The Lost City - Cheap Thoughts

It’s hard to not route for a comedic adventure flick. They exist purely to entertain the eyes of every family member. They are harmless, light-hearted and joyful. They’re also somewhat of a rarity these days as audiences can allow their irony poisoned minds and cynical perspective to want to bully and mock them, despite them being one of the oldest genres cinema has to offer. The Lost City is not entirely immune to this, there is a level of self-awareness and winking to the audience as if to say we’re all in on the joke, but the film shines best when it doesn’t rely on that. When it allows the natural comedy and charisma of its leads hold up the film, which is what they do. It’s rather impressive considering where Channing Tatum started out in his career where Hollywood wanted to make him the next cool and badass pretty boy, and yet he truly shines best when he gets to play the imperfect yet enigmatic golden retrievers, and this film sees him as both of those. Lampooning his initial presentation yet highlighting that likeable goofball energy he exudes in works such as the Jump Street films or Hail Ceasar! Which is not to say he doesn’t work great in other roles such as Magic Mike and Foxcatcher, but it’s clear this is his peak as the well-meaning, clumsy himbo.

The same can be said for Daniel Radcliffe who is eating it up as the villain, he has spent the last decade riding that Harry Potter money and committing himself to weird, loud and inscrutable characters across a variety of films. In this case the 2-Dementional adventure serial bad guy, a shallow egomaniac who behaves more like a spoilt brat than a business tycoon and Radcliffe is enjoying every moment of it.

To save Sandra Bullock for last might make it seem like she brings the least to the film and while this is technically true as she acts as the straight man against these grown children, it should never be undervalued the talents of a good straight man. Bullock has been playing these type of characters for several decades now, she slips into them with ease and she is always a delight to watch on screen.

Beyond the leads there is not much else to the film, it has a standard story, basic visuals and sometimes groan worthy supporting cast, but it is aware of what it is, sometimes too much so. It is light, fluffy entertainment that shall be consumed for brief joy and moved on with. It is a sugary snack of a film, which we need from time to time.

-Danny