Apparently, 'The Upside' is a remake of a foreign film and - as is traditional - everyone that's seen the original source material claims that this new version isn't a patch on it. However, seeing as I've never watched this - alleged - 'masterpiece,' I can only comment on this latest incarnation. And I really enjoyed it.
Kevin Hart, best known for his 'larger than life' comedic performances, plays 'Dell Scott,' a (semi) reformed criminal, released from jail and now looking for work. This could lead to all sorts of wacky adventures that Hart would be excellent to show us. However, anyone who's seen his previous work will find this role slightly 'toned down.' And he's all the better for it. That's not to say that he's not funny. Although all his best moments are when he's up against Mr Breaking Bad himself, Bryan Cranston, or Philip Lacasse - Scott's new employer. As far-fetched as it may sound, Lacasse is a rich man who is wheelchair-bound and unable to move from the neck down. He - for reasons you'll find out - employs Scott as his live-in carer, thus creating one hell of an 'odd couple' setting.
What follows is pure, yet subtle, comic gold. There may not be so many 'laugh out loud' moments, but it's the little looks each character gives each other that make it worth watching. Plus the jokes, although some may be - slightly - 'adult' in nature, are never crude and this film could almost be watched by anyone who's interested in what is effectively a film about two broken people who have to learn from each other how to behave as a fully-rounded emotional human being.
Anyone who's seen Cranston's work will know he's a fine actor and 'The Upside' allows him to continue to flex his acting ability. Hart, best known for just shouting and being over the top, also shines as a more broken, sympathetic and flawed character who we will root for to see him fix his problems with his life. Nicole Kidman doesn't have quite as much screen time as the two men, but she's actually quite good, too. She also has a bit of a 'character arc' which is nice to watch, as she also grows.
'The Upside' is also - apparently - based on 'real' events. Again, I haven't looked into how much we see here is actually 'real,' but I don't care. It's simply a nice, heart-warming story with messages about life and learning from people who - on first impressions - are completely different to us and someone we may not choose to associate with. If it does have a flaw I would say that it's a little longer than it needed to be. I thought it was going to end about a quarter of an hour before it did. Then, when it did end, it kind of ended quite abruptly. However, that's a minor gripe. There's plenty here to enjoy if you fancy a break from superhero movies.
8/10 The Force is definitely strong with this one
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