Movie Review: “The Upside” is a well-acted remake

Movie Review: “The Upside” is (PG-13)

“The Upside” is an American remake of a 2011 French film called “The Intouchables.” While that foreign release is the stronger of the two versions, this redo is well worth watching thanks mostly in part to its more than capable lead players. In fact, given that “The Upside” is headlined by the likes of Bryan Cranston, Kevin Hart, and Nicole Kidman, one has to wonder why and how this movie has been left sitting on the shelf for the better part of two years. No matter the answer, it’s clear that delayed releases are nothing new to director Neil Burger (see 2011’s “Limitless”). A shame, because in the case of both “Limitless” and “The Upside,” the finished products are stronger than the negative pre-release buzz would have you believe.

In “The Upside,” down-on-his-luck streetwise ex-con Dell Scott (Hart) falls into a job working for wealthy and depressed paraplegic Phillip Lacasse (Cranston). Much to the surprise of Lacasse’s numerous care givers, this pair of polar opposites bond famously after a slightly rocky start. Eventually, these men touch each other’s lives in immeasurable ways.

Formulaic? Sure. A little cookie cutter? Maybe. But then, so was 2018’s moving, if a tad familiar, “Green Book.” And as was the case with that picture, “The Upside” gets a ton of mileage out of the dynamic duo at its center. Maybe not quite to the same degree as that Oscar-nominated picture, but still, these guys are terrific together, and this film coasts along on the sheer power of their star appeal alone.

In case you haven’t heard, this Bryan Cranston guy is pretty damn good. In “The Upside,” he heartbreakingly conveys the emotional pain and loneliness of his situation through a mere glance.

Funny man Hart brings his fast-talking sensibility to the table but tempers it with a surprising amount of dramatic depth. He’s a bit of an asshole throughout stretches of the film, but he’s always able to maintain the likability factor, and it’s clear that there’s a loving individual under that hardened exterior.

Further props to a luminous Nicole Kidman who brings a warmth to Yvonne Pendleton, the caregiver assigned the daunting task of keeping Lacasse’s affairs in order. In the early goings, Pendleton comes across as a bit uppity, but as the film progresses, it’s perfectly clear that this kind woman has Lacasse’s best interests at heart.

“The Upside” lacks the subtlety of “The Intouchables” and often trades in that film’s restraint for broad comical strokes. Included: A scene in which Scott and Phillip get high together, making for an obvious but cute outcome, and another in which a grossed-out Scott must awkwardly replace Phillip’s catheter. But again, Cranston and Hart make these scenes work.

“The Upside” doesn’t always hit the mark, and again, it isn’t as powerful as the French film or the real-life story that inspired it. But it’s worth watching for the acting alone. What’s more, the film’s timely message that people can change, no matter their past, is an important one.

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