By: Kimberly Grant
Do women just want to be rescued? Without actually saying it, screenwriters Oren Uziel, Dana Fox, Adam Nee, and Aaron Nee address that question in The Lost City. Fox is also the writer who brought us Cruella, Couples Retreat, How to be Single, Isn’t It Romantic, and the upcoming My Best Friend’s Wedding reboot. The Lost City opens in theaters on March 24.
Can Men Be Feminists?
Before entering the theater, anyone who’s seen the trailer for The Lost City already knows that it’s made for women. But there’s a twist. Directed by the Nee brothers, The Lost City is about a successful, yet reclusive author, Loretta Cage (played by Sandra Bullock) who is kidnapped by a billionaire megalomaniac named Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe). In an attempt to win her over, Loretta’s cover model, Alan (Channing Tatum) enlists the help of a former Navy Seal named Jack Trainer (Brad Pitt) to rescue Loretta. As any good movie plot would, things go awry from there.
In this film, which is clearly for the ladies, we see a woman who is self-sufficient and can take care of herself. We also see a woman who is not afraid to be rescued. Lastly, we see a man who sees himself as a feminist and is secure enough in his masculinity to cater to a woman. All good things.
What’s Beneath the Surface of A Strong Woman?
A lot of us strong women are strong because we have been taught to be strong and we had no other choice. We’ve been in situations where we were hurt and we’ve decided not to be hurt again. That’s where Loretta is in the beginning of the movie. She’s in a place where being alone is more soothing than living life. It’s a decision that many women have made. While there’s nothing wrong with being single, there’s something to cocooning yourself inside of your home out of fear.
The film takes Loretta out of her comfort zone; kicking and screaming. It also allows her to trust someone other than herself. The undercurrent genius of the film being that it’s okay to be rescued every now and then; even if you don’t need it.
Was It Funny?
Social commentary aside, The Lost City is hilarious. If you like jokes about sexual innuendos, you’re in luck. Don’t worry. They’re kid-friendly, so you won’t have to cover their ears. As usual, Bullock is a master at physical comedy. She brings her brand of funny to the role of Loretta that feels natural. Opposite her is Tatum doing his best to look half-way useless. In the end, Alan is a good guy and we need to see more of men like him on screen.
Tatum wasn’t the only eye candy in the film. There’s also this guy named Brad Pitt. Talk about method acting. His Jack Trainer is equal parts lethal, intelligent, sexy, and funny. He’s the total package of what women are looking for in a man; or what we tell ourselves we’re looking for.
The great characters don’t just stop with the above A-list actors. Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who plays Loretta’s overworked publisher Beth brings her own brand of comedy. She the perfect yin to Bullock’s yang. Where Bullock’s comedy is physical, Randolph’s comedy speaks to women who work hard and just want to be content in their surroundings. Randolph also represents sisters who are doing it for themselves.
Last but not least, Radcliffe’s turn as a bearded billionaire douche (excuse my language) is pretty good. It’s a total 180 degree turn from how we’ve grown to love Radcliffe and I am here for it. He also looks really good with a beard.
Ridiculous romantic comedy action film label aside, The Lost City is a good date-night movie. It’s also a good movie for women who aren’t looking to be rescued, but wouldn’t mind if it happened anyway.
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Interested in more reviews? You can read my review of The Batman.
