use a slightly more sensible pair of shoes traversing all that rocky terrain. Like many a beloved romantic hero, Alan is not only a gorgeous man, he’s a man who cares .

Tatum is great casting for a role like this on several levels; not only does he look like he belongs on the cover of a romance paperback, he’s also an actor who understands his own appeal and has proven time and again that he isn’t afraid to play it for laughs. Bullock is also more than happy to play into her character’s physical awkwardness and eventual shedding of her prickly exterior—it’s not exactly unfamiliar territory for her, either. Together, the pair exude fun and a sense of affection that’s easy to get caught up in.

Other members of the supporting cast, particularly a very welcome Patti Harrison as Loretta’s hysterically self-involved social media manager, add bright, bizarre punches of humor to a script that otherwise plays it by the numbers (oddly, this isn’t a criticism, “The Lost City” is working with an effective formula). Radcliffe is the only element of the movie that doesn’t work quite as well as the rest. His character is the one area where the film tries to change up established archetypes, and the result is that he feels out of place in a story where everyone else comfortably fits into their roles.

“The Lost City” may get dinged by some for being formulaic and silly, but it does many things well that are notable. It’s bright, both visually and atmospherically. It’s an original story, told by filmmakers who get what kind of movie this is. Most importantly, its central relationship displays a real understanding of the emotional sensitivity and vulnerability that make romance attractive as a genre. Ultimately, “The Lost City” is interested in hitting viewers’ expectations head on. It does so on a level that may seem obvious, but is done with an amount of care that’s sure to hold up to repeat viewings.

This review was filed from the SXSW Film Festival. The film opens on March 25th.

Abby Olcese

Abby Olcese is a film critic and writer based in Kansas City, where she is the film editor for The Pitch Magazine. Abby is a regular contributor to RogerEbert.com, Sojourners Magazine and Think Christian, where she writes about the intersection of popular culture and spirituality.

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Film credits.

The Lost City (2022)

Rated PG-13 for violence and some bloody images, suggestive material, partial nudity and language.

Sandra Bullock as Loretta Sage

Channing Tatum as Alan

Daniel Radcliffe as Fairfax

Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Beth

Patti Harrison

Oscar Nunez

Raymond Lee as Officer Gomez

Thomas Forbes-Johnson as Julian

Writer (story by)

• Seth Gordon

Cinematographer

• Jonathan Sela
• Craig Alpert
• Pinar Toprak

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The Lost City: Movie Review

By John Mulderig Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Grown-ups will find "The Lost City" (Paramount) a crowd-pleasing blend of action, comedy and love story. However, this generally diverting adventure includes material that makes it doubtful fare even for mature teens.

The story focuses on romance novelist Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) and her Fabio-like cover model, Alan Caprison (Channing Tatum). Alan has been representing Loretta's fictional hero, Dash McMahon, for so long that her fans conflate the two, much to the scribe's annoyance since she considers Alan vain and vacuous. What she doesn't realize is that easily tongue-tied Alan carries a secret torch for her.

Widowed Loretta is struggling with writer's block as a result of unresolved grief. But she faces a much bigger problem when she's suddenly kidnapped by crazed billionaire Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe).

Fairfax believes Loretta's latest book, "The Lost City of D," which was based in part on research she did years earlier with her archaeologist husband, holds the key to finding a fabulous treasure buried on a tiny tropical island. When she refuses to cooperate, he forcibly transports her there.

Despite having none of the skills needed to do so, Alan promptly sets off to rescue Loretta.

As directed and co-written by brothers Aaron and Adam Nee (working with Oren Uziel and Dana Fox), the travails of the central pair as they run through the jungle trying to evade Fairfax's minions certainly provide some amusing moments. And a cameo appearance by Brad Pitt as Jack Trainer, a seemingly invincible Navy SEAL, is nothing short of hilarious.

Alan and Loretta's burgeoning relationship, moreover -- based, in part, on Loretta's reconsideration of her initially dismissive view of Alan -- remains chaste. Yet a couple of sequences, one of shocking mayhem and another in which a character strips down in a nonsexual context, take this well away from the realm of family entertainment.

The former interlude represents an extreme form of gross-out humor while the latter portrays an awkward, rather than intimate, situation. Both are needlessly included in what is otherwise a jaunty tale of the heroism that can be summoned up by love.

The film contains brief harsh violence with graphic gore, shots of rear male nudity played for laughs, other sexual and scatological jokes, a couple of uses of profanity, several milder oaths and occasional crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.  

Mulderig is on the staff of Catholic News Service.

CAPSULE REVIEW

"The Lost City" (Paramount)

Crowd-pleasing blend of action, comedy and love story in which a widowed romance novelist (Sandra Bullock) is kidnapped by a crazed billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) who believes her latest book, based in part on research she did years earlier with her archaeologist husband, holds the key to finding a fabulous treasure buried on a tiny tropical island. Despite having none of the skills needed to do so, her cover model (Channing Tatum), who has long carried a secret torch for her, promptly sets off to rescue the scribe. As directed and co-written by brothers Aaron and Adam Nee, the travails of the central pair as they run through the jungle trying to evade the abductor's minions certainly provide some amusing moments, and a cameo appearance by Brad Pitt in the role of a seemingly invincible Navy SEAL is nothing short of hilarious. But a couple of sequence, one of shocking mayhem and another in which a character strips down in a nonsexual context, make this doubtful fare even for mature teens. Brief harsh violence with graphic gore, shots of rear male nudity played for laughs, other sexual and scatological jokes, a couple of uses of profanity, several milder oaths, occasional crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.  

CLASSIFICATION

"The Lost City" (Paramount) -- Catholic News Service classification, A-III -- adults. Motion Picture Association rating, PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

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The Lost City Reviews

For a certain kind of mood, one filled with patience, forgiveness and the need to pass a few hours of time, The Lost City might almost be what the doctor ordered.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.75/5 | Oct 10, 2023

The Lost City is the perfect palate cleanser for those who are looking for a fresh twist on the comedy genre.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Sep 26, 2023

Laughing, smiling, & losing my shit! Hands down one of the best comedies I’ve seen in awhile. I need more Channing Tatum & Sandra Bullock now! + Brad Pitt was amazing! This is the perfect Adventure film for all!

