The Lost City - In Search of Better Jokes

Streaming on Paramount + 

For rent on Amazon 

    Something about the modern age has put a stranglehold on comedy, and it's only getting worse. In an age seemingly too overtly run by social media, comedy struggles to figure out what's still funny. Consequently, this causes modern comedic films to try and push non-jokes (like the ever so dreadful "awkward moment" humor plaguing modern comedy) as genuine knee-slappers, resulting in audiences waiting for a punchline that never shows up. Sure, there can be a few well-deserved chuckles here and there, but the overall presentation can become an unintentional drag if there's not enough silly energy to go around. 

    This, you may have surmised, is the aptest description I can give today's subject, The Lost City: a comedy that has a funny idea with talented performers delivering funny energy. Still, for some reason that I can't quite pinpoint, the film itself doesn't feel wholeheartedly funny. At least not as much as it ought to be nor thinks itself to be. 

    The story follows Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock), a recently widowed romance novelist promoting (rather apathetically) her latest book about long-lost ancient cities featuring her famous romanticly involved characters. One of whom is famously portrayed by her long-time cover model Alan (Channing Tatum). Loretta simply wants to get through the promotion and end the series, as she is still grieving the loss of her husband. Things take an unexpected turn when she is kidnapped by an eccentric millionaire named Abigale Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe), who wants her help to find an ancient treasure from her latest book. Loretta's late husband, an archeologist, studied the legend of an ancient treasure known as the Crown of Fire, and some details made it into Loretta's story. Loretta suddenly finds herself on an island where the treasure is believed to be hidden. Alan, feeling guilty over some choice words exchanged before her kidnapping, decides to try and rescue her himself. The movie then turns into a typical mishmashed retread of Romancing The Stone meets Galaxy Quest, only not as funny, clever, or nuanced as either of those classics. 

    From my somewhat cynical tone, you might suspect that I didn't think the movie was all that funny. Well, the truth is that while I wasn't a fan of the overall style of humor, I did find moments here and there that were worthy of a decent chuckle. The talented cast delivered most of those moments and succeeded in delivering some good silliness despite the lackluster writing they had to work with. 

    Daniel Radcliffe is probably the film's highlight, as he delivers the most energetic and entertaining villain performance yet. Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum have solid chemistry and deliver some genuine comedic energy. There's also a brief appearance with Brad Pitt that is too short-lived. 

    In a nutshell, these performances might have been better served in a better movie. While the performers are doing their best, the material therein doesn't feel substantial enough to warrant any reaction other than, "well, that just happened." The rest of the movie feels too hollow and safe for its own good. 

    The Lost City needed to be much sillier than its directors felt comfortable with, the script needed to fine-tune its jokes a bit more, and Hollywood really needs to stop pretending it knows what counts as "funny." If you need a quick and reasonably pleasant distraction for about two hours and have exhausted all other options, this may suffice just enough. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.