The Upside was a mixture of heart and humor. (Pun intended.) Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston were superb together. The dynamics that developed between the two characters were so well acted that I didn’t want the movie to end. I just wanted to keep seeing these two guys growing and learning together.
The laughs don’t stop. I saw the show in a sold out theater and the crowd was loving it. I’m sure there were even more laughs than I heard, but the crowd was roaring in a few spots, making it hard to hear the following lines.
Humor: check!
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It’s also touching. Both characters are working on their own personal demons from polar opposite positions. It’s all about how the two very different men help each other.
Touching: check!
I’m used to seeing Kevin Hart play in comedies that — let’s say — lack a certain depth, which is fine; he’s good at that. Hart shines in this movie in a way he never has before.
So yes, Kevin can pull off emotional and sincere characters too. He’s great at that. I want to see him push it even further and see what happens. I think we’d all be pleasantly surprised.
As for Bryan Cranston, he’s always amazing. His talent shined here, even with only being able to use his face for comedic purposes — he hit it out of the park.
I would recommend this movie to friends and family without hesitation. I read a few reviews on The Upside and saw some pretty nasty ones, which shocked me. I think my brain works on a different wavelength than those critics. I feel that if I laugh, don’t get bored, and walk away happy, then I’ll give it a great review!!
Grade: A+
About The Peetimes: It was extremely hard finding a few moments where I wasn’t laughing. I chose these 3 after throwing out 3 others, because I simply couldn’t make it through typing them without laughing hysterically.
There are no extra scenes during, or after, the end credits of The Upside. (What we mean by Anything Extra.)
Rated (PG-13) for suggestive content and drug use
Genres: Comedy, Drama
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Favorite movie genre: Horror, horror, and more horror. The more disturbing, the better. Period.
Rob Williams Administrator
I’m looking forward to seeing this when it comes out over here. I have also seen quite a few negative reviews, mainly comparing this version to the original French one, but they are usually by people trying to appear ‘high brow’ and forgetting that cinema is, primarily, intended for entertainment rather than education. The French version is a brilliant film but that doesn’t mean an English language remake can’t be too!