The Upside - 3 smiles

"The Upside" is a feel-good remake of The Intouchables, a 2011 French box office hit. Anchored by strong performances and a palpable chemistry between leads Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston, "The Upside" breathes life into a predictable plot. But, unfortunately, the American production team, director Neil Burger and screenwriter Jon Hartmere, are unable to add any original touches to this based-on-a-true story tale. It's pretty much a transfer from French to English. "The Upside" falls loosely into the 'mismatched buddy film' genre where two people with radically different personalities are thrown together by circumstances and, after a period of tension and disagreement, form a bond. Race, class and physical disability mark the differences here. Hart's Dell Scott is a penniless ex-con with no home and no job prospects. Cranston's Phillip Lacasse is one of the richest men in the world who resides in an exclusive Manhattan penthouse. But, as a result of a paragliding accident, he's a quadriplegic. He lives his life in a chair that he moves by using his chin to press a lever. After Phillip fires his current caregiver, his administrative executive, Yvonne (Nicole Kidman), arranges to interview new prospects. Through a series of miscommunications, Dell ends up 'interviewing' for the job although all he wants is a signature indicating that he is actively looking for a job. Phillip, who is suicidal, likes the idea of someone unsuitable looking after him. At first, Dell's service falls between neglectful and incompetent, but as time passes, he learns to do the work and his unconventional approach gives Phillip a renewed hopefulness about the future.

Hart is fairly successful at proving his dramatic acting chops and the script certainly allows for him to get in many comic shots. Cranston is impressive as a man only able to use his face and voice and he seems to enjoy being Hart's straight man. Strong support comes from Kidman as Phillip's business partner who might have other feelings for him and Julianna Margulies as a pen-pal who agrees to a face-to-face meeting with Phillip. Although they serve a narrative purpose, Dell's scenes with his family tend to slow the momentum of the movie. Because "The Upside" is a feel-good film, you can over look its predictability and just enjoy it.