No one watches a romantic comedy expecting anything novel, although it’s nice to be surprised once in a while. In the past years, we’ve seen movies like Rye Lane and Palm Springs subvert expectations and give the genre a pleasant, refreshing twist. Upgraded isn’t like those movies. It’s pretty standard and formulaic, but I would be lying if I said it wasn’t enjoyable—Amazon Prime’s latest romcom is breezy good fun from start to end. The predictable parts of the film are buoyed by vibrant performances. As leading lady Ana, Camila Mendes expertly toes the line between approachable and aspirational, while Marisa Tomei delivers campy goodness as Ana’s boss Claire Dupree, who is like a less serious, more humorous Miranda Priestly. In fact, the entire film is like a pleasant blend of The Devil Wears Prada and every single Cinderella story in Hollywood, from Pretty Woman to What a Girl Wants. If you’re looking for something new, you can skip this film, but if you like recalling your favorites and are satisfied by performances before anything else, then Upgraded comes highly recommended.
"This is a story about women supporting women, especially across generations, and that’s what makes Upgraded resonate more than just a frothy rom-com would."
— Samantha Bergeson
"Heartening themes involving holding on tight to one’s dreams and not devaluing one’s self-worth make for an encouraging upgrade from the norm. It’s even better since there are capable filmmakers piloting this transformative journey."
— Courtney Howard
Ana is an ambitious intern dreaming of a career in the art world while trying to impress her demanding boss Claire. When she's upgraded to first class on a work trip, she meets handsome Will, and Ana pretends to be her boss– a white lie that sets off a glamorous chain of events, romance and opportunity, until her fib threatens to surface.
When she gets an upgraded flight to London, lowly assistant Ana Santos (Camila Mendes) pretends to be the director of an upscale New York auction house to impress her first-class seatmate, William DeLaroche (Archie Renaux).
Marisa Tomei and whatever that accent was!
Those calling for the return of 2000s-style romantic comedies will be very pleased with this one.
