Upgraded Synopsis: When Ana is upgraded to first class on a work trip, she meets handsome Will, who mistakes her for her boss. The white lie that sets off a glamorous chain of events, romance, and opportunity, until her fib threatens to surface.
Ana is a struggling art intern desperately trying to impress her intimidating boss, Claire Dupont. When Ana mistakenly gets upgraded to first class during a trip to London, she meets Will, who mistakes her for her boss. As Ana’s little white lies escalate, they jeopardize her job and her budding romance with Will.
As Ana, Camila Mendes does a fine job carrying the movie. She’s likable as a lowly intern who knows her art but gets overlooked by her more sophisticated colleagues. She has excellent chemistry with the cast, notably Marisa Tomei as Claire, and Lena Olin as Catherine, Will’s famous, eccentric mother. It’s essential to like Ana because otherwise, I’m not entirely sure we – or anyone in the movie – would have been so willing to forgive her for all of her lies, and Camila succeeds in having us sympathize with her plight, even if we would agree that what she did was wrong.
Archie Renaux is charming as Will, though I felt he was underutilized, especially as Upgraded is being marketed as a romantic comedy. Is there romance? Yes. Would Upgraded have lost anything in its narrative had there been no romance? No. Upgraded is more about Ana’s journey from a broke intern to the toast of the art world. Her romance with Will is more of a subplot, which is a shame. The two are charming on-screen together, and ultimately, it feels as though Will is the only person who tries to hold Ana accountable for her behavior.
Another bright spot in the film is Marisa Tomei’s Claire. She’s Miranda Priestly-lite but draws plenty of laughs as Ana’s overbearing boss. Early in the movie, there is a brief mention of Claire’s upbringing, but sadly, it is never mentioned again. This is a shame because it would have nicely tied together Claire and Ana’s stories and perhaps made for some genuine understanding between the two.
I left this movie feeling some shades of Never Been Kissed. A young woman overlooked at work becomes someone else to experience a different kind of life while wanting to prove herself in her career field. Eventually, she must atone for her lies and earn forgiveness from those she hurt around her. The romance in Never Been Kissed is secondary to the plot, but at least Will isn’t Ana’s teacher crushing on her when he thinks she’s seventeen. In any case, both movies succeed because of their affable leads and a witty script that keeps the plot interesting.
Upgraded is a movie that captures the essence of career aspirations, but I’m disappointed in how it dealt with Ana’s behavior. There are some consequences, yes, but they are short-lived, and ultimately, Ana receives everything she’s ever wanted. If you’re going to view this as a rom-com, then fine, I get it… there’s almost always going to be a happy ending. But I think it would have meant more to have Ana work harder to achieve her aspirations than to reward her effectiveness in deceit.
Upgraded is worth watching for fans of the genre, but if you go into it expecting a full-blown romantic comedy, you’ll likely be disappointed. Lower your expectations, and I think you’ll enjoy it well enough.
Watched: 02/07/2024
Notable Song: Circle the Drain by Soccer Mommy
