The Lost City

It’s usually not a great sign when your movie’s putative comic-relief character is relentlessly not funny. It is also contraindicated when the film’s actual funniest character disappears less than halfway through the story. So are we looking at a disaster here? Thankfully, no. This updated take on Romancing the Stone mostly works, not as a laugh riot but as a gently amusing tale presented via likable actors--Tatum and Bullock have good chemistry despite an obvious age difference--and strong visuals. Most of what takes place along this storyline is profoundly obvious, but breaking new ground is hardly the point here. If you’re willing to be indulgent, you’ll get a couple of entertaining hours out of this flick.