Summary
7 tech score
“The Upside” (STX Entertainment)
Whenever I am asked to name my favorite movies of all time one film that always comes to mind is the French movie “The Intouchables.” This film is based on a true story and tells about the relationship between a quadriplegic and his caregiver. When I learned Hollywood was going to make an Americanized version of that story I was not excited. My thoughts were just let it be, but then I learned Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart had been cast and my hopes began to rise.
The American version is titled “The Upside” and Cranston plays the wealthy quadriplegic and Hart plays his caregiver. At the start of the movie we are introduced to Dell, an ex-con who is trying to earn some money to help support his son. He applies for a janitorial job but by mistake ends up sbeing interviewed for a position as caregiver to a man named Phillip. Although unqualified in any way for the position Phillip hires Dell, much to the chagrin of his assistant Yvonne (Nicole Kidman).
The rest of the movie is about the friendship that results between the two men. It is shown on screen in little vignettes wherein Dell treats Phillip as an ordinary man with problems. Phillip in turn exposes Dell to some of the nicer things in life and also helps make him a more responsible human being.
Cranston and Hart are both very, very good in their roles, but they seem to be acting independently of each other rather than in concert. For the movie to be at its best their relationship has to be an amazing one. The two characters have their moments but they are not as consistent nor as compelling as they need to be. It should be noted that Hart shows more of an emotional range and depth as Dell than he has shown before in his movie roles.
Nicole Kidman is good, in the way Nicole Kidman is always good in her roles. As Yvonne she checks all the squares but in truth it is a part that could have been played by any talented actress without breaking a sweat. You want to find someth9ing special in Yvonne but whatever her gifts are they never show up in the film.
The film is rated PG-13 for profanity and adult situations.
If you have not seen the French version of this story, look it up. It is a masterpiece. As for Cranston and Hart’s version, well it is very, very good.
I scored “The Upside” a rising 7 out of 10.
