I had no idea I needed a Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum combination until the release of Paramount’s latest creation, The Lost City, writes Cape {town} Etc’s Lynn Cupido.
When it comes to down to those all-essential “acting chops” Channing Tatum is seriously underrated. When he’s not playing a half canine in Jupiter Ascending, he’s showing off his southern accent in Kingsman: The Golden Circle, or dance moves and abs in Magic Mike.
And this film is no different. Bullock is no slouch either, showing off her comedic timing and adding a little silliness to an otherwise stuffy and cliché genre. While I try and avoid romantic comedies at all costs, this one was a welcome surprise. It does a hilarious job of playing on the silliness of the genre by adding a level of self-awareness – it knows how silly it’s being and it wants you to know it knows, you know?
Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) is a reclusive author who writes about exotic places in her popular adventure novels that feature a handsome cover model named Alan (Channing Tatum). While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta gets kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire who hopes she can lead him to an ancient city’s lost treasure from her latest story. What ensues is a series of amusing and silly events in Alan’s attempts to prove his “manliness.”
There are some equally hilarious cameos, including one where Brad Pitt plays the real hero.
The film doesn’t completely shake off the romantic comedy clichés though, but the film is made all the better thanks to a strong female lead. According to reports, the 57-year-old had initially turned down the role but had a change of heart after prompting Paramount to “reverse Uno” and make her character Loretta more heroic and Tatum’s character a bit more feminine.
“I like that I am not 25. And I love that there’s a man in it willing to be many aspects of himself that weren’t traditionally shown in films like this because they had to be the action hero. And Chan was so game. Let’s just do it,” Bullock told the Hollywood Reporter.
The results speak for themselves. The Lost City is a fun film that needs to be added to your Saturday night watch list.
Check out the trailer below:
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Picture: Fandango