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Flashback review The Upside (2017) Bryan Cranston, Kevin Hart, Nicole Kidman Directed by Neil Burger Rating: A
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The Upside” tells a heartwarming story of two unlikely friends and their friendship that turns their own lives around for the better. Phillip and Dell, played by Cranston and Hart respectively, have both become hardened by life through the cards they have been dealt with. Phillip, a quadriplegic due to a paragliding accident, is in need of a caregiver, and Dell, a man with a criminal record, is in need of signature’s proving he’s hunting for jobs or else he could end back in prison. Dell stumbles upon Phillip’s job interviewing by accident, demanding a quick signature on his employment sheet so he can pick up his son from school. Dell hardly notices Phillip’s condition, and his unobservant remarks about signatures lead to Phillip hiring Dell on the spot. For Phillip, Dell is a breath of fresh air from the people who tiptoe around his condition and therefore treat him like he’s invisible. Dell, impressed by the salary, learns the ropes of a caregiving role and strikes a friendship with his boss. Inspired by the true story of Phillippe Pozzo di Borgo and Abdel Sellou, “The Upside” takes some liberties at the retelling of their story. Yet, despite this, it is a touching and funny story with a very human message: people who may not have the same everyday functions as you are just as susceptible to love, pain, and keeping up friendships. In fact, Phillippe and Abdel are alive and still friends today.
Phillippe’s story was first brought to audiences in the French telling “Intouchables” (2011). It has since been re-told for Indian audiences “Oopiri” (2016) and Argentinian audiences “Inseparables” (2016). What I really enjoyed about this new version of Phillippe’s story is that the friendship between Phillip and Dell feels authentic, and I love the comedy between these two friends. Dell lifts Phillip up from a funk, and his treatment of Phillip as a human being – not just an invalid – shows how there are good people out there, even if they have a bad past. Cranston and Hart are perfectly cast for these two characters, and for those who may have some reservations about seeing a remake, I strongly encourage you to give it a chance. At the end of a day, it’s another story about human kindness, and I think we can all use a little bit of that in our world.
