Upgraded Review: A heart-warming romantic comedy that’s just perfect for Valentine’s Day

“Upgraded” is an American romantic comedy film directed by Carlson Young and written by Christine Lenig, Justin Matthews, and Luke Spencer Roberts. The main cast includes leading actress Camila Mendes, love interest actor Archie Renaux, and legendary actresses Marisa Tomei and Lena Olin, both of whom play supporting roles. The film was released on Amazon Prime Video on February 9, 2024.

Premise

Ana is a young and enthusiastic intern who is deeply passionate about the world of art. She works at a prestigious auction house as an intern in a training program, hoping to catch her break. Despite the challenging nature of her work, Ana is determined to succeed and has set her sights on opening her art gallery one day.

However, Ana’s path to success is challenging. She must impress her boss, Claire, known for being demanding and uncompromising. Claire expects nothing but the best from her team, and Ana is no exception.

During an important work trip, Ana experiences an unexpected stroke of luck when she is upgraded to first class. It is here that she meets Will, a handsome British stranger who is immediately taken with her. Ana tries to impress Will, leading her into a web of lies that sets her on a path of glamorous events, romantic entanglements, and new opportunities she never thought possible.

Analysis

As I settled in to watch “Upgraded”, I couldn’t help but notice how the plot seemed to combine elements of a romantic comedy with a workplace drama. The main character, Ana, is a young, ambitious New Yorker determined to achieve her dreams. However, she finds herself trapped in a job where her only hope of advancement is to impress her demanding boss and hope for a lucky break. Sounds familiar?

When I met Ana for the first time, I couldn’t help but notice the striking similarities between her and Andi, the main character from the movie “The Devil Wears Prada”. Like Andi, Ana is a hardworking and determined individual trying to navigate her job while balancing her personal life. However, Ana also knows that her time to make her dreams come true is limited, just like Andi in her movie.

And if Ana and Andi’s shared similarities aren’t enough, Ana’s intimidating boss, Claire Dupont, takes it to another level. She exudes the same type of vibe and aura as Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada. Walking around with her choppy wig and her weird, implacable accent, I heard she is from Minnetonka; as soon as Claire arrives on the scene, it’s clear that she is the toxic, perfectionist boss. She lines up her interns to ensure everyone is in impeccable condition and expects nothing less than perfection from her team. She demands attention, humiliates anyone for minor mistakes, and pits her interns against each other, giving them hope that impressing her will benefit them.

All The Devil Wear Prada similarities aside, leading actress Camila Mendes delivers a standout performance in the movie, effortlessly portraying the character of a struggling, ambitious 20-something-year-old art major seeking her big break. Shedding her previous cunning teen queen role in Netflix’s “Do Revenge”, Mendes showcases her versatility as an actress who shares a strong, convincing on-screen chemistry with the charming British love interest played by actor Archie Renaux.

The rest of the ensemble cast is made up of talented actors, including Lena Olin, who plays Catherine, Will’s mother, the affluent heiress known for her carefree party lifestyle; Anthony Head as the flamboyant artist Julian Marx; Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Ana’s eccentric friend Amy; and Rachel Matthews and Fola Evans-Akingbola as the mean girls of the art world assistants, Suzette and Renee, respectively. Each plays their role effortlessly and provides most of the humour throughout the film.

There are some powerful themes in the film that shed light on the struggles of working women fighting against the patriarchy and the divide between the rich and the poor. However, these themes are not explored deeply enough, especially regarding Marisa Tomei’s character, Claire. Although we see her determination and hard work, her character arc and her relationship with Ana are not fully developed. This is disappointing, especially considering that the film provided a powerful moment of female empowerment and female bonds that ultimately fell flat by the film’s end.

Some viewers may find that the balance between romance and workplace drama is an issue. This film focuses more on workplace drama than the romance between the two main characters. However, I prefer this approach, as some romantic comedies can be too cliche and lack any character development or direction outside the romantic plot. Upgraded avoids this and instead mainly presents a relatable story that showcases the struggles one faces while striving to achieve one’s goals and then the unexpected potential for love when we cross paths with a stranger.

Conclusion

Upgraded is a charming combination of romantic comedy, good fortune, and determination. The characters were perfectly cast and likeable, with great chemistry between the leads. There were some notable scenes of female empowerment and heartfelt moments throughout the movie. I highly recommend Upgraded as it is the perfect length for an enjoyable watch and an excellent choice for Valentine’s Day.

Check out Upgraded, which is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Watch the trailer below for a sneak peek.

If you are interested in more film reviews and recommendations, check out my blog post about the 6 film highlights of the last 6 months to see what I have been watching this year.