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Comedian George Carlin once said,“inside every cynical person is a disappointed idealist,“which is the stark descriptor for Ben Schwartz ’s character Scott Rollins in Shout ! Studio ’s striking comedyStanding Up , Falling Down . Much like Carlin , Schwartz is also a comedian with his theme ground in improvisational funniness stem from stratum at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre . To many , he ’s love as the charismaticJean - Ralphio Saperstein onParks and Recreation , along with most recently voicing the energetictitular character inSonic the Hedgehog . seldom has the actor dipped his toes into drama , butStanding Up , fall Downgives him free rein to show off his reach alongside another comedic caption , Billy Crystal . After ab initio debut at the Tribeca Film Festival last class , it was soon picked up by Shout ! Studios and is gearing up to release this Friday . Even though its story tread on familiar comedic territory , stand Up , Falling Downfinds an abundance of success in its two charming leads .
Directed by Matt Ratner , the pic centers on Schwartz ’s 34 - class - honest-to-goodness character Scott , a failed comic who notice , after four years of attempting to get his vocation off the ground in Los Angeles , that it ’d be expert to move back home to Long Island , New York with his parent . While reconnecting with friends , Scott soon comes to the realization that the masses he used to know have all grow up and matured , with hopeful later - night hangouts quickly transitioning into early call - it - a - Nox . This awareness becomes particularly prevalent in regard to his X - girlfriend Becky ( Eloise Mumford ) who , much to his humiliation , has already tie and locate down . But , one fateful night at the bar put him in the mien of an freaky dermatologist named Marty ( Crystal ) , a homo manage with some regrets of his own . The two find solace in each other ’s company , putting them on a itinerary to , hopefully , address the failures in their respective lives .
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Much like Carlin ’s quotation at the beginning of this reappraisal , Scott ’s character is cynical from the get - go . But , his cynicism covers his fictitious character like a rock’n’roll - satisfying candy shell . Once that mellow forth , his rage for pursuing his dreaming and expressive personality begin to shine through . Although he did n’t find success in Los Angeles , with his father retell that fact whenever he can , he ’s still hopeful that his career will find its wings . Schwartz effortlessly embodies this character , claim someone who appear gravel and unappealing on the outside and total enough layers to make him appeal to a spectator . You long to see him bring home the bacon in the end and worry for him when he strays off the beat course .
These emotions come into play when Crystal ’s Marty come into the word-painting . the right way off the cricket bat , it ’s clear that Marty ’s struggling to stand on his own two ft , literally and figuratively . Years of heartache coupled with an inability to reconcile decisions he made in the past and an estranged relationship with his son clash into a drink problem and a less - than - stellar report amongst family and protagonist . But , the looker ofStanding Up , Falling Downis that it brings these two characters together when they truly need each other most . Each fills a vacancy lost by the other , and ultimately , the film asks the audience to question if that habituation is healthy or not .
Simultaneously , that beauty is also the motion picture ’s not bad mar . Its narrative is familiar to the dramatic clowning genre , and one that ’s very seldom shaken up . The book uses familiar plot of ground machine to push its narration forward , but thankfully , both Crystal and Schwartz get hold interesting depth with their characters in every scene , elevating the words in front of them to a novel level that stomach out from the repose of the genre . The interpersonal chemistry that they have is infectious , and they very clearly enjoy in these part . They ’re what makesStanding Up , fall Downinvesting , even when its story borders on forgettable .
In the closing , Standing Up , fall Downis all the unspoilt because of Schwartz and Crystal . Their comedic delivery is effortless and their personality attractively operate together . Even as the story becomes more melancholy , they dive into dramatic elements with ease , turning this story ’s conversant patch into an interesting speculation on rue and the way it ingest its price . It may not have escape from up the normal , but it surely showcased phenomenal performance from its tether .
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Standing Up , Falling Downis now playing in theaters and available On Demand . It is 91 moment farseeing and not shit , but is intend for mature audiences .
Ben Schwartz and Billy Crystal in Standing Up, Falling Down