The Upside (2017)

Directed by: Neil Burger | 126 minutes | comedy, drama | Actors: Kevin Hart, Bryan Cranston, Nicole Kidman, Aja Naomi King, Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Genevieve Angelson, Golshifteh Farahani, Tate Donovan, Julianna Margulies, Suzanne Savoy, Michael Quinlan, James Georgiades

What is it with Americans and foreign films? Why do so many Yankees refuse to watch the original movie with subtitles? The list of successful foreign films that were remade with Hollywood actors especially for the American market is endless. Let’s just take a look at Dutch films that were given an American blueprint. Three films by Theo van Gogh alone were re-shot: ’06’ (1994) became ‘Somewhere Tonight’ (2011), ‘Blind Date’ (1996) kept its name under the direction of Stanley Tucci and of the ‘Embraced by Steve Buscemi’ Interview’ (2003) the remake appeared in 2007. Dick Maas brought his own Dutch horror classic ‘De lift’ (1983) to the US and kept the reins in his own hands by directing the remake ‘Down’ (2001) himself, with little success by the way, despite the presence of Naomi Watts in the cast. George Sluizer had already done it for him with ‘Spoorloos’ (1988): with a much larger budget and A-stars such as Jeff Bridges, Sandra Bullock and Kiefer Sutherland give your own film a flashy, American jacket. But ‘The Vanishing’ (1993) nevertheless pales in comparison to the original.

The fact that films from other countries also suffer this fate is proven by ‘The Upside’ (2017), the American remake of the French blockbuster ‘Intouchables’ from 2011. The true story about the remarkable friendship between a paralyzed, wealthy art collector and a penniless, At the time, a former prisoner brought in nearly $430 million worldwide and became one of the best visited – and most loved – films of that year in various countries, including the Netherlands. It didn’t take long for the first remakes – an Indian in 2015 and a Spanish in 2016 – to appear. Also in the US, The Weinstein Company was already preparing its own version of ‘Intouchables’ behind the scenes. Several directors and actors were linked to the project, before financial problems and then accusations against studio boss Harvey Weinstein for sexual harassment and sexual harassment suspended the release. The planned release date in 2017 was therefore not met, because The Weinstein Company was acquired by Lantern Entertainment in the meantime. And so ‘The Upside’ did not reach American theaters until January 2019.

Bryan Cranston takes on the role of Phillip Lacasse, an exorbitantly wealthy writer, art dealer and opera lover who is 90 percent paralyzed after a paragliding accident; he only has feeling in his face and part of his neck. Since losing his beloved wife to illness, Phillip has been miserable. He has indicated that, should it come to that, he does not need to be resuscitated. His loyal assistant Yvonne (Nicole Kidman) keeps a close eye on him and looks for a new caretaker for him. Slum boy Dell Scott (Kevin Hart) has just got out of jail and has to apply for a job from his probation officer. That’s how he ends up in Phillip’s imposing building. He doesn’t need the job, as long as they sign, he’ll be gone in no time. But Phillip likes Dell’s rebellious, rebellious attitude and offers him the job. Hesitantly, Dell gets to work: worry is not his forte and then he also has to carry a complete stranger, feed and provide a new catheter. Yet slowly but surely a close bond is formed between the two opposites. Dell discovers that he can handle his responsibilities well and that the world of art and opera isn’t that crazy after all; Phillip regains his joy in life and is introduced to the joys of hot dogs, weed and Aretha Franklin.

If you read the synopsis like this, it is immediately clear: ‘The Upside’ is a direct copy of ‘Intouchables’. Screenwriter Jon Hartmere got rid of it very easily and only cut a bit at the end (because that seems rushed compared to the original). Director Neil Burger (‘The Illusionist, 2006) has also not managed to put his own stamp on the whole, although the film does look neat and finished. The strength of ‘Intouchables’ is also its weakness: playing with stereotypes and prejudices. Because if you think about it, people actually think very black and white (!). While this was barely noticeable in the French film due to the heartwarming performances of Omar Sy and François Cluzet and their sincere mutual chemistry, in this remake the weaknesses come to the fore and the oversimplified image of the characters is distorted. And despite the excellent cast that was brought together – in addition to Cranston, Hart and Kidman, among others Julianna Margulies, Golshifteh Farahani and Tate Donovan – the remake lacks the impact that ‘Intouchables’ did have. Hart in particular is admittedly more convincing than Omar Sy as an ex-convict, but lacks the natural charm that his French colleague had (has) and which made you close to your heart and wish him all the happiness in the world. He’s a bit too ‘tough’ compared to Sy, who has a charisma that can fill an entire movie theater. Of course they are both funny, in their own way, but the sympathy vote here clearly goes to the Frenchman.

Of course you have to judge every film on its merits, but in the case of ‘Intouchables’, the film that drew even the biggest Francophobe to the cinemas, you really can’t escape it. The first question that then arises is: what is the need for an American remake if there is already a great French-language original? ‘The Upside’ proves that there isn’t one. Maybe for the American audience that hasn’t seen ‘Intouchables’, but they better shake off their preconceptions (there they are again) and go see the original. With subtitles or if necessary dubbed as our eastern neighbors do. They really don’t need to reinvent the wheel when they already have a garage full of shiny Ferraris waiting to drive around!