The Upside - Movie Reviews (2024)

It’s perfectly fine, all things considered, but it’s still far too mechanical for my tastes.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 14, 2024

The film’s investment is in telling us about this crazy and unique friendship. In doing so it may not hit every note it should, but it still manages to be a worthwhile watch.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 21, 2022

The Upside appeals to mass audience erogenous zones (bankable star, humor, candy-coating issues) that’s unapologetically feel-good while offering award season relief.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 17, 2022

It's a little long. The real anchor for the movie is their relationship, but it's super funny.

Full Review | Oct 1, 2021

The Upside won't blow your socks off, but it's a pleasant experience thanks to the talents of a bunch of fine actors and a story that never tries to overreach.

Full Review | Mar 29, 2021

An insultingly simple story that occasionally veers into conflicts of class, race and physical abilities but frustratingly pulls back at the mere suggestion of an uncomfortable moment.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/5 | Mar 22, 2021

[The film] feels a little too strategic, a little too perfect in its plot and characters, and, ultimately, a little too forgettable to recommend.

Full Review | Jan 28, 2021

It's not without plenty of entertainment value.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Dec 7, 2020

Some of the darker comedy touches work very well indeed and it's tough not to have a tear in your eye when Cranston turns on his magic.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 16, 2020

The Upside isn't a movie that wants its audiences to think, and that's fine . . . but it's also a movie that doesn't let its audiences think.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jul 27, 2020

The Upside is about friendship, finding it in unexpected places, and surrendering to its irreplaceable charms.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 27, 2020

The Upside is based on a true story. That's ironic, since it doesn't resemble real life so much as a cobbled together mess of carpe diem clichés, luxury porn and workplace sexual harassment.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Jul 18, 2020

All of [these] conversations are infinitely more interesting when treated seriously through the filter of Hart's comedic delivery. He and Cranston are a good team, and their chemistry is gratifying.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 14, 2020

An enjoyable life-affirming movie that stays true to the heart of the original film, reiterating there's more to Hart's acting abilities than his Calamity Jane skit.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 13, 2020

This is one of those pictures that you may watch during a flight or catch on TV while folding your laundry. It operates completely on the periphery and nothing more.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Jul 8, 2020

Director Neil Burger, for his part, moves the story along fairly briskly, refusing to let the film's schmaltziness weigh it down. This is nothing remarkable, but it could have been a lot worse.

Full Review | Apr 13, 2020

I hope people can take the time to see it and I hope this can lead Kevin Hart to take more roles that aren't just silly little man child comedies, like he's built his career off of.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Jan 10, 2020

Does it work? No, not really... But Kevin Hart is good.

Full Review | Sep 13, 2019

The Upside is a career best for Kevin Hart, and combined with the talents of Bryan Cranston, the two of them lift the film up above its standard story of an unlikely friendship to create a genuinely moving viewing experience.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Aug 17, 2019

This American remake retains many of the elements that made the original such a smash and, as such, proves to be no better or worse than its mildly engaging predecessor.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jun 2, 2019