STANDING UP, FALLING DOWN: 3 ½ STARS. “an appealing odd couple movie.”
Google “homecoming movies” and page after page of films, most of which are called something like “The Homecoming” or “Homecoming: Insert Name Here,” about a prodigal son or daughter returning home after a stay away. The newest entry to the genre, “Standing Up, Falling Down,” follows all the familiar “you can never go home again” genre formulas but is elevated by charming performances.
“Parks & Recreation’s” Ben Schwartz is Scott Rollins, a 34-year old failed stand-up comedian. Four years in Los Angeles chasing his dream have left him broke and dispirited. Returning home with his tail between his legs, he moves back into his parent’s place in Long Island. “The comedy world’s slowest rising star comes back home!” they joke.
Without much a plan on how to move forward, Scott looks to the past, most notably to his ex-girlfriend Becky Brookes (Eloise Mumford). He unceremoniously dumped her before leaving for L.A. and while he didn’t move on, she did, getting married and becoming a successful photographer.
His life begins to change when he meets Marty (Billy Crystal), an alcoholic dermatologist who seems to be the only person in town Scott can relate to.
“Standing Up, Falling Down” doesn’t add much to the homecoming genre as a whole but it doesn’t need to. Schwartz and Crystal are an appealing odd couple, trading quips with the ease of two seasoned comedians. More than that, though, they are believable and compelling when they aren’t being funny, when they are displaying the flawed sides of their personalities. Both have made mistakes that have hurt other people but both are working, in their own ways, to make amends. “Regret is the only thing that’s real,” Marty says as they work up the courage to face their failures.
“Standing Up, Falling Down” falls prey to some of the inherent clichés of the genre but, like its main characters, it works through its flaws with panache.
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