By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Of course, you'll know exactly how the new romantic comedy,
"Upgraded" will play out, but what may surprise you is just how genuinely fun and entertaining it turns out to be.
Directed by
Carlson Young "The Blazing World"), the fluffy, flighty "Upgraded" stars Camila Mendes (TV's "Riverdale") as Ana, an art history major who dreams of owning her own art auction house. That doesn't seem to be in the cards anytime soon, because Ana is having a string of bad luck getting into the industry. It helps to be connected.
For now, Ana is staying with her sister Vivian (Aimee Carrero, "The Menu") and her husband Ronnie (TV's "The Underdoggs") at their cramped New York apartment. Vivian is OK with the arrangement, but Ronnie doesn't mince words. He tells Ana regularly that she needs to move out. If only she could.
Ana has a low paying job at a Manhattan art gallery that is run by her eccentric and fussy boss, Claire (A funny Marisa Tomei, "Spider-Man: No Way Home").
Claire dismisses Ana regularly and relies on her go to "girls," Renee (Fola Evans-Akingbola, TV's "The Night Agent") and Suzette (Rachel Matthews, "The Duel"). They will do anything to please Claire. Ana is a bit of a threat to them because she knows her stuff.
Consequently, Suzette and Renee are constantly bullying and harassing Ana.
As luck would have it, Ana prevents Claire from an embarrassing job mishap. Claire soon sees something in this youngster. She even insists Ana accompany her on an important business trip to London. Ana's not flying first class, but hey, it's a free trip and she's thinking this could be her big break.
When Ana gets her ticket upgraded to first class thanks to a nice agent, (Juliet Agnes, TV's "Dreaming Whilst Black"), things are indeed looking up. Seated across from Ana is a handsome, young and very rich guy named William (Archie Renaux, TV's "Shadow and Bone").
As they chat each other up over glasses of champagne, Ana gets lost in the moment and implies she's the head of big art gallery in New York. He's so impressed that Ana continues to roll with the lie. What Ana doesn't realize is how big a mess she's about to get into from pretending to be someone she's not.
The rest of "Upgraded" centers around Ana trying to keep from being exposed. Fortunately, William's mother Catherine (an excellent Lena Olin, TV's "Hunters"), who is a famous actress, really likes Ana. So does her close friend Julian (a funny Anthony Head, TV's "Ted Lasso").
When everything hits the fan and it appears all hope is lost for Ana and William, luck, love
and money prevails in the end.
If you like your rom-coms sweet, charming, and with a touch of raunchiness, then "Upgraded" is just the ticket.
"Upgraded" debuts on
Amazon Prime Video Feb. 9.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Look At This Trailer For
"UPGRADED"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
