Falling Up (2009)

Doorman Lore

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy Falling Up on DVD

I checked out this direct-to-DVD comedy on the promise of its cast, including Annette O'Toole, Mimi Rogers, Joe Pantoliano, Snoop Dogg and the adorable Rachael Leigh Cook, all of whom, unfortunately, are relegated to supporting roles. Joseph Cross is fine in the lead role as Henry, a nursing student whose father suddenly dies (in a handball court incident) and leaves the family in debt. So he quits school and takes a job as a doorman, where he falls in love with the wealthy Scarlett (Sarah Roemer). Some of the writing is positively unbearable, especially all the curious handball references and some prudish attempts to make jokes about porn and the female anatomy. But when the movie focuses on the romance, it's nicely low-key and without all the histrionics that usually accompany this genre. And that supporting cast helps out a great deal, too. Anchor Bay released the DVD with a nothing little behind-the-scenes featurette.

With: Joseph Cross, Sarah Roemer, Snoop Dogg, Rachael Leigh Cook, Claudette Lali, Joe Pantoliano, Mimi Rogers, Annette O'Toole, Daniel Newman, Samuel Page, Frankie Shaw, Gordon Clapp, Jim Piddock, Peter Jason, Ajay Naidu
Written by: David M. Rosenthal, Joseph M. Smith
Directed by: David M. Rosenthal
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 98 minutes
Date: January 13, 2010