The Upside appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 1.85:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. This became a pleasant presentation.
Sharpness was positive. Only a smidgen of softness impacted some interiors, so the image remained pretty tight and well-defined most of the time.
I noticed no issues with shimmering or jaggies, and edge haloes failed to appear. Print flaws also failed to mar the presentation.
Upside went with a teal-influenced palette that sprinkled in some amber as well. Within the movie’s color design, the tones seemed solid.
Blacks were dark and deep, while shadows demonstrated nice smoothness. This was a consistently satisfying image.
As for the DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix of Upside, it showed scope generally typical of the drama/comedy soundfield. That said, the film’s material occasionally allowed it to open up in a satisfying manner.
Vehicle and subway segments added a little immersiveness, though those instances remained somewhat infrequent. The mix did use the score in a broad, engaging manner, though, and the whole package fit together smoothly.
Audio quality seemed good. Speech was distinctive and natural, without edginess or other issues.
Music seemed warm and lush, while effects showed nice clarity and accuracy. Bass responses delivered great punch. The mix suited the story and kicked into gear when necessary.
We find a few extras, and a Gag Reel spans three minutes, 16 seconds. It presents a pretty typical array of goofs and giggles, so don’t expect much.
Two Deleted Scenes appear: “Bedside Manner” (1:13) and “Tough Room” (1:07). The former shows more of the early times between Dell and Phillip, whereas the latter lets us view Dell’s attempts to amuse Yvonne.
Both seem entertaining enough. However, the movie already seems long at 126 minutes, so it makes sense these superfluous bits got the boot.
Five promotional featurettes follow: Onscreen Chemistry (1:07), Creating a Story of Possibility (0:45), Bridging Divisions (0:44), Embracing Positivity (0:41) and Presenting a Different Side of Kevin Hart (0:48). These include notes from director Neil Burger and actors Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston.
They offer general notes about story, character and cast. All five offer basic promotional material with no insights on display.
The disc opens with ads for UglyDolls, Fighting With My Family, Serenity (2019), Arctic and Hotel Mumbai. We also get the trailer for Upside.
Due to the charms of its excellent cast, The Upside manages to remain largely watchable. However, it loses points because of its eager embrace of cheap sentiment. The Blu-ray offers very good picture as well as adequate audio and a mix of minor supplements. Upside generally entertains despite its drawbacks.