What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about fiction? You may say it results from someone’s bizarre imagination or creative ingenuity. Perhaps you will be blunt and declare it a lie. But what if this lie contains some grain of truth?
You have heard or read about Cinderella, Superman, or other characters from books or comics. Imagine seeing these characters in the flesh. I do not know about you, but Loretta Sage in Lost City can more than imagine how it would feel to be a part of a story.
She would know it better than anyone else because the mystical places and characters in her book exist in the real world. The author is going to venture into an adventure she has spun. The hitch in the situation is she isn’t much qualified to go on an adventure, and neither is her partner.
Plot
Loretta Sage is the author of many famous adventure novels, and Alan is her handsome cover model. After the death of her husband, she becomes reclusive and struggles to finish her recent book, which will probably be her last.
An eccentric billionaire abducts Loretta when she is on a promotion tour for her new book. In his defense, the promotions were not going well for the author, but that’s beside the point. Abigail Fairfax, a successful and equally egotistical man, wants Loretta’s help to find the Lost City.
Well, the writer thought that she was a part of an elaborate prank. But to her dismay, Fairfax was serious about unearthing the treasure of the Lost City. As usual in these movies, Loretta refused and found herself at Fairfax’s mercy.
Meanwhile, Alan, who goes by the fearless ‘Dash’ in Loretta’s novels, starts a rescue mission for her. He wants to be her Dash in real life. But as I insinuated, fiction can be lies.
Characters
Loretta Sage
Sandra Bullock stars as Loretta Sage in this American action-adventure comedy movie. Loretta is a notable and depressed writer who features Dr. Angela Lovemore in her novels. Loretta has her publisher Beth constantly breathing down her neck for the release of her new book and the promotions. But Loretta is exhausted.
Sandra Bullock brought in the depressed and negative energy in Loretta. Despite being a comedy film, people needed to see Loretta’s grief, which was evident in Bullock’s performance. There were no exaggerations or over-the-top tearful moments.
Also, Loretta’s grief could not shadow the fact that she was an ingenious woman. She needed to calmly deal with the situation of her kidnapping and also find the Lost City. Her character was intricate. Unlike her counterpart Alan, Loretta was subtly funny. Sandra, with her experience, dealt with the intricacies of her character.
The way she performed you would think that Bullock was charmed with the idea of playing Loretta. But you would be equally stunned to know that she had initially turned down the film. Sandra did not appreciate the dynamic of the characters. She wanted the female lead to be bolder and more valiant, which Paramount accepted.
The suggestion worked because it showed us how versatile a male lead is when he shuns his traditional traits. That brings us to our next character.
Alan Caparison
Imagine the best performer in a stand-up comedy show and picture Channing Tatum in their place.
Tatum played the role of a ripped male damsel in distress character.
Tatum did not play a typical action hero in this film. His character wanted to be the knight in shining armor to Loretta but came up short every time. It’s because Alan is a charmer, not a fighter. He can pose shirtless for cover photos but not get into gun fights or any fights.
But Tatum represented the layers of characters Alan possesses. Despite knowing his shortcomings, Alan wanted to help the person important to him. He was probably rash and irrational when he decided to go after Loretta’s kidnappers. But he never regretted his decision.
Aside from being an impressive actor, Tatum was a supportive co-star to Sandra. He was on board with Sandra’s idea of changing their characters’ dynamics despite knowing it is unconventional for male leads.
Tatum had mentioned in an interview that Sandra was the first celebrity he had met during his first week in Hollywood. No one could have envisioned that after all those years Tatum would star opposite Sandra and shoot some unconventional scenes in the Dominic Republic.
As far as dedication goes, Tatum had to go through months of training and dieting to get into shape for this movie. Aaron and Adam Nee, directors of the film, had to torture Tatum with food and training to build the physique his character needed.
Other Characters
Danielle Radcliffe plays the antagonist Abigail Fairfax, who is looking for the treasure of the Lost City. Some may say that the character did not fit Radcliffe. It could be because of his reputation as Harry Potter in the famous movie series. Danielle’s previous role had such depth that it was unusual, not bad, to see him as Abigail.
On the contrary, Brad Pitt fit perfectly in his character. He plays Jack Trainer, who helps Alan is rescuing Loretta. But it was funny watching him doing all the work Alan was supposed to do and Alan trying to emulate him. His long hair was a necessary exaggeration, and it worked.
Final Thoughts
The film surpassed expectations when it reached the milestone of $100 million over the Memorial Day weekend. For me, it was an 8-on-10 experience.
It was a fun and feel-good experience after some of the recent attempts at humor in Hollywood. Also, this film posed the question, “Are people still interested in old-fashioned action-adventure comedy?”
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has taken over the superhero genre. So, one may wonder whether characters with zero superpowers and 100% charm can still intrigue people.
If the answer is yes, Hollywood may invest in further projects like Lost City, Bullet Train, and other action-comedy films.
