Standing Up, Falling Down

Disproving the old adage that you can't go home, Standing Up, Falling Down shows that laughs and sentiment can be a salve for the sadness of not making it in the big city. If you're a standup comedian like Scott (Ben Schwartz) and you can make them laugh at home, then you should come home: "Ford Fiesta - Why do they even CALL it that? I feel like it's never really a 'fiesta' inside. Right? It's just a car!" (Scott in standup mode)

Also, if you meet an aging dermatologist like Marty (Billy Crystal-never better), and the two of you can do friendly screwball comedy dialogue in regular conversation, then you made a great choice to come home. It's my long way around for saying this is a terrifically-satisfying comedy-drama in large part because these two are so well matched, like Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin in The Kominsky Method.

Scott is running from big-city failure back home to face more failure as he regrets his breakup with Becky (Eloise Mumford) when he last left home (She has recently married an attorney). Yet he succeeds in making a lasting friendship with Marty and gaining a love prospect or two along the way.

Scott faces the indifference of his disappointed dad while Marty faces off an estranged son-both funny guys have issues familiar to most of their audiences. Dad's disappointment that Scott won't even work for his lumber yard, and Marty's estrangement from his son and, more importantly, grandson are the twin impediments to their lives being better every day (Marty: "Regret is the only thing that's real. It's why the good lord gave us weed and booze- numbing agents.").

The fact that both friends can mine the circumstances for laughs helps themselves and the film. I'm not sure currently you can have better bantering buddies in a film that explores real-life challenges.

This is not a fast-paced movie. Don't watch it after a Marvel movie.

What it is: It has heart, it feels real. The people are likeable. I am becoming a cynic, over the years, many movies fail to engage me like they should (looking at you, Dunkirk). But this one did not.

And yes, I checked my phone once or twice. Who cares.

I'm not one who usually goes for the comedy/drama type movies, but I am so glad I sat down and watched this. There cannot be a human being alive that is unable to relate to something in this movie, in a personal way.

The acting was spot on, not too much or too little of anything. All the actors, fit just right. There's no hurrying the storyline, it just flows. I found myself relating and reflecting to so much of the story and it was a good feeling.

In short, you need to see this. Don't be in a hurry to do anything while you watch it. Take the 90 minutes and let yourself be whoever it is you relate to in this film. The ending tied everything together in a nice comfortable way.

Buy it, rent it, download it, whatever. Just watch it.

Scott Rollins (Ben Schwartz) has returned to his Long Island family home after four years of failed standup attempts in L.A. He joins his younger sister Megan (Grace Gummer) as too old to still live with mom and dad. He finds dermatologist Marty (Billy Crystal) peeing in the sink and befriends the troubled elder. He reconnects with married ex Becky (Eloise Mumford).

Scott is a bit sad and not too funny. The same goes for this movie. It's a very familiar story. There isn't much plot. The best relationship is probably Schwartz and Gummer. Quite frankly, it may be interesting to try them in a traditional rom-com. They have a good banter together. As for Schwartz and Crystal, I expected more comedic power. Both are essentially playing sad characters and that drains some of the energy out of their partnership. It seems that everything is toned down a bit including Scott's standup comedy and that keeps the movie at a low simmer.

Billy Crystal's nuanced performance meets very good writing in a tale about uncommon friendships and uncommon redemption. Not a perfect film, but great performances and quick pacing enable the writing and plot to tell an efficient, funny, touching story well.