Full Review | Jul 25, 2023

Despite billing itself as a return to the entertaining adventure-romance movies of the ’80s (it’s impossible not to think of Romancing the Stone), The Lost City was afraid to lose itself in eccentricity.

The Lost City is one of this year's surprises, managing to vary the well-known formulas of the genre in a creative, fun manner (...) a thematically rich ending compensates for any cliches. Definitely, a family viewing party recommendation.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Jul 23, 2023

The Lost City is every bit the romantic adventure we didn’t know we needed and then some. It’s fun and hilarious, and its on-the-nose praise of the romance genre is something we’ll never tire of exploring.

Full Review | Jul 23, 2023

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum get blindsided by a wonky and aimless script better suited for the balls-to-the-wall performances of its side characters.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 21, 2023

Sandra Bullock’s return to light-hearted comedy is welcome. While not to be taken too seriously the film does throw in a few heartfelt moments.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 14, 2023

Ultimately, the The Lost City is relatively hollow with a somewhat uncharacteristic denouement that connects back to Bullock’s late husband and her inability to let him go.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Dec 25, 2022

...the breezy chemistry with Sandra Bullock renders this a painless hijinx...

Full Review | Dec 22, 2022

The Lost City is at its best when it is light and silly, smoothing over some of the rougher edges where its jokes don't always land.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Sep 23, 2022

The Lost City is a terrific throwback to studio romcoms of the 90s and 00s, with two true-blue movie star performances from Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 1, 2022

A story about the vicarious pleasures of romance fiction, and about the folly of either dismissing them as stupid or of taking them too seriously … The obviousness of the genre machinery isn’t really a flaw – it’s part of the fun.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 29, 2022

[Channing Tatum's] energetic and eager to please — virtues he shares with the film.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 24, 2022

The sort of bubbly, unchallenging studio plaything that some of us may receive gratefully in these harrowed times.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Aug 24, 2022

Bullock is a solid anchor, Radcliffe gets a couple of humorous lines, and Tatum does his best. But it’s Pitt who steals the show. So much so that the drop-off is pretty significant whenever he’s not on screen.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 16, 2022

A word comes to mind that isn’t often used when describing movies lately. Thinking, thinking … oh, right! The word is “fun.” “The Lost City” is fun.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Aug 15, 2022

An unofficial remake of 'Romancing the Stone' with a big movie star cameo. Dull, obvious and very familiar with a script that just pokes along.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Aug 14, 2022

There are five writers sharing screenplay credit, but for me the writing of Bullock's character was the weakest element.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 9, 2022

The breezy pace is appreciated, but in two years, viewers won't recall any discernible differences between this, Uncharted, and Jungle Cruise.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 31, 2022

THE LOST CITY (2022)

"the real treasure is love".

What You Need To Know:

Miscellaneous Immorality: Character calls an elderly woman a slut, kidnapping, greed, and deceit, but the truth comes out eventually.

More Detail:

THE LOST CITY stars Sandra Bulloch as an academic turned romance novelist who’s kidnapped to help find a precious treasure in a lost city on a lost island. THE LOST CITY is an exceptional action comedy, with a positive message stressing love over material gain, but it has some mixed elements such as many off-color innuendoes, several obscenities, a few strong profanities, and some politically correct content that require extreme caution.

As the movie opens, a romance novelist named Loretta Sage prepares to go on a book tour to promote her latest novel, THE LOST CITY OF D. Loretta isn’t anxious about getting herself back into the public eye after her archeologist husband’s death. Beth, Loretta’s book agent, best friend, manager, etc., has set up the whole thing. Alan (Channing Tatum), the cover model for Loretta’s book as the character Dash, joins her at a press event. After the first press event doesn’t go as planned, Beth urges Loretta and Alan to just make it to the next scheduled interview for the day. Before they do that, however, Loretta is kidnapped, and Alan sees the bad guys taking her away just in time to try and help.

Loretta arrives to multiple charcuterie boards and a rich guy named Abigail Fairfax. At first, she thinks it’s a publicity stunt for her new book, but soon realizes it’s not. Abigail mentions that while reading her novel, he realized Loretta’s background in language could help him find a valuable treasure. It’s supposedly a priceless headdress in a tomb in a lost city on a lost island. Abigail says he’s already located the island. Now, he just needs Loretta’s help to locate where the city and the tomb is by translating a clue. His henchmen chloroform Loretta and take her away on a plane.

Meanwhile, Alan, Beth and a social media assistant locate Loretta on an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Alan insists they need some expertise to rescue her. So, he calls on a former Navy Seal named Jack Trainer (Brad Pitt), who he met at a meditation retreat. Jack agrees to help Alan find Loretta.

The two men meet at an airport near Loretta’s last known location. Jack doesn’t think Alan is up to the task of a search and rescue. Jack also asks if Alan has feelings for Loretta. Alan admits it could turn into something romantic. He wants to be Loretta’s protector.

Jack, followed by a much-less skilled Alan, arrive on the scene and successfully rescue Loretta from Abigail’s henchmen. However, there are multiple bumps in the road, and Alan and Loretta find themselves going forward alone. Back in the States, Beth decides to go find Alan and Loretta herself.

The lost city may have something more than just treasure on it, however.

THE LOST CITY is an exceptional action comedy with a strong script. It has stellar production values and casting. Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum have great comic timing. They also play the dramatic, romantic moments just as well. The movie has sturdy plot points and just enough twists to keep viewers fully engaged. THE LOST CITY makes good use of physical comedy too, and the movie’s setting is beautiful.

THE LOST CITY has a powerful message about love being greater than material possessions. The movie also stresses the need not to judge a book by its cover and dealing with grief in a positive manner instead of running away from it.

The movie’s positive moral, redemptive elements are mitigated by some negative content. For example, the lead male character met the Navy Seal man at a meditation retreat, and there’s a comment about a New Age healing regarding him. There’s also some politically correct feminist and environmentalist comments. Finally, THE LOST CITY contains many off-color, lewd innuendoes, several obscenities, a few strong profanities, and other, but mostly light, foul language. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises strong or extreme caution.

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The lost city, common sense media reviewers.

