Read Ashley B's review of The Upside.
Inspired by a true story, The Upside is a heartfelt comedy about a recently paroled ex-convict (Kevin Hart) who strikes up an unusual and unlikely friendship with a paralyzed billionaire (Bryan Cranston). Directed by Neil Burger and written by Jon Hartmere, The Upside is based on the hit 2011 French film The Intouchables.
The Upside is in theaters on January 11th, 2019.
The Upside is inspired by a true story where an unlikely friendship builds between a wealthy quadriplegic (Bryan Cranston) and a felon looking for a job (Kevin Hart). The two are from such different worlds and their journey to understanding each other is one full of laughs. Can this heartfelt movie bring the best of both worlds?
The ideal of two people coming together despite being from differing walks of life is very cliche and this movie is no different. There were several moments were it was slightly cringe worthy on how stereotypical their situations were. It did not help that there were scenes set up so perfectly to teach a lesson that left little to be desired. In fact it made the plot seem to be on a plateau with no major ups or downs to keep viewers engaged, especially since it starts off with such a bang.
The saving grace of the Upside is that it is laugh out loud funny. Being comedians, Hart and Cranston do not falter in bringing the laughs. The jokes keep rolling and it brought a gleam to the otherwise dull plot. There was also some tugs at the heart despite their cliche background that was enough to yield various emotions from me in the moment.
By no means does the Upside feel like a new storyline however the comedy is enough to make up for this. It is an entertaining movie that is enjoyable but nothing memorable within its genre.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Ashley (Contributing Editor) is an Orlando native who loves watching movies. Her favorite genres include comedies, thrillers and sci-fi.Click Here to check out Ashley's Articles.