You are here:
Standing Up, Falling Down

Standing Up, Falling Down

2020

Not Rated

Director

Matt Ratner

Runtime

91 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

An unlikely friendship kindles between a struggling stand-up comedian from L.A. — forced to move back home to Eastern Long Island with his tail between his legs — and a tragically flawed, but charming and charismatic, alcoholic dermatologist. Discovering to be kindred spirits, each helps the other find healing, in addition to the confidence to face the "failures" in their lives.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.4/10

Fair


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film lacks explicit mention of LGBTQ+ characters or non-heteronormative identities. The narrative focuses on an unlikely friendship without confirming queer themes or critiques of heteronormativity.

Gender Representation

Fair

The story centers on male-coded archetypes, specifically a comedian and a dermatologist. While it explores vulnerability, there is no evidence of female agency or the subversion of gender hierarchies.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The setting spans Eastern Long Island and L.A., but the protagonists' racial identities remain unspecified. The score reflects a potential for traditional archetypes without explicit non-Anglo-Saxon representation.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The film disrupts conventional success metrics by framing personal flaws and failures as central human experiences. It prioritizes personal healing over the pursuit of traditional social or professional status.

Disability Representation

Fair

The portrayal of an alcoholic dermatologist introduces themes of substance use disorder and mental health. This offers a potential for nuanced depictions of invisible disabilities and personal struggles.

Strengths

  • Explores nuanced themes of mental health and substance use through the character of the dermatologist.
  • Challenges traditional social hierarchies by centering on characters who have experienced professional failure.
  • Focuses on personal healing and the rejection of conventional success metrics.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-heteronormative perspectives.
  • The narrative focus on male-coded archetypes limits the presence of female agency.
  • Provides no specific evidence of racial or ethnic diversity among the protagonists.

AI Analysis

Standing Up, Falling Down is a character-driven study of human frailty that centers on two men navigating professional and personal displacement. The narrative finds strength in its deconstruction of traditional success, focusing instead on the messy reality of healing and subjective morality. However, the film's demographic scope appears limited. The focus on male-coded archetypes and the lack of specified racial or queer identities suggest a narrative that may rely on more conventional social frameworks. Ultimately, the film's value lies in its thematic interest in personal agency. It trades the pursuit of upward mobility for a deeper look at how individuals reconcile with their perceived failures.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.