Falling Up (2009) User Reviews

Light and fun - shame about the trailer...

[alejrb · 6/10 · 3 January 2010]

First things first - if you haven't watched the trailer for this film yet, I suggest you don't. Unfortunately, if you have seen the trailer, you've also seen most of the film, because it doesn't offer a great deal more.

Personally, I had seen the trailer before seeing this, so I had a general idea of what to expect - and the film pretty much delivered on that. The whole film has a light feel, and being generally predictable throughout, you're never really in any doubt about the final outcome of... well, everything.

With that said, it's still an enjoyable way to spend some time, and is perfect for being not-too-long. Some of the dialogue between the actors is very forced and wooden, but the performances were generally sound, if nothing special. Sarah Roemer was strong as the leading lady/love interest, and her parents were excellent the few times they were on the screen. Joseph Cross was mediocre as the main character, with his emotional scenes unemotional at best, and I think that another actor might have been able to show a bit more chemistry with a good looking millionairess.

In all, if you happen to come across this film or are a particular fan of any of the actors, it's worthwhile giving it a watch. Otherwise, don't feel that you're missing out on anything that amazing - especially if you've seen the trailer.

6/10 :)

Charming main characters, and cast. But too rigid a formula elsewhere.

[sixtydaysofhonestymovie · 6/10 · 20 April 2014]

Whenever I talk to someone about how good writing is crucial, this is a low budget example that I will refer them too. Henry and Scarlet are so charmingly written that it makes the jobs of Joseph Cross and Sarah Roemer easy, and together they are simply adorable. The film does suffer from a distinct "I can see where this is going next" feeling due to its unwillingness to break the classic romantic comedy template. A shame because a brave wander away could have taken it to some better places. But it is an enjoyable ride, even if you know the scenery by heart. With the two lead characters and the people who play them, it has more charm in its short running time than many films of the same genre that run for almost twice the time. Special mention also to Jo Pantoliano as the hotel boss, in a turn that would actually make him a good J.J. Jameson in the next spiderman film. When you see it... you will know. He's pretty remarkable.

The First half hour or so was Torture!

[mikerjones · 6/10 · 9 March 2018]

They said this guy was in nursing school because he couldn't afford medical school. But they didn't say much about how old he was. On a maturity level, I would guess 17 maybe. The sister is obviously older and much smarter. My wife and I debated turning this off for the first 45 minutes or so. This kid is so immature and downright stupid. Can there really be someone that dumb? In New York City?

Anyway I won't give it away, but the female lead is terrific. And beautiful. The sister is the brains of the family and the mother is the heart. The kid is just a poor smuck trying to grow up. He has a hard time 'getting it.'

Special shout-out to Annete O'Toole, the mom, Rachel Leigh Cook, the sister and Snoop Dogg as the co-worker.

Cute Romeo and Juliet comedy

[vchimpanzee · 2 May 2013]

In New York City, John is getting old but won't admit it, and he is determined to play handball against Paco. But that one last game is too much for him and he falls over dead.

John's family not only has to deal with the loss, but also the realization that his business was in trouble and the family is broke. Everyone will have to take a job to keep the family from losing the house. Son Henry wants to be the breadwinner so his mother Grace will not have to work, but he is in nursing school. Education will have to wait.

Henry's Uncle Colin works as a doorman at 1500 5th Avenue, so he gets Henry a job as a doorman. George, the supervisor, is very demanding and expects Henry to do everything right. This means no relationships with the tenants, but treat them nice. Still, after Henry starts work, Henry and Scarlett notice each other right away.

Henry works alongside Raul, who does as little as he can get away with, and he seems to date a lot of women. Ultimately he shows he cares.

There are a couple of funny scenes involving an unsupervised kid with money and a pair of hookers. Henry should have been more careful.

Henry develops a relationship with Scarlett as he makes deliveries to the penthouse apartment. Even though she has a boyfriend, Buck is a rich drunk. At Scarlett's birthday party, Henry even gets called on to use his nursing skills to save a life. And it's not the only time his nursing skills get used: a gay couple has a dog who gets away from them and almost dies.