Bullock romcom adventure has cheeky moments, brief blood.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

You are the author of your life story, so live lif

Loretta is a smart woman who incorporates her rese

Non-stereotypical gender representation. Loretta i

One shocking, gruesome shooting with intense blood

Kiss. A character is naked during a long, comical

Strong language includes "ass," "a--hole," "d--k,"

Quite a few brands are notably displayed or mentio

Villains smoke cigars. Drinking throughout, includ

Parents need to know that The Lost City is a romcom action adventure starring Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, and Daniel Radcliffe. With a theme of moving on after loss, it has strong messages about being the author of your own story and that life is "sweeter after difficulty." While most of the violence is…

Positive Messages

You are the author of your life story, so live life to the fullest. With a theme of moving on after loss, the message delivered several times is that life is "sweeter after difficulty." Themes include courage, curiosity, and teamwork.

Positive Role Models

Loretta is a smart woman who incorporates her research on ancient cultures into her work. Alan is honest, courageous, and loyal and steps out of his comfort zone to help Loretta. While both Loretta and Alan are ill-equipped to survive a jungle, they work together to overcome obstacles. Beth is a successful boss who prioritizes people over profits.

Diverse Representations

Non-stereotypical gender representation. Loretta is smart and values substance over surface. Alan is emotionally vulnerable, sensitive, humble. Less positively, his beauty routine is a source of humor; there are a couple of laughs based on his supposed lack of intelligence. But his overall depiction is meant to show that a person's relative braininess is just one characteristic in what makes them unique. Eloquent words are used to describe something some see as "ugly" (a skin condition that leads to insecurity) as beautiful. A tough Navy SEAL is also a Buddhist yoga practitioner who quotes Taoist philosophy. Successful Black female publisher Beth is a fully expressed supporting character who brings (a little) body diversity to the film. Most other characters of color are depicted as villains, corrupt, unbalanced, or smarmy.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

One shocking, gruesome shooting with intense blood splatter (but no body shown on camera, and there's a positive resolution). Additional action violence is clearly choreographed to the point of hilarity, with punches, kicks, and knocking people out with hard objects. Villains are armed and shoot guns but mostly miss. Falls that likely result in death. Positive characters are constantly in deep peril, including trapped under water or in a fiery enclosure. Lots of talk about those who potentially die, acknowledging respect for the sanctity of life, even for those with evil intent.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Kiss. A character is naked during a long, comical scene that shows his bare backside, with another character commenting extensively about the size of his penis (it's not shown). The main character is a romance novelist, and there's some innuendo and suggestiveness in regard to her writing. Some low-cut shirts. Romantic feelings.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Strong language includes "ass," "a--hole," "d--k," and "s--t." "Slut" is used as a comical, misguided woman-to-woman term of endearment. "Jesus Christ!" said as an exclamation.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Quite a few brands are notably displayed or mentioned, indicating product placement, including Fiji water, Jamba Juice, and a Ram truck. Positive characters drink alcohol with the label of the beverage clearly seen, including Don Julio and Stella Artois.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Villains smoke cigars. Drinking throughout, including tequila, whiskey, champagne, wine, and beer. A character in her 20s appears to have had too much to drink.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Lost City is a romcom action adventure starring Sandra Bullock , Channing Tatum , and Daniel Radcliffe . With a theme of moving on after loss, it has strong messages about being the author of your own story and that life is "sweeter after difficulty." While most of the violence is typical big-budget action fare, there's plenty of peril and one gruesome moment involving a shooting that appears to have been added for shock value (but ultimately has a reassuring resolution). Tatum's bare backside is seen extensively in a nonsexual scene that also has a lot of references to his penis (which isn't shown). Bullock's character writes steamy novels, so expect innuendo and racy language ("d--k," "s--t," etc.), as well as some creative writing tips -- e.g., a humorous dissertation on when the word "throbbing" can and can't be used. There's lots of product placement, particularly alcoholic beverages, which are poured and consumed throughout (villains also smoke cigars). Non-stereotypical portrayals include an intelligent romance novelist, a muscular model who's emotionally vulnerable, and a philosophical Navy SEAL who's into yoga. Although most characters of color are unfortunately portrayed as corrupt or unbalanced, supporting character Beth ( Da'Vine Joy Randolph ) is a great role model: She's a successful Black businessperson who works hard, cares about profits and people, and establishes and maintains boundaries. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (13)
• Kids say (27)

Based on 13 parent reviews

Clean Hollywood movie. Thank you Sandra, Channing and Brad!

Very funny and entertaining, but not in the “family friendly” category, what's the story.

In THE LOST CITY, reclusive romance novelist Loretta Sage ( Sandra Bullock ) is starting the promotional tour for her latest work, The Lost City of D , accompanied by handsome cover model Alan ( Channing Tatum ). When Loretta is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire ( Daniel Radcliffe ) to help him find the lost city's lost treasure, Alan sets off to rescue her to prove he's just as much a hero as the one he portrays on Loretta's book covers.

Is It Any Good?

Treasure hunting + adventure + comedy + romance seems like a formula for cinematic success, and, indeed, Paramount Pictures has struck gold here. Giving off Romancing the Stone vibes, The Lost City has a hilarious script that's made even funnier with perfect casting. Bullock is the master of playing a relatably put-upon woman, and here she also gets to be the smartest person in the room and the jungle. It's a kick to see Tatum and co-star Brad Pitt play into their sex-symbol images, laughing along with the audience while simultaneously showing that the "ideal man" has the same insecurities and vulnerabilities as everyone else.

While the top-billed stars are national treasures, the real find in The Lost City is Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Loretta's publisher, Beth. She could have easily turned out as a typical romcom confidante, but Randolph offers a different take, evolving "the best friend" into a magnificent, three-dimensional, confident woman who is a boss by all definitions, literally going to the ends of the Earth for those she loves. While this isn't a perfect film, it's pretty great, and writer Seth Gordon puts plenty in it to love, including a strong message that it's the hard times that help us appreciate the good times.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the violence and peril in The Lost City. How did the movie use death both for comedy and to magnify the importance that the loss of any life, even that of a villain, is a tragedy? The characters are often in extreme peril: Were you ever worried? Why, or why not?

What do you think "sweeter after difficulty" means? Why might it be a good mantra to remember during rough times?

Do you think The Lost City is a romantic comedy? Why, or why not? How does it compare to other romcoms?

What is product placement, and how does it impact buying choices ? Did you notice certain brands?

