Despite whatever else, I do have a lot of fond memories with this one. Takes me back to the days of sharing a bunk bed with my brother and laughing hysterically with him at this film. In every month of the year.
Hell, I learned to play the harmonica because of this film. And bizarrely enough for the longest period of time I assumed that Michael Keaton was a singer turned actor.
So yeah It's kind of unforgettable for me.
In every Mike Mills film, there's a recurring theme within. Specifically a theme about how valuable parenthood can be. Whether it be the person that's raising their child or the child that's growing up alongside their parent, it's always shown in his films that having a great mother or father figure is a gift. And in that same breath it's a gift to be someone's mother or father. And even though I'm a person that's only been on one side…
Take The Intouchables, subtract the terrific performances, replace the heartwarming yet sincere chemistry between François Cluzet and Omar Sy with cheap humour and stereotypical back and forth charmless behaviour and add a bit of that generic American award begging feeling that Hollywood never seems to get sick of…
And then you have The Upside. A film that panders towards the people in the world that think films are only worth watching If they're in English.
I'd be lying If I said I didn't consider walking out halfway through.
