Disney+ Adventure Comedy Gives Beloved Star His Best Kind Of Role

I was never a big fan of Channing Tatum. Sure, I watched Step Up, and enjoyed it for what it was, and I caught him in various other roles — 21 Jump Street, Coach Carter, Stop-Loss, and Magic Mike among them — but none of his roles ever felt like they fit him.

He’s either trying too hard to be serious or trying too hard to be funny. Still, there was something about him that felt like untapped potential, and his role in The Lost City is exactly it. 

This film is marketed as an action-adventure comedy and it is just that. Sandra Bullock stars as Loretta Sage, a woman who once worked in archeology with her now-deceased husband and has since turned to writing romance novels.

Her novels, centered around a fictional archeology researcher named Dr. Angela Lovemore and the hunky Dash McMahon, are best-sellers with avid fans showing up at book tours to hear all about Lovemore’s next adventure. Many of the storylines in Loretta’s books discuss a fictional place, The Lost City. 

Tatum stars as a male model, Alan Caprison, who poses for the covers of Loretta’s books. He appears at book signings and on the tour with Loretta to give fans something to drool over as they dream of living a life like Lovemore.

In reality, Loretta is annoyed by Alan, who comes across as kind of an idiot, complete with a Fabio-like wig and an oiled chest he constantly rips off his shirts to bare. For Loretta, who is losing faith in her writing abilities and in her entire career, The Lost City is losing its luster in her imagination. 

Little does she know, a wealthy heir, Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe), is obsessed with finding the treasure in The Lost City, a place he’s actually located on an island across the world. He needs Loretta’s archeological mind to help him locate it.

He kidnaps her and tries to woo her into helping him, but, as she says, the place is fictional and the treasure isn’t real. How could she possibly help him? In typical supervillain fashion, he drugs her, throws her on a private jet, and whisks her off to this beautiful island. 

Fortunately for her, Alan witnesses the kidnapping and notifies Loretta’s publisher, Beth, played brilliantly and delightfully by Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Alan and Beth contact a former Navy SEAL Alan knows, Jack Trainer (Brad Pitt) for help.

Alan insists on joining Jack on his mission, and the two set off to rescue Loretta in The Lost City. And that’s all for only the first 30 minutes of the film!

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From this point forward, Alan, Jack, Loretta, and Beth have hilarious capers and crusades on water, through jungles, and with the villain and his mercenaries. The results are non-stop fun with lovely little hints at romance.

The Lost City is the perfect vehicle for Tatum to not just be funny but to make fun of himself. It feels like his true goofball personality comes through, the kind that makes you see how someone could fall in love with him — just what a girl wants from a rom-com. 

I highly recommend The Lost City to anyone who loves movies. And if you don’t love movies, this one might turn you into a true fan. Stream it on Disney+ now!