THE UPSIDE
A life-affirming comedy with adult-only content concerns.
Should You Watch It?
This is a warm, funny, beautifully told story about two very different men who help each other recover what hardship has taken from them. Dell must learn responsibility, while Phillip struggles to regain his zest for living after tragic circumstances. Their friendship carries the film, and Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston have terrific chemistry.
The movie’s moral, life-affirming message is substantial. It finds value in perseverance, personal responsibility, kindness, and the positive impact people can make in each other’s lives. But the film also includes 22 obscenities, including one “f” word, sexual material, and two scenes showing marijuana use.
Adults who can weigh those concerns may find this moving and inspiring. For families with children or young teens, choose something else. The practical answer: WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESDell is an African-American ex-convict who has avoided responsibility, including paying child support for his young teenage son. When he must quickly prove he is looking for work or return to prison, he stumbles into the penthouse of Phillip, a paralyzed millionaire.
Phillip hires Dell as his caretaker, drawn to his streetwise attitude and sass. Dell wants to restore Phillip’s joy in living, while Phillip pushes Dell toward higher goals and standards. Their unlikely friendship changes both men.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is an exceptionally strong entertainment experience. THE UPSIDE is beautifully crafted, funny, heartfelt, and filled with positive life lessons.
Kevin Hart gives his deepest, most nuanced performance to date, balancing comedy and drama. Bryan Cranston delivers a powerful performance using only his face because of his character’s paralysis. Nicole Kidman provides sweet, steady support. Hart and Cranston’s terrific chemistry gives the film much of its emotional force.
The Worldview
THE UPSIDE presents a strong moral, pro-life worldview with light redemptive elements. It affirms the value of life after tragedy and shows people helping each other regain hope, dignity, responsibility, and a zest for living.
The film exalts kindness, friendship, personal growth, and the positive impact people can make in one another’s lives. Dell learns to accept higher standards, especially in his relationship with his ex-girlfriend and teenage son. Phillip’s depression and despair are met with companionship and encouragement rather than abandonment.
The movie’s message is undercut by immoral content, including foul language, sexual material, alcohol use, and marijuana use. Still, its central moral vision is life-affirming and humane. The story also brings together a poor African-American ex-convict and a paralyzed white millionaire, using their unlikely friendship to show how people from different circumstances can change each other for the better.
At its heart, the film argues that a wounded life can still hold purpose and joy. Scripture teaches that every person bears God-given dignity: “So God created man in his own image” (Genesis 1:27).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong moral pro-life message with light redemptive elements and some immoral content
Foul Language
22 obscenities (including one “f” word), tw GD profanities, one Jesus profanity, and six light profanities, plus several uses of “penis”
Violence
Light violence includes wheelchair-bound man smashes things while screaming out of frustration about his plight, and man leads police on a reckless chase through city streets as a thrill ride
Sex
Partially depicted and implied sex between man and woman in two flashback scenes, plus some sexual references and jokes
Nudity
Upper male nudity
Alcohol Use
Alcohol use
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking, but two men smoke marijuana in two scenes to relieve the wheelchair-bound man’s depression;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Male caretaker cringes while watching how a catheter is implanted while wheelchair-bound client tells him comically to say the word “penis” in the hopes of getting him to overcome his nerves, and caretaker lies to police about the condition of his paralyzed client and lets them call for help from a hospital and escort them to the hospital.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Dell has avoided responsibility, especially toward his son. What does genuine responsibility look like in your relationships?
Luke 16:10 · 1 Timothy 5:8Phillip struggles to regain his zest for living after tragic circumstances. How can we bring hope and practical care to someone who is suffering?
Romans 12:15 · Galatians 6:2Dell and Phillip make a positive impact on each other’s lives. Who has helped you grow, and whom might God be calling you to encourage?
1 Thessalonians 5:11 · Hebrews 10:24–25The film presents life as worth living even amid disability and despair. How does Scripture describe the dignity and value God gives each person?
Genesis 1:27 · Psalm 139:13–14The Final Word
THE UPSIDE is beautifully crafted, genuinely funny, and deeply life-affirming. Its strong moral message and heartfelt performances offer real encouragement, but its language, sexual content, and marijuana use require discernment. For mature adults who can handle those concerns, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For younger viewers, consider.
