A Review of "The Upside"

Last Monday, I had the pleasure of seeing The Upside with my mother, who is my primary caregiver. A remake of the 2011 French film The Intouchables, The Upside (starring Kevin Hart, Bryan Cranston, and Nicole Kidman) is a dramatic comedy about the bond formed between a wealthy quadriplegic named Phillip Lacasse (Cranston) and his new caretaker Dell Scott (Hart), a man recently released from prison. Kidman's role is that of Phillip's executive assistant Yvonne Pendleton. Despite their differences, it doesn't take very long for Phillip and Dell to develop a rapport. By the story's end, it is evident they are changed men for having known each other.

A positive aspect of The Upside is it shows the internal as well as external struggles of people with disabilities. It reminds viewers how wheelchair users like to be treated. Despite being able-bodied, Cranston was convincing as a quadriplegic. Hart provided the comic relief the movie needed, and Kidman (almost unrecognizable with a different hair color) was delightful. The downsides of the film are the reasons it is rated PG-13: marijuana usage, a scene with sex workers, and profanity. Otherwise, I enjoyed and would recommend The Upside, especially to wheelchair users and their caregivers. It made me think about the kind of caretaker I would like to have when my parents are no longer able to take care of me.

The Upside movie poster

(image via IMDb)