“The Lost City,” released on March 25, 2022, involves a fast-paced treasure hunt with recurring conflicts between the main friends around the publication of a book series and an overruling villain. It has a stunning cast that works together throughout the course of the movie. Main characters Alan or Dash and Loretta are played by Channing Tatum and Sandra Bullock. These two portrayed a complicated relationship that ended in an impactful metaphor. The genre is an adventure/action and the creators behind this masterpiece did not fail to entertain. 

Beginning with the duality of the book author and a cover artist, Loretta remains stingy towards Alan. She consistently believes he is inferior, citing his stupidity countless times. In an effort to retaliate, Alan threatens her pride through his ‘smart’ remarks. Throughout this time, Loretta is grieving a lover’s death. This relationship with Alan displays a somewhat harmful but flirting-type of a conversation; creating a specific affection between the two.

A villain, who is quite hysterical with his lack of courage, captures and kidnaps Loretta. With the captivity of the book writer, it brings Loretta’s life into a book adventure. Fairfax, played by Daniel Radcliffe, forces Loretta to find an ancient city’s lost treasure due to her previous history of being an archaeologist. While on a wild goose chase, the friend group grows closer together, bonding during the search. At the same time, Alan is fighting for his secret lover’s life. By continuously expressing his desire for Loretta’s safety, Alan breaks down the stereotype of the strong male lead as he uses his intelligence alongside his strength, instead of his strength alone.  

Not only are the main characters romanticized, but a relationship of Loretta’s best friend and assistant manager and an animal whisperer pilot is focused on as a corny and a romantic friendship. Beth Hatten, the assistant, was frightened at first sight of Oscar. However, she needed a ride to the island where her friend was kidnapped. Oscar, the pilot, had assisted Beth in her mission. At the end of the movie, it appeared that the comical pilot had taken the best friend’s role of an assistant; particularly ironic for this situation.

At the end of their chaotic race to the ruins and treasure, nothing was as it seemed. The long desired treasure was not impressive to Fairfax, but provided a meaningful conclusion. The two ancient skeletons of the lovers who died in a tomb together, lived their last moments with each other. A gift of a shell crown from one lover to the other turned out to be the treasure, displaying his affection toward her. Bringing the long awaited treasure to light, it demonstrated a profound connection between the two main characters and the lovers who passed away with each other whenever they were stuffed into the tomb by Fairfax and his minion.

From the very paper which Loretta writes on, her deepest dreams of a romantic action had been thrown into real-life. At last, she surpassed her grievance and put it away to join Alan in the outside world rather than a book cover. As a faster-paced movie, dynamics between characters and their relationships were built well. As a romantic comedy combined with action, the movie had viewers laughing, crying, and clenching their teeth. It was easily one of the more enjoyable films of this year.