Standing Up, Falling Down Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Standing Up, Falling Down Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 25, 2020

Screenwriter Peter Hoare isn’t trying to move the world with “Standing Up, Falling Down.” Instead, he offers a small-scale relationship drama about an unlikely friendship developing between two aimless men struggling with private issues, bonding over a shared sense of humor. The material has very little wow factor, but it’s sincere, and that’s most important with a picture like this, which tends to do its best when aiming to be meaningful instead of volcanically dramatic. “Standing Up, Falling Down” has its humor, and it’s very funny at times, but director Matt Ratner (making his debut) is more attentive to chemistry, letting his actors interpret Hoare’s vision for camaraderie and personal inventory, resulting in a mild but effective dramedy.

Unable to pull together a career in stand-up comedy in Los Angeles, Scott (Ben Schwartz) has returned home to Long Island, unsure what he’s going to do with his life. He’s questioned by his father, Gary (Kevin Dunn), loved by his mother, Jeanie (Debra Monk), and playfully teased by his sister, Megan (Mamie Gummer), but Scott doesn’t have a plan, newly hit by the news that his ex-girlfriend, Becky (Eloise Mumford), has moved on to marry someone else. During a chaotic evening at a bar, Scott runs into Marty (Billy Crystal), a dermatologist and recent widower working on his alcoholism while trying to reunite with his estranged son, Adam (Nate Corddry). Scott and Marty hit it off, with the doctor helping the younger man with an arm rash and his confidence, encouraging him to test himself and his talents once again. Finding a supportive father figure, Scott embraces Marty’s company, learning more about the emotionally wounded man, while Marty acquires a guardianship relationship with the burgeoning funny man, enjoying their time together as he tries to figure out how to get back into contact with his kid.

Scott’s comedy misery is vividly detailed at the start of “Standing Up, Falling Down.” Not only is the 34-year-old man’s material pretty horrendous, lacking originality, but he’s seen performing in the corner of a restaurant, blocking access to the nearest bathroom. This is the end result of four years of work for the character, who escaped from Long Island in a hurry, cruelly abandoning Becky and his family in a crude attempt to shake social and domestic expectations he feared were being created for him. It’s a real psychological nerve pinch from Hoare, who taps into a primal fear of powerlessness when it comes to the future, sending Scott to experience total failure while chasing his dream (a “Howard the Duck” fan, perhaps comedy doesn’t come naturally to the man). “Standing Up, Falling Down” explores this sense of loss, with Scott returning to his Long Island bedroom, facing everything he ran away from as the weight of the world returns to crush his spirit.

Brightness is supplied by Marty, an affable sixtysomething guy who loves to drink, excessively so, but doesn’t lose his spark in the process of numbing himself. The men meet in a bathroom, with Scott overwhelmed by Marty’s forwardness, and they happen to reunite in the office as the unemployed, uninsured comic looks for answers concerning a growing rash on his arm. They come together once again during a funeral for one of Scott’s high school classmates, suddenly realizing how easy their interplay is, sparking an unlikely friendship that’s loosened up with booze, weed, and confessional time. “Standing Up, Falling Down” doesn’t get more complicated than that with this union, and Hoare finds ways to offer exposure, especially for Marty, who’s lost two wives and can’t connect with Adam due to long-simmering hostilities. He’s lonely, and his companionship with Scott raises his spirits, giving him the essence of parenthood once again as he pushes his pal to make things happen, or at least try to understand why they didn’t.

Standing Up, Falling Down Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.88:1 aspect ratio) presentation does very well with detail, keeping close-ups alert with signs of age and exhaustion, and costuming remains fibrous. Household interiors preserve decorative additions, and exteriors retain distances, visiting beaches and neighborhoods. Colors are satisfactory, offering a more autumnal palette with clothing and greenery. Domestic and bar interiors provide livelier hues, and skintones are natural. Delineation wrestles with some solidification, having periodic trouble with dense hair and costuming.

Standing Up, Falling Down Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix supports the mild sonic goals of "Standing Up, Falling Down," emphasizing dialogue exchanges, which are sharp and clear, dealing with casual conversations and distinct amplification for microphone use. Surrounds aren't explosive, but atmospherics are compelling, offering group activity for bar meets and outdoor nuances for neighborhood tours. Room tones are distinguishable. Scoring presents crisp piano and acoustic guitar strumming. Low-end isn't challenged.

Standing Up, Falling Down Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Matt Ratner and actors Ben Schwartz and Billy Crystal.

• "Falling into Place" (10:32, HD) is the first of three featurettes detailing the creation of "Standing Up, Falling Down." Interview participants include Ratner, Schwartz, Crystal, writer Peter Hoare, and producers Chris Mangano and Rick Rosenthal. Hoare explores the origins of his idea, meeting with an insightful dermatologist during a painful stretch in his life, turning the meeting into a screenplay informed by additional biographical touches. Tonality is examined, along with themes and the closing message of the film. New York Locations are highlighted, with the production setting up shop in Long Island, nearby Crystal's childhood neighborhood, giving the picture distinct visuals and cultural flavors.

• "Standing Together" (11:21, HD) is the second chapter in the making-of saga, this time focusing on casting achievements, with the big get being Crystal, who had an immediate reaction to the screenplay. Story points are shared, along with an analysis of character interactions. Schwartz discusses his partnership with Crystal, with the pair enjoying a happy professional and personal relationship. The supporting cast is also spotlighted, with interviewees sharing their praise for the rest of the ensemble.

• "It's Been a Joy" (7:08, HD) is the final featurette, inspecting the professional relationships that went into the creation of "Standing Up, Falling Down." Ratner shares his hesitations as a first-time director, finding support from Rosenthal, the helmer of 1983's "Bad Boys" and 1981's "Halloween II." Interestingly, Rosenthal's son was a cameraman on the picture. General camaraderie is also shared, keeping interviews light on day-to-day challenges.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:13, HD) is included.

Standing Up, Falling Down Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Chemistry between Schwartz and Crystal is fantastic, and the actors seem to be having genuine fun playing off each other, passing around quips, feeling around the scenes for jokes and character textures, easing the feature's eventual slide into more dramatic areas of engagement. Also compelling is Scott's emotional tango with Becky, confronting the one he pushed away, with their reunion creating confusion for the both of them. Perhaps there's some predictability to "Standing Up, Falling Down," and it certainly doesn't pack a punch, but there's an appealing lived-in quality to the work, which does a fine job creating characters and exploring behavioral issues. There's funny business to enjoy, along an appreciation of fear and regret, especially from unlikely sources.