Respond to these rapid questions in our The Upside quiz and we will tell you which The Upside character you are. Play it now.
When “The Intouchables” premiered in France in 2011, it was a huge hit in the country’s film industry. The hit comedy, which is based on the true story of a white, wealthy quadriplegic and the black ex-con who became his unlikely caregiver and friend, broke all kinds of box-office records when it was released. The fact that someone would someday remake the film in English, with Hollywood stars in the lead roles, and cash in on this feel-good story was obvious when I was watching it at the time.
That day has finally arrived. “The Upside” is the title of the film. In addition, as you’d probably expect—or, at the very least, as I expected—a it’s hollow replica of the original material.
“Intouchables” writers and directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano successfully recreated specific scenes, images, and jokes from the original film, but Burger (“Limitless,” “Divergent”) was unable to conjure the same sly charm as Nakache and Toledano. For example, a Hitler joke that appeared to be risky the first time around falls flat in this context. Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart give their all to the roles that Francois Cluzet and the hugely charismatic Omar Sy previously occupied, but they never quite achieve the same level of chemistry as the actors who played them (or any at all, for that matter). In addition, despite the fact that the film is just over two hours long—and that Cranston and Hart are on screen for nearly the entire duration—their characters are little more than facile concepts, tethered to antiquated and uncomfortable stereotypes about race relations.
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To describe Burger’s direction as workmanlike would be an understatement of the highest order. Burger’s entire endeavor, which is based on a script written by Jon Hartmere, appears to be running on autopilot, as if it were being assembled from a paint-by-numbers kit. Despite the fact that there is a scene in which Hart and Cranston’s characters smoke marijuana together as a means of bonding and healing (yes, this is the level of originality on display here), the entire film feels sluggish and drug-induced. Just some standard-issue socioeconomic clashes followed by cliched life lessons, and there’s no real drive or momentum to the story.
The Upside Quiz
Hart co-stars as Dell, a streetwise New Yorker who is out on parole after serving time for a variety of crimes and is in desperate need of employment. At the very least, he must demonstrate that he has been actively seeking employment by collecting signatures from potential employers. While going about his business half-heartedly, he stumbles into an elevator that transports him to the Park Avenue penthouse of multimillionaire businessman Phillip (Cranston), who is in a wheelchair following a hang-gliding accident and is seeking 24-hour care. Dell is clearly unqualified for the position, but Phillip admires his edge and attitude when compared to the more polite and qualified applicants he has seen so far and hires him on the spot despite his lack of qualifications.
Also, you will find out which character are you in this The Upside quiz.
What follows is an uninspired series of fish-out-of-water situations in which Dell reacts with shock and confusion to things like opera and modern art, all of which are presented as if they were foreign to him. Phillip, on the other hand, is appalled by Dell’s attempts to expose him to R&B music and raunchy humor. However, in due course—spoiler alert!— Dell will learn to appreciate the finer things in life, whereas Phillip will learn to relax and enjoy himself in his own company. (Whatever you think of the overly simplistic “Green Book,” at the very least it reversed the racial roles within this tired scenario.) A bland paste has been created by flattening and blending the qualities that make both of these actors appealing—kinetic Hart’s energy, and Cranston’s sly wit—until they are reduced to a bland paste.
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Phillip’s uptight and disapproving executive assistant, played by a woefully underused Nicole Kidman, is caught in the middle of all of these potential wacky shenanigans. She has her eye on that naughty Dell and is constantly looking for reasons to fire him. Kidman is only given one note in this film, and the fact that even she is unable to discern any nuance in this character is evidence of how poorly everyone has been written overall. On the same note, Julianna Margulies appears to be an afterthought in a half-baked subplot as a potential love interest for Phillip, and she comes across as uninterested. And Aja Naomi King, who plays Dell’s neglected ex-girlfriend and the mother of his studious tween son (Jahi Di’Allo Winston), gets little more to do than nag.
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The only positive aspect is that, in the grand scheme of things, this will most likely be remembered as a blip for everyone involved.
For more personality quizzes check this: Aquaman Quiz.
