The Upside of Hart & Cranston's Pairing

Kaleidoscope’s latest is on STX’s & Lantern Entertainment’s production of “The Upside”.  Directed by Neil Burger, the movie stars Kevin Hart, Bryan Cranston, Nicole Kidman, Aja Naomi King, Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Tate Donovan, & Julianna Margulies.  Rated ‘PG-13’ it has a running time of 2 hr., 6 min. 

The film opens with Dell (Hart) driving Philip’s (Cranston) very expensive luxury car in a reckless manner in Manhattan.  They are stopped by the police; Dell explains that Philip, who is a quadriplegic, must get to the hospital asap.  The police give them an escort. Flashback to Dell, a recent parolee, who must obtain at least 3 job hunt signatures, or he will have to face a judge & answer as to why he has not sought/obtained gainful employment.  1 of the ads to which he responds is for a janitor position—or so Dell thinks.  After arriving at the apartment building, he realizes that the position is located at the top floor penthouse suite.  When he arrives at the PH, there are a few dozen people who have applied.  Transition to the interior room where Yvonne (Kidman) is interviewing people for the personal life auxiliary position for millionaire investor/writer Philip Lacasse.  Philip is paralyzed from the shoulders down from a paragliding accident; he can only move his neck & head.  After waiting for over an hour, & realizing he will be late in picking up his son Anthony (Winston), who lives with his mom Latrice (King), from school, Dell barges into the interview room.  When Yvonne verbally confronts him, Dell tells her that he is not there to rob them; he has to get his son & just needs a signature.  For some reason, Philip likes Dell & hires him.  Dell sees what he will be paid on a weekly basis & accepts the position.  What occurs next is a series of encounters between Dell & Philip on the one hand juxtaposed against the strained relationship between Dell & Latrice on the other. 

Based on the 2011 French film, “The Intouchables” (which was inspired by the true story of the relationship between Philippe Pozzo di Borgo & his life auxiliary Abdel Sellou), it was a major hit in France upon its release.  Much has been changed for the American iteration, but the basis of their relationship is still there.  Burger directs, from a script penned by Jon Hartmere based on the French original, in a journeyman way—competently done, but there is nothing that stands out.  Every way that you think the 2 characters will interact with each other occurs.  The screenplay sets them up as 2 depressed individuals who each have their own disabilities—Philip's physical & emotional ones and Dell’s criminal & emotional ones.  Philip cannot connect with anyone, including the adoring Yvonne right in front of him, & Dell has lost connection with his son & ex-wife.  However, in true form, both learn to appreciate life by the film’s conclusion.  While the screenplay’s cliché's, familiar genre tropes, & predictability hamper the film in one way (we never truly learn why Philip hired Dell), the earnestness & superior chemistry between Hart & Cranston rescue the movie.  Hart has demonstrated his comic brilliance numerous times before, especially once he realized that he comedically worked best in cinema coupled with a straight man, his mostly dramatic turn here is excellent.  We root for his Dell at every turn.  Although we know where the script is going with him, we enjoy the ride nevertheless.  Cranston is superb, too, as Philip; he is believable as both friend & foil for Dell.  Although he found fame later in life (his Walter White remains a towering character to this day), Cranston continues as a major presence in anything that he does.  Kidman continues to ease into her newfound role as a supporting actress in many of her recent endeavors—although I look forward to her starring role in “Destroyer”.  As she did in “Aquaman”, her appearance here is one of grace & poise as she completes the triangle of souls in the movie who are hampered by their inability to connect—until the end, that is.  Stuart Dryburgh’s cinematography, Naomi Geraghty’s editing, & Rob Simonsen’s score are very good without standing out in any area. 

I give “The Upside” 3 out of 5 nuggets.  If you are looking for a feel-good movie, this will make you alternately laugh & cry.  The upside to “The Upside” is the work of Hart, Cranston, & Kidman—screen acting at its best.