When Scarlett's mother finds out about Henry, she is not happy. Her husband Phillip, though, is more accepting.

So will this Romeo and Juliet romance work out?

Sarah Roemer is so pretty and easy to like. She's just perfect for the role of Scarlett. And the character is very patient and accepting of others who are different.

On the other hand, Mimi Rogers does what she does best: a conceited but not necessarily mean rich person who wants only the best for her daughter.

Joseph Cross makes a very good lead. He's easy to like and very determined.

Annette O'Toole does a very good job as Henry's mother. Those who know her as the all-American mother of Clark Kent may not be pleased at what she ends up doing, but she is still very much like what she was on "Smallville". Only with a New Yawk accent.

Rachael Leigh Cook is tough and independent and won't take attitude from anyone. I didn't like her as Henry's sister but she is very good.

Whether you like him or not, Joe Pantoliano does show talent here.

Snoop Dogg is also quite good.

It's a pleasant romantic comedy.

What goes up . . .

[charlytully · 7/10 · 30 May 2011]

. . . but this movie does not tell the REST of the story, unlike the late radio commentator Paul Harvey. For anyone exposed to GREASE's "Beauty School Drop-Out," Joseph Cross's characterization of nursing school refugee Henry O'Shea from Flatbush may ring a bell. This movie tries to prove that an Elizabeth Taylor/Larry Fortensky coupling is the rule rather than the exception for the social mores governing American class mobility. (Don't forget, Larry was Liz's 8th hubbie--NOT her first, and she was playing a cougar card to get him. )To add injury to this insult of our taken-for-granted cinematic suspension of disbelief, nerdy and broke Henry's crush--Scarlett Dowling (played by Sarah Roemer) not only is rich, but also a looker. If Scarlett resembled Gwyneth Paltrow from her fat suit scenes in SHALLOW HAL, perhaps there would be a smidgen of plausibility to FALLING UP. But the movie implies that if a young socialite's handsome rich lover is enough of a drunken druggie, the addition of coke to the love connection will transform him from an adorable ARTHUR to a 30 DAYS OF NIGHT-type vampire in the eyes of his lady love. Ergo, this will drive the wealthy young lady in question into the arms of the first guy she rubs elbows with, whether a bumbling nerd (or perhaps the toothless bum on the park bench, whom Henry beats out by a matter of minutes). Perhaps the makers of FALLING UP realized that was why they should quit while they were ahead, well before any wedding bells ring. Staging a wedding between Scarlett's blue-nose Dowlings and Henry's porn shopper O'Shea clan may well have induced stretched credulity fatalities among susceptible viewers.

a bit clunky

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 20 August 2019]

John O'Shea dies while challenging a much younger man at hand ball. He leaves behind his wife Grace (Annette O'Toole) and his kids Cate (Rachael Leigh Cook) and Henry (Joseph Cross) in Flatbush. He also leaves behind lots of debt. Henry leaves nursing school and uncle Colin's friend George (Joe Pantoliano) gets him a doorman job. He falls for Scarlett Dowling (Sarah Roemer) despite her snooty mother Meredith (Mimi Rogers) and drunken boyfriend Buck. He works with night doorman Raul (Snoop Dogg) who often breaks the rules.

There is a conflict within the character Henry. The way he treats his mother and the way he reacts to the gay guy kiss are a throwback to an old world Irish tough guy persona. The personality Joseph Cross projects is something different. There is a sense that the clunky writing is stuck. Cross is ill-suited to be that guy. In order for this to work as a comedy, filmmaker David M. Rosenthal has to be quicker on his feet. He's not much in making comedies. I do like Annette O'Toole in a sex shop. It's a little fun but the comedy is very ham-fisted. She is the best part of the movie. The romance is relatively simple and effective. Ultimately, the tension is low because there is little danger. It's not like they could be kept apart if they insist on the relationship. There are some good actors. I'm not sure that Roemer is one of them although she seems fine in this. There are some clunky bits but I like enough of it.

So sloooow & couldn't be more boring!

