UPRIGHT Series Tells Story In Part with Flashbacks
With a linear story that builds through flashbacks and new encounters, the two main characters are fleshed out — one, an aging has-been rockstar with some dubious choices in his past. The other, a supposedly 16-year-old girl who may or may not be running away to live with her mother. With the benefit of many episodes, they are given opportunity to grow, regress, and grow again, adding depth that a 90-minute film could not provide. The situations range from unlikely to downright wacky, solidly walking a line between laugh-out-loud humor and real pathos.
In addition to a bingeable storyline, there is also the landscape. Only in Australia could the threat of running out of gas, cell service, or water be as believable and worrisome, with the hundreds of miles that separate major towns (not to mention the searing heat and dangerous animals in between). In the open spaces the characters have room to expand, while the isolation brings them closer together.
Though this writer was new to the talents of actor Tim Minchin, audiences may recognize him from films including ROBIN HOOD, Broadway productions like MATILDA and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, or perhaps directly from his popular social media.
For viewers looking for some meaning with their escapism, UPRIGHT will likely be an intelligent, hopeful delight.
