Dog’s Movie House: “Lost City” A Fun Throwback!

“The Lost City” tells the tale of a famous author named Loretta (Sandra Bullock), a woman famous for a series of romance adventures with archeology as the background. Unfortunately, in the years following her husband’s death, Loretta has lost her appetite for writing the potboilers that have become her stock and trade. Complicating things is here odd relationship with Alan, the hot but somewhat intellectually underwhelming model who graces the covers of her novels as the hero Dash. He’s arguably more popular than Loretta at the book signings and conventions and for some reason, that further irks our heroine.

Things take a turn when Loretta is approached by millionaire adventurer Abigail Fairfax (a scene stealing Daniel Radcliffe) who believes he’s found clues to an actual treasure in the pages of her most recent book. Loretta, you see, with the help of her late husband, like to add real archeological detail to her adventures, including translations of legitimate ancient languages and symbols. Fairfax, who is slightly mad, kidnaps Loretta and forces here to help him find this treasure. It’s up to Alan, who has harbored secret feelings for Loretta, to rescue her from Fairfax’s clutches. To do so, he enlists the help of a former soldier named Jack Trainor (a hilarious Brad Pitt in what amounts to an extended cameo) and tries to be the hero he’d always wanted to be. The results are uneven for him, at best. The results for the moviegoers are far more entertaining.

Like I said before, “The Lost City” doesn’t break any new ground from a narrative standpoint, but it does feature some talented professionals doing what they do best. Bullock is back in fine form as the harried Loretta who nonetheless rises to the occasion and finds a reason to keep on living after the death of her soulmate. She’s matched by Tatum, who’s Alan could have been a one-note caricature but manages to round him out into a sympathetic character. Bullock and Tatum have excellent chemistry together, although the script doesn’t always take full advantage of that. Pitt is terrific as the Zen soldier of fortune who is every bit the man Alan wants to be. The potential love triangle is derailed early on in rather dramatic fashion, but the dynamic is a lot of fun while it lasts. I was also a big fan of Radcliffe’s Fairfax, a driven man who has serious family issues. Radcliffe has a great time and is quite convincing as a villain (although it must be said the even with a full beard, Radcliffe still looks barely old enough to have graduated high school). Also fun is Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Beth, Loretta’s agent and friend, who goes on her own journey to help her friend and client. She has some of the best lines in the film.

The film moves at a brisk pace and directors Aaron and Adam Nee know how to choreograph and action scene. It ain’t “John Wick” but it gets the job done. The locations are beautiful and help the immersion of the audience into the picture. And the film has strong messages of self-worth and sacrifice woven into the narrative without bludgeoning you over the head with it. Fast paced and funny, “The Lost City” is a crowd-pleasing film that is a welcome tonic to the problems throughout the world. 4 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer! So Sayeth The Kendog!

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