[ihavemail2 · 1/10 · 5 May 2012]

I am a lover of romantic comedies, even goofy ones or lifetime specials many can't bear to watch. I am easily entertained & find myself enjoying many movies in the genre with ratings as low as 4 1/2 to 5 stars. However, even I could not find this movie entertaining! It was appallingly slow & the cast couldn't seem to pull their 'act' together. The jokes fell flat and the couple had NO chemistry. They could have have finished it in 30 minutes & I wish they had. It had the 4 basic scenes, boy meets girl, boy & girl fall for each other, boy loses girl, and a happy ending. Everything in between seemed like several long, dull run on sentences. Don't waste your time. The only thing enjoyable is that it does end.

Snoop Dog

[PaulJurma · 7/10 · 30 September 2021]

It has snoop dog in it, do you really need much more?

Doorman for Dumbies

[tjdercks · 2/10 · 30 July 2010]

A guys father dies, so he has to quit school and get a job to support his mother .. so far so good.

His uncle gets him a job as a Doorman. The rules are simple ... don't let people in the building who do not belong, do not fraternize with the Tenants, do not sleep on the job, do not eat on the job, do not follow the bad behavior of other Doormen, do not touch anyone, do not use the front door.

The first night on the job ... he basically breaks all of the rules, and also fumbles through a young woman's personal items while making a delivery to her bedroom (creepy!). Over the next few days, he continues to screw up, and is warned repeatedly to stop fraternizing by his Manager. He continues to break the rules, and is fired.

Now we are supposed to feel sorry for him, because he lost his job for flirting ... but I feel sorry for his Uncle who vouched for him to get him that job, that he clearly had no respect for, and now his Uncle looks like a jerk. We also see him getting tips for things he did not do, and not giving them to the people who did them (e.g. Snoop helps a family leave for a vacation, and the guy give the tip to the Lead, and the Lead pockets it, and does not give it to Snoop. He does the same thing with a flower delivery guy).

There is a scene where a dog gets killed in an elevator accident (which should have beheaded the dog) ... he saves it by giving it mouth-to-mouth? ... but when a homosexual kisses him to thank him, he wipes his face and is repulsed. It was inappropriate for the guy to kiss him on the lips ... but the scene just comes across as Homophobic.

In numerous scenes, what the Lead does is creepy ... a Janitor is sleeping, and he puts his hand on the Janitor's chest and puts his ear by his mouth ... the Janitor wakes up and freaks out, that some stranger is touching him (as would most people). The Lead then tells him he is a nurse and the Janitor has breathing problems ... and then walks away (what a HEAD GAME!)

Then there is a scene were his Nursing School Dean asks him to hand her a plastic model of a vagina, and he hands her the rectum instead (a seriously bad Nurse) ... but he makes a freaked out face when touching the plastic vagina (and later does the same with plastic testicles)? If plastic body parts freak him out ... do not be a nurse. The real ones are much scarier ... LOL

When two Prostitutes show up to service a 12 year old boy, that he had promised to watch out for while the child's parents were away ... he does not freak out and lets them up?!?! ... but when their Pimp shows up, he lets him in the Lobby ... LOL. This guy is supposed to be from Brooklyn, not Kansas.

Snoop, the Lead's mother and scenes of NYC are the only reason to see this ... otherwise the story sucks, the work ethic is worse, and the romance is unbelievable.

Neither romantic nor comedic

[Saw-it-on-Tubi · 2/10 · 20 March 2019]

Some romantic comedies lean towards romance, others go for the laughs, and some are just nuts and fun. This movie isn't any of those things. The beginning of this film seems like it could be a wacky comedy based on the scenes and script, but the lead male and whoever scored the film thought it was a genuine romance film. The combination made the whole film feel flat.

The romantic pairing was more irritating than charming. I'm not sure if a recast of the leads would fix the movie, there just wasn't enough shown to explain why they would like each other.

The guy's mom was pretty funny though; she should have had more scenes.

Not what you're expecting...

