U.S. Remakes of Foreign Blockbusters

Not every international success loses its spirit when it travels, but The Upside had a hard task because The Intouchables was already one of those films people recommended with real affection. The French original, inspired by a true story, worked because François Cluzet and Omar Sy found a rhythm that felt spontaneous, affectionate, and just irreverent enough. Their friendship never seemed manufactured. In the American remake, Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart step into the same emotional architecture, with Nicole Kidman also in the mix, and the film does have moments where the humor and tenderness land.