As someone who has seen and loved the original French film, this US remake feels rather pointless. Although both Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston are good in their roles, they never reach the heights nor have the chemistry François Cluzet and Omar Sy.
Based on the French film Intouchables, The Upside follows the relationship between a man with quadriplegia, played by Cranston and his ex-con carer, played by Hart.
While the film itself is solid, it feels redundant after watching the original. It sticks very closely to the events of the French movie, bringing nothing new to the table. The opening scene made me groan, as it is essentially a shot-for-shot remake of the opening of Intouchables. And while there are differences in the backstory of Hart's character, it is not enough to warrant a new incarnation of this story.
That said, I was impressed by Kevin Hart's performance in this film and would go so far as to say that this is his best performance to date. While he is still funny, he is more reigned in here, more grounded than his usual loud and broadly comedic turns.
In the end, I'd struggle to recommend this to anyone who has already seen the French film, although Hart's more low-key performance is worth a watch for fans of his.
Based on the French film Intouchables, The Upside follows the relationship between a man with quadriplegia, played by Cranston and his ex-con carer, played by Hart.
While the film itself is solid, it feels redundant after watching the original. It sticks very closely to the events of the French movie, bringing nothing new to the table. The opening scene made me groan, as it is essentially a shot-for-shot remake of the opening of Intouchables. And while there are differences in the backstory of Hart's character, it is not enough to warrant a new incarnation of this story.
That said, I was impressed by Kevin Hart's performance in this film and would go so far as to say that this is his best performance to date. While he is still funny, he is more reigned in here, more grounded than his usual loud and broadly comedic turns.
In the end, I'd struggle to recommend this to anyone who has already seen the French film, although Hart's more low-key performance is worth a watch for fans of his.