The Lost City Parent Guide

Since the death of her archaeologist husband four years ago, Loretta’s (Sandra Bullock) life has stalled. She doesn’t want to leave her house and she’s lost her zest for writing romance novels. Needing to kick off sales for The Lost City of D, she reluctantly embarks on a publicity tour with cover model Alan (Channing Tatum). After listening to fans repeatedly ask Alan to remove his shirt, Loretta has had enough. Unwilling to sit through interviews with a guy she sees as all-pecs-no-brains, she stomps out of the hotel…only to be kidnapped.

The villain behind her abduction is Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe), overlooked son of a media tycoon. “It’s a gender-neutral name,” he insists, as he informs Loretta that he needs her specialized archaeological knowledge to help him find the treasures of the Lost City of D before the nearby volcano erupts. Incredulous, but aware of her peril, Loretta drags her feet as she waits for rescue. What she doesn’t know is that Alan is determined to prove to her that he’s more than just a pretty face. With the help of an ex-navy SEAL (Brad Pitt with Fabio hair), Alan has put himself in charge of saving the damsel in distress.

The obvious point of comparison for this film is Romancing the Stone, another movie about a romance novelist who unwillingly endures a jungle adventure. Of the two, this is by far the better film. It’s a whole lot funnier and there is less negative content. Instead of a bedroom scene, this film features carefully filmed rear and side male nudity with extended shots of Loretta removing leeches from Alan’s backside. The behavior is definitely not sexual - Loretta is gagging as she pulls at the leeches - but when Loretta (not the audience) sees Alan’s genitals the two have a conversation that is laden with innuendo. Aside from this cringe-y moment, the movie’s real content issue is violence. There are multiple scenes of personal combat where people are punched, thrown, and choked. Firearms are frequently used and in one scene a person is killed off-screen as large amounts of gore splatter all over other characters. This is not a movie for viewers who are easily disturbed by blood or peril. The PG-13 rating is appropriate and it should not be watched by children.

Negative content aside, The Lost City is a lively, madcap adventure that harkens back to classic screwball comedies. It’s well paced, the jokes are usually funny, and the characters are appealing. Channing Tatum occasionally feels a bit flat, but Sandra Bullock shines as the jaded Loretta. There are no surprises when her adventures provide a parallel personal journey, bringing her from loneliness and anxiety to courage and openness. But just because her transformation isn’t surprising doesn’t mean it can’t also be heartwarming. Her relationship with Alan might be unlikely, but the alteration in her perceptions certainly proves the truth of the adage, ‘You can’t judge a book by its cover (model).”