The Upside (2017)
2017
123 Minutes
A comedic look at the relationship between a wealthy paraplegic and a unemployed man with a criminal record who is hired to help him.
User Review
-
This is tough to review because I am such a fan of the 2011 French film which it is based upon, The Intouchables. I remember first seeing the preview for this film in the theater and being appalled that they would do an Americanized remake of such a great film from just a few years ago. I'm not sure why the casting director thought the one-note Kevin Hart was the best fit for this nuanced role. I can think of a dozen actors that would have been better, Daveed Diggs and Lakeith Stanfield both come to mind immediately. Perhaps they all turned it down because it's silly that Americans are too lazy to read subtitles and this feels like it is encouraging that.
After I got over my outrage and actually watched the film, it was good. Bryan Cranston was stellar conveying so much emotion with just his voice and facial expressions. As I feared, the weakest point was Hart who delivered several hilarious probably improvised scenes, but his high pitched outrage and fast-talking schtick wore on me. I was glad for a much more subdued and well-paced third act which allowed the script to breathe.
Overall, I'd say just skip this one and buy a copy of The Intouchables instead, but if you are illiterate or otherwise incapable of reading subtitles, then this is a serviceable replica which could have been much worse.1 member likes this review.