Are smoking and drinking glamorized here? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?

Movie Details

• In theaters : March 25, 2022
• On DVD or streaming : July 26, 2022
• Cast : Sandra Bullock , Channing Tatum , Daniel Radcliffe , Brad Pitt
• Directors : Aaron Nee , Adam Nee
• Inclusion Information : Female actors
• Studio : Paramount Pictures
• Genre : Action/Adventure
• Topics : Adventures , Great Girl Role Models
• Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Teamwork
• Run time : 92 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : violence and some bloody images, suggestive material, partial nudity and language
• Award : Common Sense Selection
• Last updated : April 6, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

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• Movie Reviews / The Daily Prophet

Movie Review: “The Lost City,” Starring Daniel Radcliffe

by Lucy O'Shea · Published March 30, 2022 · Updated December 31, 2022

by Clare Worley

True: Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum are each at their best when they’re funny, and both at the same time must be funnier. So it is in The Lost City , an ultimately charming adventure comedy with more than a touch of Romancing the Stone , Jumanji , and Nim’s Island about it. Of course, every good adventure needs a villain: Daniel Radcliffe’s on dapper duty here as a treasure hunter searching for a priceless artifact, no matter the cost.

Bullock is Loretta, a successful romance writer (How successful? Her kitchen is shiny; her bath is huge) struggling with grief and writer’s block after her husband’s death. Tatum is Alan, the cover model for Loretta’s books, who bursts into the movie looking like Fabio and using phrases like “human mummy” more than once. Loretta wants to withdraw from public life, but Daniel Radcliffe’s antagonist, Fairfax, forces her to use her archaeological knowledge to find an artifact on a remote island (trust me, the actual details don’t really matter). Loretta = kidnapped; Alan = determined to be a hero, no matter how unqualified he is. Hijinks, quite naturally, ensue. If you’ve seen anything in the action/adventure-comedy genre before, you’ll know almost all the beats before you reach them.

It isn’t news that Bullock and Tatum are good at screwball comedy, but they’re a fun combination. Radcliffe looks like he’s having a blast in the gorgeous jungle scenery, and his cold-blooded, smirking, totally amoral billionaire could serve as a neat Succession audition tape if he wanted it to.

In support, Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Loretta’s publisher, Beth, is a show-stealer in a role that’s a step up from “sassy Black sidekick” at least.

Meanwhile, Brad Pitt’s turn as The-Ghost-of-Hemsworth-Yet-To-Come is laugh-out-loud funny. His scenes with Tatum are some of the funniest in the film.

Now for the downsides: not all the comedy belongs here. There are some smutty jokes – it’s not called the “Lost City of D” for nothing – which are amusing in isolation but don’t feel like they fit in a film that is more sweet than salty. The social media assistant makes jokes at least five years out of date, and the character adds less than she detracts, sadly.

I’m also disheartened that Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ song “Red Right Hand” (aka the Peaky Blinders theme) is becoming the 2020s edition of Leonard Cohen’s overplayed-to-irrelevance “Hallelujah” and is sorely misplaced as a musical cue here.

The film’s predictability is only a downside if you make it so, and there are a few moments of genuine “what the actual?!” It’s solidly set in a Hollywood Jungle: the creepy-crawlies only come out on cue – though it’s quite a cue. Although it avoids feeling like it’s 90% green-screen (oh hai Death on the Nile ), there’s an artificiality that adds to the overall sense of low stakes throughout the film.

The Lost City is at its best when in “wacky good fun” mode, is less accomplished in moments of sincerity, and may be forgotten by most within a few months, but spending nearly two hours with this company is no chore.

The Lost City opens exclusively in theatres on March 25 in the US and April 15 in the UK.

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• DVD & Streaming

The Lost City

• Action/Adventure , Comedy , Romance

Content Caution

In Theaters

• March 25, 2022
• Sandra Bullock as Loretta Sage; Channing Tatum as Alan; Daniel Radcliffe as Fairfax; Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Beth; Brad Pitt as Jack Trainer; Patti Harrison as Pratt Caprison; Oscar Nunez as Adrian Austin

Home Release Date

• May 10, 2022
• Aaron and Adam Nee

Distributor

• Paramount Pictures

Movie Review

Loretta Sage is suffering from a serious case of lover’s block.

Not writer’s block. The novelist can string words together just fine. But the thing is, Loretta writes romance novels. And honestly, ever since her husband died, Loretta just hasn’t been in the mood for romance.

Her latest book , The Lost City of D (featuring her popular protagonists Lovemore and Dash) was as steamy as a cold shower, as sultry as a tax audit. And even though her romances have sold incredibly well, Loretta feels as though The Lost City of D might be her last. Dash can dash off, for all she cares—yellow hair streaming in the sunset—and leave Loretta alone.

But first, she’ll have to participate in one more excruciating book tour—answering the same questions, plastering on the same fake smiles. Worse yet, the tour includes Alan Caprison, the beefy, blond model who—thanks to myriad appearances on Loretta’s book covers—has become synonymous with Dash. In fact, it seems that most of Loretta’s fans actually want to see Alan . And preferably without his shirt.

But as the first stop on the tour winds down, Loretta meets a fan who wants to talk with her . It would’ve been more flattering, perhaps, if the fan (a rich fellow named Fairfax) hadn’t also sent a couple of goons to kidnap her. Fairfax, you see, isn’t that interested in the plot of the Lost City of D : He’s more interested in the actual lost city Loretta wrote about, and the treasure that might be found there.

Fairfax knows that before Loretta became a romance novelist, she was a lost-language specialist: He believes that she based her book on real history. In fact, Fairfax knows it: He found Loretta’s Lost City and now owns the island on which it sits.

But now he needs Loretta’s help. See, somewhere in that archaeological ruin lies the fabled Crown of Fire, a bit of treasure that must be worth ever-so-much. Moreover, he’s uncovered a strip of cloth written in a language lost to everyone but Loretta. He believes that it might—no, it must —point to the fabulous crown. And he needs to retrieve it quickly, before the island’s volcano buries it underneath a few layers of lava.

Loretta politely declines to work with Fairfax, but refusal is not an option. The novelist is promptly chloroformed and whisked off to this island paradise/prison/potential tomb. She’ll help Fairfax: Oh, yes. Fairfax will make sure of it.

