Dr. Feelgood and I (finally) watched The Lost City (6.1 rating at IMDB) and enjoyed it. I, of course, beamed through all the love for romance novels. If you’ve not seen it, Sandra Bullock stars as Loretta Sage, a romance novelist who has lost her mojo–she’s the author of a wildly popular series featuring an adventurous female archeologist, Dr. Lovemore, and her studly perfect lover, Dash. Channing Tatum plays the cover model for Dash–whose real name is Allan–and the two of them, in real life, get embroiled in a wild, adventure. The movie steals from–with respect–Romancing the Stone (6.9 at IMDB), Raiders of the Lost Ark (8.4 at IMDB) , Mr. and Mrs. Smith (6.5 at IMDB), and makes great use of the tropes romance readers love.
Unlike most pop culture which, historically, has belittled romance, The Lost City makes it clear that romance novels are THE BOMB. Channing Tatum is actually moving as he talks about how he was so embarrassed to be on the cover of Loretta’s first novel until one day a fan stopped him on the streets to thank him–the books he stars in had given her so much joy. Again and again, the movie slips in plugs for the genre–it was lovely to see.
That said, the movie is fun but not great, very much worth a watch but unlikely to be a film I’d see again. (Although every scene with Brad Pitt is worth a rewatch!) That is in part because I love romance adventure films and have several others I do rewatch with some regularity.
For me, there is not greater romance adventure than Raiders of the Lost Ark, truly the best of that series and the best film of 1981–Chariots of Fire (7.1 at IMDB) be damned! The love story between Indy and Marion is one between equals–I could never really love any of the sequels because Indy let Marion–again–get away. (I never saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (6.1 at IMDB) in which they reunited however.) It just doesn’t get any better than Indy and Marion running around Egypt, escaping bad guys, exchanging quips, and saving the world.
Then, The Princess Bride (8.0 at IMDB). A flawless film and one with so many perfect quotes.
Next up for me is a tie between Romancing the Stone and The Mummy (7.1 at IMDB). Over the years, the latter has risen in stature–Weiss and Fraser were perfectly cast and the adventure backstory in the film is actually interesting. Romancing the Stone is a classic in its own right. Michael Douglass infused Jack Colton with just enough bad boy that it isn’t until the last minute of the film that Kathleen Turner’s Joan Wilder knows his heart–and that boat–really are hers.
I also love The Mask of Zorro (6.8 at IMDB), the film that introduced the movie going world to Catherine Zeta Jones. Like all the other films I’ve mentioned, the casting here is superb–Banderas is at peak sexy, Hopkins is as great as always, and Jones exudes charm and strength. The sword fight scene between Banderas and Jones is one of the all time great seduction scenes–the two can’t resist each other and neither can we.
Other contenders are The African Queen (7.7 at IMBD) and the first Pirates of the Caribbean (8.1 at IMDB) film. The first just isn’t my cup of tea—-I know. I know. I’m a terrible person.–and in the second the romance is completely eclipsed by Depp’s and Rush’s performances. Mr. and Mrs. Smith is a good time but a little too full of malice for me.
What have I missed? What is your favorite romantic adventure film?
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There is a very cute movie from 1984 called American Dreamer where the housewife heroine wins a trip from a contest promoting her favorite series of books. She gets hit on the head and thinks she is the dashing mystery solving heroine “Rebecca Ryan” from the books and drafts in the son of the author into her escapades.
It was trying to cash in on the “Romancing The Stone” crowd and it’s a fun and cute watch filled with mid 80’s fashion for anyone who enjoys this genre.
It’s even up on YouTube for free.
https://youtu.be/H6IWS1IR8qM
This was so cute! Thanks for the recommendation!
Oh I am so glad you liked it! It’s definitely a blast of the 80’s!
Lots of good movies here that I can add to.
Six Days Seven Nights.
The Adventures of Robin Hood.
Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.
King Solomon’s Mines from the 50s.
The three, “The Librarian…” TV movies.
I’d completely forgotten about Six Days, Seven Nights. I remember liking it. I’m going to look that one up again.
Love Costner as Robin!
I’m a huge fan of most of the movies you mentioned, especially Raiders of the Lost Ark. Red Notice with Gal Gadot, Ryan Reynolds, and Dwayne Johnson combines action, adventure, romance, and treasure hunting. I don’t think it is quite as good as those listed but it is very watchable. Jungle Cruise with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt is a lot like The Mummy but I don’t think the leads have the chemistry Weitz and Frasier had. That duo sizzled, IMO, while Blunt and Johnson came across as good buddies. Still, the film is cute. To complete a Johnson trifecta I really liked Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which also combined action, adventure, and romance. Johnson had slightly better chemistry with Karen Gillian than Blunt, and the action/comedy combo works better in this film too. I like that movie A LOT.
It’s been close to thirty years but I am still ticked that the romance between Sam Neill and Laura Dern didn’t last through more than one lousy Jurassic Park film. I thought they had great chemistry in that first movie but knowing about the break-up ruins the romance element of the film for me. Still like the movie though and think it is the best of the Jurassics.
Date Night with Tina Fey and Steve Carell is silly but super cute. The leads don’t have much chemistry but I thought they still made a very convincing average middle-class couple.
Older movie recommends would be , Willow which has Val Kilmer as the hero and has plenty of adventure and romance. Also, Speed with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves.
I love Willow–it’s a film not enough people know about. Speed holds up remarkably well. I’ve yet to see a Johnson movie with him as a love interest that wowed me–and I’m a big fan. He was marvelous in Fighting with my Family.
I loved all the movies you’ve mentioned, although I haven’t seen The Lost City yet. Your post makes me want to watch them all again.
I agree with KarenG, I enjoyed Knight and Day. It’s a lighthearted romp with some good laughs and crazy action scenes. And North by Northwest is a classic.
I would add Stardust. Fantastic cast, great humor and two love stories to enjoy. For an older film I would recommend The Scarlet Pimpernel with Jane Seymore.
I loved Stardust, and pretty much all versions of The Scarlet Pimpernel are great. I really enjoyed the version with Richard E. Grant and Elizabeth McGovern that was on PBS about 20 years ago.
I love love love Stardust.
The Mummy Returns was pretty good too, and the supporting characters in both movies added to the fun (especially John Hannah). The third Mummy movie was bleh, maybe because Rachel Weitz wasn’t in it, or maybe just a bad script.
Knight and Day is fun, even if it stars Tom Cruise. Cameron Diaz and Cruise make a good team.
If you watch old movies, Sullivan’s Travels, starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake, has a good romance and some cross country adventure. A noir entry could be The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, starring a young Kirk Douglas, Barbara Stanwick, Van Heflin, and Lizabeth Scott. The romance is between Heflin and Scott, whereas Douglas and Stanwick provide the noir. You also can’t go wrong with Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint in North by Northwest.