The Upside
STX Entertainment | Release Date: January 11, 2019
6.1
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 105 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
55
Mixed:
32
Negative:
18
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
5
tropicAcesJan 11, 2019
Cranston and Hart are great together, in fact put them together in a buddy cop movie or something, but everything else here feels drawn-out and cliché.
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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5
Tshawn63Jan 14, 2019
Despite Kevin Hart being the poster boy for the need for botox (he always looks perplexed), the onscreen chemistry worked. Major flaws with plot, eg. catheter without sterility, coffee burns while not felt, still require medical attention.Despite Kevin Hart being the poster boy for the need for botox (he always looks perplexed), the onscreen chemistry worked. Major flaws with plot, eg. catheter without sterility, coffee burns while not felt, still require medical attention. No awards for this one I'm afraid. Still offers enough for you to root for the main characters, flaws and all.… Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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6
SaintJames012Jan 31, 2019
The Upside is not complex in any regard of its narrative. There are few, if any plot twists or subversions in the movie. It is straightforward and does not diverge from what it is. What carries the film is the chemistry between the two mainThe Upside is not complex in any regard of its narrative. There are few, if any plot twists or subversions in the movie. It is straightforward and does not diverge from what it is. What carries the film is the chemistry between the two main characters played by Hart and Cranston. Their interactions with each other, and how they play off each other is the driving force of the enjoyment of this film. While the jokes can be juvenile at times, it is a fairly enjoyable watch.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
KeithDowJan 15, 2019
This American remake of 'The Intouchables' simply doesn't have the heart of the original.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
JLuis_001Feb 2, 2019
A remake that tries too hard and fails anyway.
Honestly, there was no need to do this but they did it and yet that's the least of its problems.

If you already saw Intouchables, you have nothing to do here.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
GrantD243Sep 13, 2019
The Upside is a fine film to watch on a lazy afternoon when it comes on FX or something. You can half pay attention to it as you mess around on your phone or computer. As a theatrical release, though, it's bland. There are a few laughs to beThe Upside is a fine film to watch on a lazy afternoon when it comes on FX or something. You can half pay attention to it as you mess around on your phone or computer. As a theatrical release, though, it's bland. There are a few laughs to be had and there are a few emotional moments, but the majority of the film is the definition of average.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
StephenValenteJan 24, 2019
Don’t waste your time - watch the original French version. Read some subtitles if like me you don’t speak French.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
algajardApr 12, 2019
If you past some minor differences between this version of the story and the original one you should find, in essence, the same story. About the characterization I prefer in this case the french version, they put more emotions in it. BryanIf you past some minor differences between this version of the story and the original one you should find, in essence, the same story. About the characterization I prefer in this case the french version, they put more emotions in it. Bryan Cranston was, in some parts, a little lazy in his characterization. Kevin Heart on the other hand was very lazy.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
Wavy_YeezyMay 24, 2019
A ok movie. Again like everyone says their chemistry is great but it's too cliche.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
Shajac19Jun 1, 2019
This movie is average at best. That being said, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. The Upside is an inspiring tale that suffers from melodrama and a slow script. The cast is passable and Kevin Hart does a decent job stepping intoThis movie is average at best. That being said, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. The Upside is an inspiring tale that suffers from melodrama and a slow script. The cast is passable and Kevin Hart does a decent job stepping into a more serious role. Overall, the movie is far from great and not rewatchable but if you're bored on a Sunday afternoon and desperate for something to watch, The Upside is satisfying and enjoyable enough.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
Mauro_LanariJul 3, 2021
(Mauro Lanari)
Fourth remake of "The Intouchables", the 2011 French buddy movie, it's like Puccini's "Nessun dorma" performed by Aretha Franklin at the 1998 Grammys, an evergreen almost impossible to ruin. Its consolatory function is equally(Mauro Lanari)
Fourth remake of "The Intouchables", the 2011 French buddy movie, it's like Puccini's "Nessun dorma" performed by Aretha Franklin at the 1998 Grammys, an evergreen almost impossible to ruin. Its consolatory function is equally hated by critics and appreciated by the public. The director Burger is a dignified craftsman, and it's a good sign that the Millennials' supermanhood shows cracks.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
hnestlyontheslyOct 7, 2019
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Upside is a delight that draws its energy from the charisma of its lead actors, their inexhaustible chemistry, and the objective lens that dramatizes and finds humor in the everyday experiences of people with disabilities without being maudlin or clinical–which is sort of Phil’s point when he picks Dell to be his attendant in the first place. If you can get past the fact that this movie tells the story of an incredibly thin slice of the disability community, you’ll love this fun, brisk romp.

This film has been a long time coming for us. We first started seeing the trailers in December and Wife seemed approving. The script deftly heads off the most salient criticisms of privilege with a few exchanges between Phil and Dell–the resolution to the stolen book and the recurring “strike” system shows off Phil’s unexpected forgiveness and open mind and deepens the mystery of why Phil chose Dell in the first place.

The love triangle side plot gives Phil a chance to examine different facets of romance from the perspective of a guilty widow, an unobservant friend (Yvonne), and a smitten but anxious admirer (Lily). One of the film’s strengths is its interest in the sexuality of people with disabilities (see also, Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far and The Shape of Water).

By digging deeper into a place often buried, The Upside finds a trove of humor and insight into the emotional life of Phil. Phil resists some of the nastier tropes of people who acquire their physical disabilities late in life, like suicidal tendencies or excessive self pity (see most recently Me Before You and check out Erin Clark’s funny, insightful critique from refinery29). He’s wracked with guilt because of his recklessness, but much of the film is about his interest in art, music, women, and hotdogs (the hotdog scene is maybe one of my favorite in the whole film). The Upside to me shows that movies can feature people with disabilities as protagonists without having to be about having a disability.

The Upside‘s observations about the humor of everyday life as someone who needs an attendant show that new perspectives in storytelling open doors to humor and drama that has been mostly passed over previously.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6.1 User Reviews

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