It’s just the sort of scenario that Loretta might write about, actually—one she’d neatly resolve with heroic Dash riding in on a white horse, hair gleaming, muscles flexing, gun booming, dimples dimpling.

Alas, Dash isn’t real. But Alan is. Yeah, that’s right: The cover model. Sure, Alan may not have two doctorates or years of martial arts training like Dash. But he is a certified Crossfit trainer, and that counts for something, right?

Positive Elements

So, yes, Alan’s a little out of his depth here. He dives into this adventure despite being allergic to water. (A little dip in a jungle river gives him a serious case of eczema.) But he’s kind of attracted to the author, and he’s willing to put his life on the line to save her. He also turns out to be a pretty decent, kind-hearted fellow, too—not just Dash’s mindless, muscle-bound stand-in. You might say (and the movie actually does) that Loretta learns a bit about not judging book models by their cover. Or something.

Beth, Loretta’s publisher, is equally dedicated to the writer. While she doesn’t come swinging into the jungle like Alan does, she works tirelessly to rescue Loretta—buying tickets, twisting arms, riding goat-laden cargo planes as she tries to track down her star writer. And she gets a little help herself from Adrian, the owner of the aforementioned cargo plane, who aids the party in unexpected ways.

Spiritual Elements

Someone calls Adrian an angel in passing. “How did you know?” he says. Some characters participate in what appears to be a meditation class, and we learn that Alan met a character at a meditation retreat. We hear an exclamation of “Holy Christmas!” We hear a quote attributed to Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism: “To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.”

Sexual Content

Fairfax refers to Loretta as the “sex book writer.” And gathering from the snippets we hear from her books, that feels pretty accurate. Readings are filled with suggestive imagery and titillating verbiage (without crossing the line into straight-up verbal pornography), and Loretta coaches someone on how to pace a book’s erotic elements for full emotional appeal. One night, as she tries to treat the eczema on Alan’s exposed back, Alan asks how she might “write” that scene and make it romantic. Her narration is filled with erotic descriptions and ends with the heroine’s request to have sex.

Loretta and Alan don’t physically replay Loretta’s sensual narration, but (obviously) a mutual attraction does develop between them, and they smooch a time or two. They also, comically, share a hammock. Loretta also sees all of Alan’s anatomy after a leech-infested wade through a river: Alan exposes his buttocks to her (and the camera), and Loretta has to pull leeches off his posterior. He then turns around so she can inspect his crotch: (She makes several comments on what she sees, but the audience doesn’t itself see anything.)

Alan often goes shirtless, and Loretta quips that the model finds an excuse to remove his shirt during every public appearance. (During a mutual appearance during the book tour, the audience convinces Loretta to remove Dash’s shirt for him—though the removal attempt goes awry.) During that same tour stop, Loretta’s publicist forces Loretta to wear what the writer describes as a “glitter onesie.” It reveals quite a bit of cleavage and is quite tight—so much so that Loretta claims the fabric is climbing up into numerous areas. (She wears the outfit for most of the rest of the movie, though the onesie’s leggings eventually are ripped off.) She smuggles a bit of cloth in her own outfit, tucking it between her breast and the onesie’s fabric.

Alan helps Loretta scale a cliff by pushing his head into her crotch (thus helping to push her up). Beth also wears outfits that showcase cleavage. In a physical manifestation of part of Loretta’s book draft, Lovemore and Dash lie next together—and at first it would seem they’re in the throes of post-coital bliss. (That turns out not to be the case.) We hear crass references to body parts and sexual activity, along with both intentional and unintentional double entendres. Loretta takes a bath, and we see her from the shoulders up. Later, in the clutches of bad guys, she exposes her shoulder seductively. She describes herself as a “sapio-sexual,” which she says means that she finds intelligence sexy. Someone calls another woman a “slut” (in what the caller hopes is an affectionate, chummy way).

Violent Content

In a fairly shocking scene—shocking, in part, because of the movie’s PG-13 rating—someone is shot in the head, sending blood and brain matter everywhere. A good bit of the gore seems to land on Alan’s face (including his mouth), and he complains that he can “taste” the victim’s thoughts.

A man falls from a ledge, apparently to his doom. Two others fall off a cliff after crashing into each other on motorcycles. (“Perhaps they’re fine,” Loretta suggests, though that seems unlikely.) Someone is set ablaze via cigar ashes and alcohol. Someone’s knocked off the roof of a moving SUV/tank. A few people are rendered unconscious due to sleeper holds. Others are knocked out during fights, which involve fists and feet and drinking glasses and car doors.

Two people nearly drown. Guns are pointed and sometimes fired. A tomb holds the skeletal remains of two people embracing, and others are nearly buried alive in the same tomb. A volcano threatens the safety of many. A scene in one of Loretta’s books depicts a tomb littered with poisonous snakes. Loretta is overcome by chloroform.

Crude or Profane Language

We hear two uses of the s-word along with several other milder profanities, including “a–,” “crap” and “h—.” God’s name is misused nearly 15 times, and Jesus’ name is abused thrice.

Drug and Alcohol Content

“Why can’t your own personal tank have its own mini-bar?” Fairfax asked. It’s a rhetorical question, of course, because his personal tank has one. He enjoys his whiskey and drinks it often. Others imbibe as well. We see, for instance, a pre-kidnap Loretta sip a glass of iced Chardonnay in the bathtub. Someone smokes a cigar—with unfortunate consequences. (Turns out, smoking really can kill you.)

Other Negative Elements

We hear references to bat feces, and a cave mouth is compared to a “troll anus.” Someone urinates in a body of water. Both Alan and Loretta gag while dealing with leeches. After Loretta kicks a trash can over, she’s appalled with herself for littering.

As Loretta and Alan plot out their next move—trying to decide whether to get off the island or dive deeper into the jungle to find the fabled Crown of Fire—Alan turns to Loretta.

“This is your story,” he tells her. “How do you want to write it?”

Someone might’ve posed the same question to the movie’s screenwriters.

The Lost City can feel a little lost itself. While it always aims to be a romantic adventure comedy, a la 1984’s Romancing the Stone , it swings wildly on its PG-13 pendulum. Though our protagonists rarely kiss and never have sex, Loretta’s raunchy prose and the screenplay’s naughty entendres push this blushingly out of bounds for most families. For much of its runtime, the movie seems to intentionally avoid both death and blood—and then in one shocking moment, that restraint is blown to pieces … along with part of someone’s head, apparently.

