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The Upside
(STX Films)
By Lucas Allen
A remake of the 2011 French film “The Intouchables,” “The Upside” is based on another true story, like “Green Book,” of two people who live completely different lives, yet bond into a growing friendship. But while “Green Book” dealt with race, this film is more about living life to the fullest in the most positive of ways.
After being paralyzed from the neck down in a paragliding accident, rich man Phillip Lacasse (Bryan Cranston) has his business associate Yvonne (Nicole Kidman) interview candidates for the position of life auxiliary. Barging in for a job is ex-parole Dell Scott (Kevin Hart), who’s been trying to reconnect with his ex-girlfriend Latrice (Aja Naomi King) and his son Anthony (Jahi Di’Allo Winston). Despite Yvonne’s objections, Phillip believes Dell is the right man for the job.
For the next several months, Dell has to do extensive work to get his boss moving on a daily basis including feeding him, taking him to places, and changing his catheter.
The two of them would soon become friends as they start to understand each other’s life struggles. Phillip is dealing with the loss of his wife and Dell is dealing with his own past. They even converse on Dell’s business propositions, which sound too insane for Phillip to agree on. Then things get too personal when Dell sets his boss up on a date with Lily (Julianna Margulies), who Phillip has a long-distance friendship with. This puts the two of them at odds in a way that could cost them everything.
As the previews show, the movie has plenty of hilarious moments to keep the viewer entertained. There’s not a single moment that’s unnecessarily funny, and each of those moments feels genuinely fitting as part of the story. Some of it is a bit cringe-worthy, like the catheter scene, but the rest adds to the overall enjoyment. But what the trailers don’t show is the serious drama that mixes in with the humor. These tonal shifts may challenge viewers who were expecting to see a fun comedy and are surprised by the change in genre. However, it all works fine and the film’s structure is decent enough to make it work.
Amidst of the genre mixing, the two leading stars are what makes the movie worth watching. Hart is basically playing his comedic self, as usual, but there are times in which he shows potential as a serious actor. Cranston does a good job playing up against Hart in a more serious role. The two have surprisingly good comic chemistry, which helps keep the movie afloat for anybody. Kidman isn’t in the movie a whole lot, but she has some good moments to shine on her own.
“The Upside” was very late to awards gold and can be pretty forgettable, but it’s still a fine likable film enough to please plenty of older viewers. You’ll likely enjoy it for the main stars if nothing else.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG-13 (for suggestive content and drug use)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3 Stars (Out of Four)
