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Upon first seeing the new Amazon Prime romantic comedy Upgraded, I couldn’t help but feel excited. Finally, Camila Mendes would be taking on a leading role that wasn’t set in high school. At 29 years old, the Riverdale star has proven her ability to command the screen as a sassy, stunning, and secretly vulnerable teenage queen. Directed by Carlson Young, Upgraded gives Mendes the opportunity to portray a character closer to her own age – a resourceful third-tier assistant with a master’s degree in art history who finds herself in over her head and wins over those around her.
Similar to other teenage shows that have undergone upgrades, Upgraded would have been a moderately budgeted film in the 2000s but now is released directly on streaming platforms. It has a disposable feel to it and is heavily influenced by previous successful works, specifically The Devil Wears Prada. The protagonist, Ana, is a driven young adult living in New York City with limited financial resources, working menial jobs in pursuit of her luxury dreams. She is well-versed in the world of art and is enrolled in a prestigious auction house training program, hoping for a big break before her money runs out and she is forced to return to her hometown of Tampa to sell paintings to older individuals. Ana is an unwelcome guest crashing on the futon in her sister Vivian (Aimee Carrero) and fiance Ronnie’s (Andrew Schulz) one-bedroom apartment, where she struggles to coexist with their loud and unrefined ways due to their working-class background.
The film’s inconsistent tone starts off with a clumsy transition from campy to naturalistic fantasy romance, with the latter being more successful. Upgraded, written by Christine Lenig, Justin Matthews and Luke Spencer Robert, initially appears to satirize the art world, specifically through Ana’s boss, Claire (played by Marisa Tomei), who resembles an inferior version of Miranda Priestley with an unsettling accent. Ana’s friend Amy (Saoirse-Monica Jackson from Derry Girls) speculates that it may be a facade to hide her origins from Minnetonka. Ana embodies the stereotypical toxic boss, a once-glamorous figure in low-paying jobs that are no longer fitting in 2024 and a redemption arc that is hard to believe. She is the type of well-dressed tyrant who bullies junior employees over minor mistakes, publicly shames them for small errors, and cunningly pits low-ranking assistants against each other for small opportunities.
Due to a fortunate accident, Claire convinces Ana to join her on a business trip to London to assist her mean assistants, Suzette and Renee, with an important auction deal. Ana ends up in economy on a later flight, but manages to charm her way into a first-class seat next to Will Delaroche, the attractive son of socialite Catherine. This plot is similar to last year’s Netflix romantic comedy Love at First Sight, but with more focus on work. Ana gains favor with both Delaroches as she pretends to be the youngest art director at the company where Catherine plans to auction her late husband’s art collection.
At a duration of 104 minutes, Upgraded is the ideal length for this type of escapist, simple-minded entertainment. However, it still feels cumbersome as it jumps between the exaggeratedly absurd world of fine art and the more relatable, biting flirtation in the real world where people drink and banter. (At least Ana’s use of profanity adds a touch of realism, like a true assistant.) Mendes gives a convincing performance as someone who has played Veronica Lodge, portraying the constantly bullied third assistant. But it’s a breath of fresh air whenever she steps out of the office and engages in playful banter with Catherine or, better yet, Will. Renaux does a commendable job of playing the quintessential wealthy Londoner with Jude Law-like charm, reminiscent of The Holiday.
The combination of the standard romantic comedy formula and the genuine performances of Mendes and Renaux make it easy to overlook certain lazy moments in the film – such as Ana waking up at 7:30am and immediately heading to the airport despite having an overnight flight to London, or Ana impressing with her knowledge of art by recognizing the value of Renoirs and Cézannes. The direction of the film is also somewhat choppy. While it may glorify toxic bosses in the elite spaces of London, Upgraded is a less serious (and more successful) take on the subject compared to Bradley Cooper’s 2015 film Burnt, which focused on haute cuisine. It also has more depth and coherence than the popular show Emily in Paris. In typical streaming fashion, it is a polished and unobtrusive production, made all the more notable by Mendes’ underrated performance. Hopefully, she will soon have the opportunity to take on more prominent adult roles.
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The latest version is now accessible for streaming on Amazon Prime.
Source: theguardian.com