[josephelderman · 8/10 · 17 April 2010]

First off, the trailer didn't convey what ultimately was produced for the final production. From the trailer, the movie seemed more goofy, perhaps even corny. And although there ultimately was in fact two scenes with this tonal issue, one with a too clichéd and stereotypical same sex couple (easy cheap jokes - dignity filmmakers, dignity) and another scene with two prostitutes and a very young kid (though believe it or not, this sequence was handled a little bit better), the overall feel to the film is an upscale romantic drama comedy. An independent film that has cross over potential, similar to 2002's "Roger Dodger". The film has strong cinematography, and is acted very well by the whole cast: Joseph Cross (very likable and charming), Sarah Roemer (strong presence and you care for her), Rachael Leigh Cook (fantastic support), Joe Pantoliano (always gives a committed performance), Mimi Rogers (made a snob totally believable), Jim Piddock (funny), Snoop Dogg! (played the reality very well) and Annette O'Toole (has a superb moment toward the end of the film). The production also has some cool alternative rock song tracks leaving you in a good mood.

The only other nit picky criticism in my opinion is perhaps the repeat of too many shots establishing locations (though I love to see New York on film), and an unnecessary epilogue during the final credit sequence.

But I think this simply told story has a sweet and realistic approach to an issue that one might think doesn't seem relevant in these times, but shows and reminds you that in fact - though this movie has a preferred ending - still retains it's importance in this day and age, giving the film a sympathetic struggle and a deeper conflict.

Great job, I recommend it!

nothing new

[Vincentiu · 6 December 2012]

a comedy without many ambitions. nice, humanist, almost correct performance but not really inspired. a young man as axis of a world. new debate about social condition and all-powerful love, few drops of humor and scenes of talk. nothing credible but good occasion to waste the time. if it is a good /bad movie - only expectation has the answer. it is a light movie , picture of a feelings adventure, not spiced, not tasty, full of basic questions and remarkable for Snoop Dogg presence ( only for his fans ), few dogs and slice from a sex shop. Joseph Cross has a not very inspired central character ; the hope to create a naive, sensitive and fragile young man is not realistic. so, only another film with predictable end.

decent

[mattkratz · 8/10 · 19 January 2011]

This wasn't too bad a movie. It basically features the "boy meets girl and falls in love with her/vice versa" and "Romeo and Juliet" themes. In the movie, a boy (who is a nursing student) has to drop out of school and go to work as a doorman to support his family when his father dies and leaves them nothing in terms of will money or life insurance. There are rules at the job, and one of them is not to become involved with the guests at the hotel where he works. Of course, he meets and falls in love with one of the (gorgeous) girls who stays there. Unfortunately, she comes from a snobbish, wealthy family, and they sabotage him, them, and his job. After this and along the way, he learns about humility and nothing and no one is too good-or too bad-for another person. This was a decent movie, and I'm glad I rented it.

** 1/2 out of ****

Comedy that doesn't understand the concepts of jokes.

[jpjpf · 22 August 2011]

If a cast cannot pull off any jokes, maybe the comedy should be removed from the whole script. A young boy hiring hookers while he's parents are away should have a few laughs. Not here. Perhaps flamboyant gay stereo types having a couples spat will deliver some laughs... no, not since the 80s did that scene generate laughs. This script is so bad, I spent most of the film wondering why decent actors like Mimi Rogers, Joe Pantoliano and Snoop Dog would agree to filming this. What kind of audience was this written for? It strives to be so innocent and charming, but has no problem slipping in a cocaine scene, an f-bomb, and even a porn shop surprise. There is an important message in this film about not defining yourself by your ocupation or with simple labels, yet the film makes terrible jokes with flamboyant gays, prostitutes, and a bitter East Indian cab driver. One thing that this movie did teach me, is that working in a porn shop is fine, but being a hooker is the bottom. Got it.

A Doorman's Story

[ichocolat · 17 January 2010]

A doorman is usually a person you often overlook, seldom took a second glance, and always thought that he is there because he is a dork who could not land a better job.

But this film gives you a glimpse of what a doorman faces everyday, and to look at things in their perspective, gives you a whole new idea of this profession and how, as simple a job as can be, they have their own story to tell. Story that may not matter to others, but important nonetheless.

