Romancing the Stone was released in 1984 and told the story of romance novelist Joan Wilder as she got caught up in a treasure hunt/rescue mission to save her sister, Elaine with the help of Jack Colton – a scoundrel. The movie is charming and fun with adventure layers on top of the standard romcom. The Lost City feels built in the same mold with some shifts here and there.
Hugely successful romance novelist Loretta Sage has run into some writer’s block after the death of her husband, who had been an archaeologist and the inspiration for many of her plots. Her publicist has her set up to push the release of her latest novel doing interviews and panels with her cover model, Alan, who has repeatedly portrayed her hero, Dash McMahon. Because Loretta used a lot of her husband’s studies and research to inspire her books, wealthy treasure seeker Abigail Fairfax ‘requests’ her presence to help her find the Crown of Fire. He believes she has the information necessary to solve the location of the burial chamber of a queen, who possessed the crown of jewels given to her by the king. Once Loretta is kidnapped, Alan sets off to rescue her despite have near zero qualifications to do so. Hijinks ensue.
This movie is straightforward and simple. It never pretends to be more than it is and I appreciate that. Directed by Aaron and Adam Nee, the comedy is charming, the characters are great, and the action is fun. The jungle sequences look lovely due to being shot mostly in the Dominican Republic. The movie has the perfect run time for something in this vein and functions perfectly as a fun and dumb popcorn flick. The cast is perfect and plays well together.
Sandra Bullock is always the perfect lead in a romcom
(Rewatch Love Potion number 9 from 1992 if you have forgotten it). She manages
to balance Loretta’s reaction to the absurdity of her situation with a genuine sadness
while struggling to manage her grief over the loss of her husband. Channing Tatum is a great pairing for her.
Having not seen him in a while, I had forgotten how good he is. Alan may seem like a dumb jock but he wants to
be more and prove that he has more to offer. Tatum brings that across
beautifully in a very touching way.
Daniel Radcliffe should clearly be playing villains more often and easily settles into the role of a guy so rich he is used to getting what he wants all the time. Da’Vine Joy Randolph is wonderful as Beth, the publicist who will stop at nothing to motivate and save her friend/client.
I really wish the trailers had not spoiled the Brad Pitt cameo. Imagine how fun it would have been if you did not know he was in this and he shows up briefly as the type of hero that Alan is striving to be? Oh well, he’s still great in this – any time he gets to mock himself, he does that well.
Overall, the movie is short and fun, requires nearly no brainpower, and leaves you feeling good. What more can you ask?
8 out of 10
Also - special super bonus points to you if you caught (as I did) the Stephen Lang cameo. The only reason I mention it is to once again reference this Fillion/Lang Uncharted fan film.
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