With just a little more restraint, The Lost City could’ve been unexpectedly navigable. But because of a handful of scenes, the film is unexpectedly ooky. It’s almost as if the studio received a nice, sweet, funny script and hired Family Guy’ s Seth MacFarlane to handle the rewrites.

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

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The Lost City is like the concept of 60 percent incarnate. Depending on where that number appears, 60 percent can be a positive thing. It’s more than halfway there, it’s (slightly) better than average value. But as a test score, it’s a D-. The Lost City is a lot better than a D-, but the whole thing has a feeling of crossing that halfway point on the way to true success and then sort of giving up.

Take the lost city itself. It’s a previously hidden city on an island in the Atlantic that was submerged under volcanic ash, which hardened and left its location a mystery. But there’s some kind of tomb there, and it contains some kind of valuable headdress, or necklace – the particulars don’t really matter. A rich scion of a media family, Abigail Fairfax ( Daniel Radcliffe ), has decided he must get his hands on the priceless artefact, so he buys the island and kidnaps the romance novelist ( Sandra Bullock ) whose deceased husband was an archaeologist, and who herself once had an academic knowledge of ancient texts. That means she might be able to translate some parchment to find the location of this tomb.

Oops, that was just plot synopsis and we didn’t get to the “take the lost city itself” part. The lost city of the title is seen – once, maybe? It exists not to be explored, but to create a jumping off point for action comedy hijinks involving caves and henchmen and explosions and leeches and other humorous danger. And the danger is pretty humorous – 60 percent humorous at least. But when something is the title of the movie, you do expect it to feature more prominently than this lost city does here. So it appears they got 60 percent of the way to a title and kind of gave up there too.

We get about 60 percent charisma from Bullock, who’s not yet 60 years old and may continue to do these roles even when she’s on the other side of the landmark age. We also get Channing Tatum returning from a couple years of an acting hiatus, and we’ve missed him – but he hasn’t rediscovered all of his previous charm. Maybe only – you guessed it – 60 percent of it.

The setup is a bit reminiscent of the old Kathleen Turner-Michael Douglas adventure Romancing the Stone . Bullock’s Loretta Sage, forever on the verge of giving up this grocery store novelist’s life that is beneath her, finds herself in the pages of one of her own books. Fairfax takes her to the island by force and chloroform when she doesn’t agree to help him willingly, and coming to save her is the man who has been posing for the covers of her books. That’s Alan (Tatum), whose character is Dash, and whose biceps and mane of long hair recall that notorious cover model with the single-name moniker: Fabio. Except of course Alan’s hair is a wig, and instead of being a confident, macho type, the smitten Alan stammers whenever he’s around Loretta – who resents him for drawing so much attention from her on book tours she doesn’t want to be on anyway.

One juicy surprise – which would be a lot more of a surprise if it weren’t in the trailers – is that Alan is meeting up with a real adventurer, the type Douglas played in Romancing the Stone . He’s a great bit of stunt casting in Brad Pitt , himself now a whisper away from age 60. Loretta’s got another potential saviour taking an interest in her – her literary agent, Beth ( Da’Vine Joy Randolph ), who has traced Loretta’s phone watch to the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, and is determined to find her cash cow, whether for reasons of friendship or mere publishing profitability.

The Lost City at 85 percent is a rollicking good time. At its current percentage, which I think you know by now, Aaron and Adam Nee ’s film is a good time that might occasionally leave you looking around the room, wondering if this is all there is. The ideas for jokes are funny enough, but they’re not very original, and the actual dialogue relies on the sort of semantic bickering that has become a stand-in for humour in modern writer’s rooms. Supposed laughs are derived from Fairfax’s first name, Abigail, which (he claims) is a gender-neutral name – and the fact that his brothers (not pictured) are similarly named, Leslie and Beverly. I guess it’s how we emasculate detestable characters in modern movies without resorting to full-on gay panic.

And yet it is reasonably enjoyable to watch The Lost City . Big stars, beautiful locales (filmed in the Dominican Republic), a few light laughs that could have been better but are still a good enough distraction, a wee bit of peril – The Lost City is a “sure, why not?” movie if ever there was one.

You’ll never forget all the things about it that could have been better. The movie starts with its best conceit, opening on the floor of an ancient temple, where Loretta and Dash are tied up while hundreds of surrounding vipers slither toward them. But before you have a chance to be worried, it becomes clear that this is Loretta’s bad idea about how to finish her current novel, and by saying “Delete, delete, delete” she can make both the snakes and the villainous man standing above them disappear. If only the Nee brothers had found a way to incorporate this as an ongoing gimmick, giving Loretta the power of a god over the characters in her own story.

Yet instead of The Lost City being the mediocre romance novel she doesn’t want to write, whose details she can change with a few keystrokes, it’s a “real” mediocre adventure that could have been a gas with more imaginative writers than either Loretta or the Nee brothers, making more of an attempt to exceed our expectations. Coming in for a landing at three-fifths of a good popcorn movie, it shouldn’t be a surprise that The Lost City earns a ReelGood rating of

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Hero Needs More Inspiration or Madness in The Lost City of Z

• Debbie Holloway Contributing Writer
• Updated Jul 08, 2017

The Lost City of Z   (that’s “Zed” for you Americans!) was well-acted, without great flaw in its technical elements or even direction. But for failing to justify the necessity of its own existence, it only earns 2 out of 5 .  

This dramatization of real-life explorer Percy Fawcett stretches from 1905-1925 and tells the long and winding story of his fascination with the uncharted Amazonian jungles. We meet Fawcett ( Charlie Hunnam ) as an undecorated major in the British army trying to live down the shame of his alcoholic father. Even though he has a strong, vivacious wife, Nina ( Sienna Miller ), and charming son, he longs for "action" that will prove his worth to others, fulfill his love for adventure, and enrich the knowledge and prestige of the Empire. He accepts a role with the Royal Geography Society surveying and mapping in South America, a long, dangerous mission that claims the lives of many crewmembers. Fawcett finds a few shards of beautiful pottery near the farthest point of his long journey, and vows to return to discover what he believes to be an ancient civilization far more advanced than Europeans would credit possible to "savages." This mission drives his actions from here on out, sustaining him through more journeys, an expanding family of children, and even service in the Great War.  

