The Upside (2017)
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A recently paroled convict finds an unexpected bond while caring for a wealthy, paralyzed man.
The story
The film follows a paralyzed billionaire, Philip Lacasse, who is struggling with his quality of life. He hires Dell, a recently paroled convict, to serve as his 'life auxiliary' caregiver. Despite Dell's lack of professional training and his initial dismissive attitude, the two men begin to form an unlikely friendship. As Dell navigates the complexities of his new role and the demands of his parole, he and Philip find common ground, leading to a bond that challenges their respective perspectives on life and companionship.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After being pulled over in New York City, Dell and Philip are taken to a hospital. The story flashes back six months to when Dell, seeking a job to satisfy his parole requirements, accepts a position as a caregiver for Philip, a wealthy quadriplegic. Despite initial friction and a 'three strikes' rule, the two begin to bond over shared experiences and personal struggles. Dell helps Philip engage with the world, while Philip provides Dell with a sense of purpose. Their relationship is tested when a misunderstanding with a woman named Lily leads to a falling out. After a period of separation, they reconcile and eventually embark on a paragliding trip. The film concludes with Dell establishing his own business and Philip finding peace, with the two ultimately reconciling their friendship.
- First release year
- 2017
- Runtime (minutes)
- 126
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Neil Burger
- Writers
- Jon Hartmere · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Kevin Hart · Dell; Bryan Cranston · Philip; Nicole Kidman; Golshifteh Farahani; Julianna Margulies
- Genres
- comedy; drama
- Themes
- friendship; disability; redemption
- Tone and mood
- comedy-drama
- Premise and plot tags
- buddy comedy; remake
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Intouchables
- Content notes
- language: English
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the chemistry and performances of the lead actors but criticized the plot for being predictable and clichéd.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 43% · review count: 191; Metacritic · score: 46 · scale: 100 · review count: 40; CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 4.5 · scale: 5
- Production trivia
- The film is the third remake of The Intouchables.; The title was changed to The Upside on August 2, 2017.; The film was originally intended to be distributed by The Weinstein Company.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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