Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Lost City.

The Lost City, released in March 2022, centers around a romance author (Sandra Bullock) and the cover model for her books (Channing Tatum). Loretta, played by Bullock, is kidnapped and forced to help a greedy man (Daniel Radcliffe) discover an ancient artifact.

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There are several awkward scenes in The Lost City, and while many of them can be hard to watch at times, they are also better than they may seem. This is due to the effort of the cast, writers, and production team to put together a hilarious yet sentimental story.

The Book Tour

Loretta looks awestruck in The Lost City

Loretta, played by action and rom-com star Sandra Bullock, reluctantly embarks on a book tour. Dressed in a sparkly jumpsuit, she struggles to get on her stool onstage as the moderator (Bowen Yang) repeatedly mutters, “Mount it.” Alan (Tatum) joins her onstage, and her fans freak out more over him than anything else.

This scene appears to parody fandoms and press, acknowledging the high expectations put on those in the spotlight. With characters not seeing eye-to-eye and Loretta just trying to get through the event, this scene can be cringe-inducing. It’s actually perfect, though, because anyone who has ever been somewhere they don’t want to be or anyone who is innately clumsy can see themselves in this scene.

In Fairfax’s Plane

the lost city review

Loretta wakes up after being knocked out with chloroform. She’s on a plane with Fairfax (Radcliffe) when she arises and questions, “People actually do that?” She describes what she feels physically, saying, “My body feels drunk” and “My legs don’t work.” She tries to stand but falls to the floor because her body isn’t fully conscious yet.

Chloroform in Hollywood movies is an overused trope. The inclusion of it in The Lost City is cliche; however, the movie may have handled it perfectly with its self-aware lines and Loretta’s physical reaction to it. This scene is played for laughs and may cause eyes to roll, but the significance behind the dialogue and blocking is great.

Morning In The Lost City

Loretta looking confused in the lost city

After a long night of translating a language for Fairfax, Loretta sleeps. When morning comes, she is startled awake by her captor. She jumps in surprise, and stuck to her cheek with drool is the card she had been translating. Fairfax, played by Daniel Radcliffe, a star of many great movies, surprisingly doesn’t point it out or crack a joke at Loretta’s expense.

Many people sometimes drool in their sleep. This scene may be cringe-worthy, but it’s also relatable and funny. Drooling is a common gag in comedies, but Bullock pulls it off. This moment isn’t a long gag like some films make it. She immediately realizes the paper is stuck to her and peels it off. The Lost City is almost showing that *gasp* drooling is normal.

The Chair

Brad Pitt, Sandra Bullock, and Channing Tatum run from an explosion in The Lost City

Alan and Jack (Brad Pitt) arrive at the Lost City to rescue Loretta. Alan’s fighting alone deserves an honorable mention. The most cringe part, however, is Loretta zip-tied to that chair. Jack and Alan tell her there isn’t time to detach her, but, somehow, there is time to lift her up and throw her in a wheelbarrow. As they wheel Loretta out of the Lost City, cars behind them explode, and her reaction is hilarious.

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This scene is actually perfect because Loretta acknowledges the absurdity of “no time.” They spent time arguing when they could have used that time to release her. When she’s wheeled away and the cars explode behind her, the shock on her face seems too real to be scripted. Alan’s fighting is awkward, but it’s a necessary contrast to Jack’s personality.

Climbing The Cliff

Loretta and Alan at the jungle looking up in The Lost City

After possibly the most cringe moment of the movie, with Loretta picking leaches off Alan’s nether regions, they find themselves climbing a cliff to get away from Fairfax’s crew. Loretta struggles to climb up the cliff, using self-deprecation to explain why she can’t do it. Alan pushes her butt up with his head to get to the top.

As strange as this is, Alan is being a supportive friend here. Loretta just helped him with the leaches, and now it’s his turn. This scene beats many others simply because it features arguably the best quote of the movie. Alan tells Loretta, “You think you’re safer holding on, but you have to keep going,” a piece of advice that captures the themes of the film.

Fireside Hammock

sandra bullock and channing tatum on the poster for the lost city

Loretta and Alan find a place to sleep for the night. Loretta starts a fire while Alan sets up a hammock. They sit by the fire, and Loretta treats the eczema on his back with sheet face masks. Loretta describes how she would write this moment in her book, using cringe-worthy "sexy" language. They then struggle to get in the hammock together.

This scene is actually perfect because they’re building a real connection. The language is incredibly awkward, but sometimes, that is just how it is. The important thing is that they are being themselves and enjoying each other’s company. The two characters sharing the struggle of getting into a hammock is cringe but perfect for the development of their relationship.

Justifying Actions

Alan and Loretta in The Lost City

Alan and Loretta are running from Fairfax’s men again, and this time, they’re on bikes. Alan comes up with a plan to get rid of them: rip up Loretta’s jumpsuit and bait the bikers in a different direction. The plan works but results in two of the bikers plummeting off a cliff. Alan and Loretta try and justify their role in the accident to ease their guilty consciences.

While morbid and cringe-worthy, this scene is relatable in that things don’t always go according to plan. They wanted to escape the bikers, not kill them. It’s interesting to witness their internal conflict over this as they’re experiencing the first stage of grief, denying they were at any fault for the accident, though they know they had a hand in it.

Final Countdown

Alan as Dash spreading his arms in The Lost City

Loretta has been taken again, and Alan witnessed the end of the capture. He runs around a village and finds someone with a bike. In an entrance worthy of the best action-adventure movies, “Final Countdown” plays as he chases the van. Loretta passionately describes him as a dangerous man. Between the music and Loretta’s dramatic dialogue, this scene was very cringe-worthy.

This scene is so ridiculous, it’s perfect. The whole film, Alan refers to himself as Dash. At this moment, he is the most like Dash, and even Loretta sees it. His face plummets into the back window, and the illusion ends. He may not be super active or have the physical skills to rescue Loretta, but he has the courage to try.

Beth’s Monologue

Beth and Loretta look concerned in The Lost City

Beth (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) is resilient. She may be Loretta’s agent, but she’s also her friend and goes on a wild journey to find her. She gets to the island and confronts two police officers about her dilemma. The officers are off-duty, and she goes on a spiel about how tired she is and how vital it is that they help her.

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Monologues in comedies tend to be cringe-worthy. When Beth keeps going on about her struggles to the officers, the cringe is earned. However, it’s better than one may realize as Beth is shown to be busy, stressed, and worried about her friend. In this scene, she finally stands up for herself and won’t take no for an answer.

The End

Alan and Loretta looking surprised in The Lost City

The second to last scene of The Lost City takes place on the beach. It’s the end of Loretta’s book tour, and everyone’s there. Alan and Loretta share a private and cringe-worthy moment on the beach. Viewers watch as Alan writes aloud about the scene in front of him. They kiss, and the movie ends.

It’s no surprise that the movie’s resolution is cringe. This ending was actually perfect, though, because it matched the vibe of the rest of the movie. They finally share a kiss in the final seconds, and though cliche, the kiss is quick. This shows that they are finally together romantically and have a deep connection with one another, which viewers are happy to see.

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