What Works?

What doesn't.

Unfortunately, the biggest takeaway from The Lost City of Z was the feeling that  the world doesn't need this film.

Christian Worldview Elements / Spiritual Themes

Cautions (may contain spoilers).

• MPAA Rating:  PG-13 for violence, disturbing images, brief strong language and some nudity
• Language/Profanity : One F-word; a few mild instances such as “bastard,” “bloody,” “d--n” and the use of God’s name.
• Sexuality/Nudity : A husband and wife kiss several times, and are seen in bed and in nightclothes. Several scenes feature Amazonian tribespeople wearing only loincloths.
• Violence/Frightening/Intense : Animals are shot (for sport or for food) several times. Natives fire arrows at other men several times, often hitting their mark. Men become wounded or sick from their time in the jungle. A man vomits black fluid. It is implied that piranhas attack a man underwater, killing him. A man has whip scars on his back. A man shoots off another man’s ear. A few scenes of WW1 are shown, including trench warfare and a violent advance where many men are shot and killed. A tribe is found to be cannibals when a charred (not overly graphic) human corpse is seen over a fire. A man slaps a teenage boy across the face very hard. Men are exposed to chlorine gas during a battle.
• Drugs/Alcohol : Men are shown smoking and drinking on several occasions.  

The Bottom Line

RECOMMENDED FOR:  Those who want to see David Grann's book realized on screen (though, spoilers , I hear it's more fiction than nonfiction). Fans of slow-moving films that span across decades, who enjoy analyzing a protagonist.

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR:  Those who are tired of movies about the male ego and waterlust; those who are expecting a faithful biography of real-life events; or those who are in the market for exploration and adventure movies that move beyond the theme of "how can this romp help teach our white characters new lessons?"

The Lost City of Z,  directed by  James Gray , opened in limited theaters April 14, 2017, wide April 21; available for home viewing July 11, 2017. It runs 141 minutes and stars  Charlie Hunnam, Sienna Miller, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Edward Ashley and Angus Macfadyen . Watch the trailer for The Lost City of Z here .  

Debbie Holloway is a storyteller, creator, critic and advocate having adventures in Brooklyn, New York.

Publication date : April 21, 2017

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Movie Review: The Lost City

Directors: Aaron Nee, Adam Nee Writers: Oren Uziel, Dana Fox, Aaron Nee, Adam Nee Cast: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Brad Pitt, Da’Vine Joy Randolph

Action adventure rom-coms are a rare breed at the cinema these days. Somewhere between the rise of the superhero epics, the stunt filled spy thrillers, and the hard-hitting slice-of-life dramas, they slipped into obscurity. But if The Lost City is anything to go by, we’ve been missing out on a whole lot of zany fun.

The plot kicks into motion when grieving, widowed author Loretta (Bullock) reluctantly sets off on a book tour for her latest romance novel with her publicist (Randolph) and her cover model Alan (Tatum), who is harbouring a secret crush on Loretta. When Loretta is kidnapped by eccentric billionaire Abigail Fairfax (Radcliffe) during the tour, Alan launches an admittedly rather underwhelming rescue mission that sees them wind up lost in the jungle on a quest for help that turns into a treasure hunt.

The film bears all the beats of a classic 2000s action rom-com; there’s some quintessentially tender moments of connection interspersed with a solid amount of bickering and a number of quick quips mined from opposing personalities. However, with tech related gags, pop-culture references, a few digs at modern society, and the appearance of a rather magnificent cheese board, the formula has been updated to fit the times. It’s popcorn cinema at its best—sophisticated, refined, and capable of expanding the mind? Not especially. Fun, frivolous, and easy to digest? Absolutely.

The roles aren’t anything revolutionary; Sandra Bullock has been the up-tight, disenchanted, serious voice before. Likewise, Channing Tatum is no stranger to playing the well-intentioned airhead (Alan could easily be an older version of Jenko from 21 Jump Street ), but they both know how to deliver in those roles, and it’s no different here; Bullock and Tatum play up their archetypes, doubling down on the fun.

Daniel Radcliffe is a standout as the scorned yet still ridiculously entitled Fairfax; the guy just does quirky, off-beat villainy really well. Brad Pitt hams it up as former Navy SEAL turned CIA operative Jack Trainer; everything from his skills to his appearance is enough to make Alan feel insecure. Meanwhile Da’Vine Joy Randolph makes some magic out of a few short appearances as Loretta’s steely, never-say-die publicist Beth.

At times, it gets a little heavy-handed as the film struggles to balance the darker tone of Loretta’s grief with the comedy of the rest of the plot. It’s not especially nuanced, there’s little in the way of subtlety or deeper meanings; everything is served right up on a silver platter. As unashamedly sparkly and superfluous as Sandra Bullock’s sequinned jumpsuit (an absolutely iconic get up for plugging through the jungle by the way), The Lost City plays like a party on screen, jazzed up in glitter and gold, and it’s not at all ashamed of it. The plot might not be a puzzle, the beats might feel familiar, but with a star-studded cast, easy gags, and some explosive set pieces, the movie provides plenty of entertainment during the course of its run.

Movie Review: Spiral

So yes, The Lost City may be skating by on glitz and glamour, and yes it’s cheesy and predictable, but you know what? Sometimes the world needs a little cheese and predictability. Sometimes a rollicking good time, where the stakes are middling at best, is just what the doctor ordered.

Will it be a hallmark of movie history? Probably not (but then again, who’s to say). Will it bust a few hours of boredom? Yep, it’s just the ticket. Sparkly shenanigans abound, The Lost City may not be ground-breaking, but it’s a solid, fun watch all the same.

What did you think of  The Lost City ? Tell us in the comments below!

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One comment.

Loved it I thought Sandra and Tatum played great together the best laugh in a while from those amazing actors

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Directed by Adam Nee and Aaron Nee from a screenplay they co-wrote with Oren Uziel and Dana Fox, The Lost City feels like a film from the past (in a good way). The film doesn’t set out to do anything different, settling into the comforts certain tropes and story beats provide. However, that doesn’t make The Lost City any less fun than it aims to be. With the effortlessly charming and talented cast doing most of the heavy lifting, The Lost City makes for a highly entertaining, joyful adventure.

