The Upside (2019)

Directed by Neil Burger. Starring Kevin Hart, Bryan Cranston, Nicole Kidman, Golshifteh Farahani, Julianna Magulies, Aja Naomi King, Tate Donovan, Jahi Di’Allo Winston. [PG-13]

Odd-couple schmaltz between black, struggling ex-con Hart and white, affluent quadriplegic Cranston; the latter hires the former to be his “life auxiliary” (despite being the least qualified candidate by far) and a tentative friendship is formed. Remake of sentimental French hit The Intouchables, and based on the real-life relationship between Philippe Pozzo di Borgo and Abdel Sellou; presents the sanitized version of events for maximum crowd-pleasing impact, alternating between mawkishness, gentle humor, cutesy moments, heavy-handed life lessons, and “mismatched buddy” clichés. Sub-plots involving Hart’s family and the epistolary-turned-unmediated romance between Cranston and Margulies (with the underutilized Kidman as a downplayed third party) are too perfunctory and predictable to register. Neither lead performer is playing to their strengths, but Hart and Cranston both do serviceable work; although an encouraging attempt to expand his range, Hart is especially ill-served muting his live-wire charisma. Preachy and pat, but may push the buttons of more impressionable viewers.

37/100