Upgraded, 2024.
Directed by Carlson Young.
Starring Camila Mendes, Archie Renaux, Marisa Tomei, Lena Olin, Anthony Stewart Head, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Rachel Matthews, Andrew Schulz, Grégory Montel, Fola Evans-Akingbola, Aimee Carrero, Jack Hewitt, Renny Krupinski, Paul Hawkyard, Declan O’Connor, Liamm Burke, and Thomas Kretschmann.
SYNOPSIS:
Aspiring art intern Ana is invited on a last-minute work trip to London by her brilliant but intimidating super boss, meeting the handsome and wealthy William on the plane. Set in both London and New York City, the rom-com chronicles the trials and tribulations of balancing work, romance, and following your dreams.
In this light, charming, and emotionally sincere romantic comedy about workplace ambition (specifically the art world), director Carlson Young’s Upgraded also finds the time to explore the compelling differences or blurring of the lines between acting, pretending, and outright lying. Characters are exhibiting each of these behaviors, and while one may initially assume they only want to stick with their kind, it’s also gradually revealed that there is more to what they are looking for in such connections with others.
Centered on Camila Mendes’ Ana, a New York-based broke young woman trying to rise and make it as an art auctioneer working with high profile, important clients while going on three months sleeping on a futon in the small, cramped apartment home of her bickering sister and her fiancé, there is an instant likability and desire to see her succeed. It’s a combination of the engaging performance, a genuine and knowledgeable appreciation for unpacking artistic meaning, and that, once the story introduces a potential love interest, something that initially seems like it could derail the momentum of watching Ana navigate exciting new opportunities as a personal assistant to cutthroat, bossy art director Claire (Marisa Tomei), the arc remains intriguing. The central characters and the relationships that develop feel truthful.
With three credited screenwriters (Christine Lenig, Luke Spencer Roberts, and Justin Matthews), the tone is sometimes off, with some characters and jokes feeling a bit too exaggerated or muddling. the internal logic of the storytelling (if Claire is so ruthless about ensuring her assistants work hard, why is she fine lugging around two other people who hardly do anything and expect Ana to do their work as well). However, the narrative does have a firm handle on the balance between hectic workplace preparation and relationship comedy/drama, much in the same sense that Ana is searching for that balance in life.
Soon after being selected to take part in assisting Claire in putting together an important London art auction, Ana is on a plane but also finds herself having a disastrous meet-cute with the rich son of a UK-famous actress, William (Archie Renaux), who immediately takes a liking to her after she proceeds to spin the situation to her advantage by lying about her job position. She claims to be the youngest art director in history, assuming that this man is only attracted to wealth and status. He is also looking to elevate his status in life but also has a heartwarming passion for coaching a youth soccer team.
Considering that Ana’s place of business is right near the family home, William’s mother, Catherine (Lena Olin), is eager to give her a lift and also quick to encourage the two to see each other more, even if the former has a gruellingly tight schedule that essentially comes down to doing the work of three people. Having such connections does make that job easier, especially when Claire is looking for hot tickets to a sold-out performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Naturally, there is tension for Ana, knowing that she could get caught at any moment, effectively throwing away all of the goodwill she has recently earned from Claire. The relationship heats up in clichéd ways, and the auction status becomes more complicated, all playing out predictably but also with a warm, moving degree of honesty. By the end of Upgraded, there is much reason to care about these characters, although it didn’t need the overly forced happy ending.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
Originally published February 9, 2024. Updated February 10, 2024.