The Lost City follows best-selling romance author Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock), a widow who is trying her best to finish her latest book in time for a book tour her manager, Beth (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), put together. Loretta isn’t feeling it, though, especially when she realizes Alan (Channing Tatum), a model who portrays Dash, Loretta’s character, on the cover of all of her books, will be at the events. All Alan wants to do is please Loretta, but all the recluse wants to do is to go back home. However, her life takes an adventurous turn when she’s kidnapped by billionaire Abigail Fairfax ( Daniel Radcliffe ), who believes the Lost City of D the author wrote about — as well as the tomb containing a treasure he’s seeking — is real. Enter Alan who, despite not knowing at all what he’s doing, endeavors to go save her.

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The Lost City has a lot going for it: a charming cast, genuinely funny moments, and some adrenaline-fueled adventure. The film harkens back to the days when such romcom adventures were more of a constant. Bullock and Tatum have the bickering down, but when things slow down between them, they’re able to understand each other a lot better than before. As a team, they work well and they’re the highlight of the film overall, with their comedic timing being especially worth noting. Tatum really delivers as a man who’s got his heart in the right place, even when he isn’t the most intelligent of people. His rapport with both Bullock and Brad Pitt — whose role as Jack Trainer is smaller than the trailers would have one believe — is fantastic. The frustrated energy Bullock puts out is fabulous and the physical humor employed by Tatum underlines his comedic abilities well.

If anything, The Lost City could have used a lot more heat between Bullock and Tatum, with only a couple of scenes making good use of their chemistry before the film moves on too quickly to the next thing. That said, the film is well-paced and, at one point, even surprising. Not all the humor lands, but it is so full with comedic moments that the audience will find themselves laughing more often than not at the antics and reactions of the characters. Tatum’s Alan, who has zero combat skills, takes to slapping Fairfax’s henchmen when they attack and it’s incredibly amusing to watch. Mostly, The Lost City is buoyed by Bullock and Tatum’s charisma, of which they have plenty. Radcliffe’s turn as the villain of the story really works, though he only gets a few moments to show off how truly menacing he can be.

The Lost City is an overall fun film. It’s engaging and full of humor that never feels forced for the sake of it. Aaron and Adam Nee have crafted a film that is never boring, maintaining its sense of intrigue and momentum throughout without falling flat. It’s rare for films these days to mix a bit of romance with the thrills of an adventure without crumbling under their own weight or lack of charm. However, The Lost City has plenty of each and, while obviously formulaic, audiences will find themselves entertained for the majority of the film’s runtime thanks to a story that understands what it’s supposed to be and the talents of a great cast.

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The Lost City is playing in theaters as of March 25, 2022. The film is 112 minutes long and is rated PG-13 for violence and some bloody images, suggestive material, partial nudity and language.

The Lost City

Originally titled The Lost City of D, The Lost City is a romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum. Bullock stars as Loretta Sage, a novelist, as well as Dr. Angela Lovemore, the heroine of her successful romance series. Together they try to escape from a billionaire who is hell-bent on discovering an ancient burial chamber that is described in one of Sage's books.

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The lost city of d.

• Movie Reviews
• 3.5 star movies

The Lost City Review

13 Apr 2022

The Lost City

Death cannot stop true love; it can only delay it for a while. Or so The Princess Bride taught us. Sure enough, the much bally-hooed death of the big-screen romcom is beginning to look more like a hiatus, because here we are in 2022 with a crowd-pleasing, star-led romance in an exotic location. If much of directors Adam and Aaron Nee’s plot feels like a throwback to an earlier era, and in particular to Romancing The Stone , the humour here is entirely up-to-date and immensely fun.

The familiar bits first: Sandra Bullock steps into Kathleen Turner ’s shoes as a successful romance novelist whose personal life is a mess. But unlike Joan Wilder, Bullock’s Loretta is grieving a lost husband, and seems irritable at the success of her own books. In place of Michael Douglas ’ tough jungle guide we have Channing Tatum ’s gentle cover model Alan, who’s nursing both a crush on and a grudge against Loretta, the latter for her refusal to take her own books seriously. However, when she’s kidnapped by a media billionaire’s son, Abigail Fairfax ( Daniel Radcliffe ), Alan swings ineffectually into action, and soon our two heroes are lost in the jungle of a small island, bickering and perhaps bonding as they try to find safety.

None of this is particularly new, of course. Bullock has played the wary, uptight over-achiever before; Tatum’s given us previous variations on witless-yet-beautiful; even a bit with leeches has been done before. But the film finds nuance to season the archetypes. There’s more than lip service paid to Loretta’s grief and her dashed dreams of serious scholarship, and while she’s not immune to Alan’s looks, you can see 
why he wouldn’t be on her radar. Tatum, meanwhile, gamely plays the bimbo role, but manages to inject just enough edge to suggest 
that Alan’s brain is merely underutilised and not entirely absent.

This movie is like its star’s jumpsuit: sparkly, gorgeous and entirely frivolous.

With the stars carrying the film along, the Nees can add emotion and humour in the detail. They mine laughs from Alan’s phone contacts and Fairfax’s cheese board, while costume designer Marlene Stewart puts Bullock in a fuschia-coloured sequinned jumpsuit that plays well against the otherwise standard jungle aesthetics. Brad Pitt ’s hyper-capable survival trainer, Jack Trainer, is an awe-inspiring embodiment of the romance novel archetype who threatens even the usually laid-back Alan, while Da’Vine Joy Randolph does a lot with very little as Loretta’s editor. Radcliffe even comes close to saying something true about the entitlement and self-righteousness of the super-wealthy as a black-sheep billionaire.

Really, though, you have to want to find deeper meanings here. This movie is like its star’s jumpsuit: sparkly, gorgeous and entirely frivolous. It coasts by on charisma and comedic talent, on dancing and daring, on stunning locations (the Dominican jungle) and stakes that are high enough to hold the attention and not a millimetre higher. You will predict almost every beat before it arrives and welcome its arrival anyway, because the formula works. The romcom is dead; long live the romcom.

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• May 16, 2025 (United States)
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