The Lost City

The Lost City is exactly the kind of throwback rom-com adventure that is elevated from fine to riotous thanks to the presence of Sandra Bullock

Ultimately there is not much to recommend The Lost City beyond a degree of unpretentious good nature, plus the appeal of its stars. But depending on your fondness for Bullock and Tatum, that may be enough to make you feel you haven’t been robbed.

These are two charming actors who play off each other with manic enthusiasm. Alas, the screenplay is woefully short on screwball energy.

The Lost City, for the most part, finds that sweet spot between goofy and sincere, especially during the scenes where Tatum’s Alan tries to match up to the mercenary hired to rescue Loretta, played by none other than Brad Pitt.

Director siblings Aaron and Adam Nee are the missing link between the Farrelly brothers and Joel and Ethan Coen. This is the third film they’ve made together and it’s a grubby little gem.

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum make a sweet and spiky couple in this likeable caper. It’s never going to challenge The African Queen for quality, but it offers a consistently good time.

It lacks the grandeur and muscle that went into the old rom-com adventures, but it makes up for it in star power and in just being so agreeable. Channing Tatum really is one of the funniest people on Earth.

To sum it all up, “The Lost City” is a fun way to usher in the spring movie season.

Hollywood should still make thoroughly predictable yet still well-executed and gleaming-enough fare like this, and more often.

...erratic yet mostly watchable...