REVIEW: ‘Upgraded’ Is The Ideal Rom-Com

The romantic comedy is back in a big way. No Hard Feelings and Anyone But You have proven the theatrical viability of the model, but a groundswell of streaming rom-coms are really where the bulk of this new wave comes from. Upgraded joins the roster at just the right time. The latest from Amazon MGM Studios, Upgraded will remind audiences of the likes of The Devil Wears Prada. Due to the commitment of a winning cast and an earnest breeziness, Upgraded makes itself well worth a watch on its own.

Riverdale‘s Camila Mendes stars as Ana, an art lover working an a thankless assistant to intimidating art mogul Claire DuPont (Marisa Tomei). A chance opportunity sees Ana joining Claire on a trip to London to help arrange an auction for a wealthy client. After getting a complimentary upgrade to first class on her flight over, Ana meets charming Englishman William (Archie Renaux). The two hit it off immediately following a meet-cute where she spills her drink on him. Nonetheless, their budding romance gets complicated when she tells a little white lie about being the director of her company. Why is this an issue? William’s mother, Catherine Laroche (Lena Olin) is the owner of the auctioned collection.

Carlson Young directs Upgraded in workman-like fashion. Unlike her stunningly surreal debut The Blazing World, Upgraded is as standard as it gets. That’s far from a bad thing as there’s comfort to the familiarity of Upgraded. Screenwriters Christine Lieng, Justin Matthews, and Luke Spencer Roberts know this. That’s why they’ve thrown in all the tried-and-true cliches. Lush locations, a silly meet-cute, a central lie as a curveball to the romance; Upgraded understands the assignment.

Cinematographer Mike Stern Sterzynski captures the lush locales in question with eyes wide. London looks simply impeccable under his tourist-like lens. Upgraded may as well be an advertisement to visit, and why shouldn’t it be? The fantasy factor is a big part of what makes the romantic comedy such a compelling genre. That is the romance of getting swept away in an exotic place combined with a relatable protagonist.

Mendes has the relatability factor down pat. Furthermore, Ana is a rom-com heroine reflection of the modern age. She aspires to big dreams while dealing with the reality of doing obscene amounts of work for no pay. And like anyone caught up in the cogs of the corporate machines, she finds herself in way over her head. Archie Renaux’s William is what Upgraded requires. He’s handsome, charming and, erm, that’s really it. But hey, it works.

The supporting cast all show up to work eager to deliver a classic rom-com. Marisa Tomei brings shades of Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada. No matter, she makes the domineering boss role work with an inexplicable French accent (hilariously, the character is from Minnesota) and gradually reveals hints of a more kind soul trapped inside. Her other assistants, Suzette (Rachel Matthews) and Renee (Fola Evans-Akingbola) kill it as the office mean girls. An all too-brief Saoirse-Monica Jackson plays Ana’s doting best friend with the requisite affability. Meanwhile, the surprisingly benevolent Catherine makes a posh splash courtesy of Lena Olin.

The supporting cast does hit a couple unfortunate snags. The immensely talented, often wasted Thomas Kretschmann sadly continues that trend as a role that’s nothing more than corporate suit. Grégory Montel’s supposedly villainous character barely registers, joining the likes of Aimee Carrero and Andrew Schulz, who play Ana’s sister and fiancee, respectively. Anthony Head‘s character Julian represents an unfortunate trope: Catherine’s gay best friend there simply for window dressing.

None of that ultimately detracts from the overall experience of Upgraded. It may not be the sophomore feature I expected from Carlson Young after The Blazing World. Nor is it doing anything new in the space of the romantic comedy. What Upgraded represents is comfort. It’s a familiar take on a familiar genre that does nearly everything so gracefully that it feels like less of a drag and more of an example of why the genre perseveres. Like a cup of coffee, it’s a simple treat.

Upgraded is streaming now on Amazon Prime Video.