This is a story of a middle class family, whose world fallen apart because the breadwinner of the family died of old age, and left them with no assets and full of debt. So, the lead cast has to be the breadwinner now, and he got a job as a doorman. He has to stop his study as a nurse for a while because he needs to take care of his family.

That's where the story revolves. Of him, of his career, and the people around him. Of the tenants, and of his boss, and get this; Snoop Dogg! Overall, this film is as good as it gets; though at times it seems a little slow, but if it goes any faster it'll be as good as this. And I agreed that have you watched the trailer first, you'd have an idea about how the story goes. But there is more to that, and watching the whole film is not a bad idea after all.

Reality of life as a Man and Men wanting to be Man

[mynameisdrj · 29 November 2010]

And I quote from a review from a above "Personally, I had seen the trailer before seeing this, so I had a general idea of what to expect - and the film pretty much delivered on that. The whole film has a light feel, and being generally predictable throughout, you're never really in any doubt about the final outcome of... well, everything." End quote.

In my opinion this is Complete rubbish this film was one of a kind. And not all films are to be thrillers. They are all not supposed to be non-suspecting of the end, some films are easier to read than others, Reviewing the Sixth-Sense I doubt you expected that Mel was dead or how about Orphan that young girl was not a older woman. In real life that young girl was portrayed as a older woman portraying a young girl, these are movies that you should rate the thrill and suspension on and definitely do not rate trailers. Young aspiring directors put them together for practice. You should know that the real Directors do not make them unless it's some over budget movie where major actors and actresses are starring, then they budget for sequence's of things that could happen in the movie, that never appear in the film but are used to bring in the audiences. "Falling Up" was a refreshing mid-twenties college flick, they depict a honest genuine young man. It was a good movie. A movie that morally shows what a real man should be in this day in age and this is coming from a 24 year old man white male out of a lower middle class, that has not been emerged in the moral circumspect that most have innately been inherited but a realization of what a real man is to me, was defined while watching "Falling Up" And in addition Men feel like they have to be a chieftain or, controllers or they aren't real Men, when in fact over 40% of men Are and Stay Obedient to there spouse. Because a real Man for 1-Listen's for 2-Compromise's and for 3-Keeps Quite when there is an issue that is of a importance to there partner. Under 60% of men Are not EVER obedient! are not ever 'Let alone' Stay obedient to there partners. The men that think that they are Man. They can not Listen, Compromise or, Keep Quite they are not men and this all goes back to what are founding Fathers and ancestor marked and deemed what makes men, "A Man!" And it is simple they are not strong enough nor, are they intelligent enough for self restraint. To not need to hear themselves speak, and to listen to someone else. To be strong enough to devour deliberate dexterous and, sagacious comments and to acquiesce when told to, to contravene what they have to say; despite what they believe in, and without contemplation of what is, what. To have a inclination that is unmitigated from the anterior of the categorical countenance. To be strong enough(or Man enough haha) to not get what they want. To realize in life, life itself should be the object; and the only object of your desire. Material objects have no importance or significance. To negotiate; To compromise with what someone else needs/or wants. It is hard to give up the gift of your needs/or wants; to give up a piece of your happiness; to a stranger, No it's not giving up your happiness; it is distributing it. It is more sacred than sharing the divine holy spirit, Empathy a Human gift for women and men alike to share with each other. Empathy separates us from the beasts, so find and use empathy more to separate us from them. Compromise to complect everything. And finally to be a real Man's Man not just one of the men but a Man that is worthy. The power to Keep Quite, to find the strength in silence, many can say they have the aptitude to remain quite but they say it with there words. Most that can find this sovereign state will never break there censorship for you if what your saying matters to you. And with unprejudice opinions. Not necessarily homogeneous in thought but despite the most heinous of times, thoughts or, disagreements To Be and Keep Quite. That is what being a Man is to me.NOW! I suppose like Mother always said Keep Quite unless you have something important to say it actually meant something. It was one of the three golden rules not to just getting along in life, but with women; and also a key to being a Real Man. A HuMan

-Daniel Robles-

of Portland Oregon