Watch Standing Up, Falling Down

Standing Up, Falling Down is a 2019 American comedy-drama film that tells the story of a struggling stand-up comedian, Scott (Ben Schwartz), who returns home to Long Island after his failed career in Los Angeles. He meets an alcoholic dermatologist, Marty (Billy Crystal), this unlikely pair will bond over their similarly tragic experiences and both learn how to move forward in their own ways.

The movie opens with Scott delivering a stand-up comedy routine that falls flat with the audience. In the very next scene, Scott's dad calls him and lets him know that his younger sister is getting married, and he needs to come home for the wedding. It's clear that Scott isn't doing too well for himself, and he's been avoiding going back home due to some unresolved issues between him and his family.

Upon arriving in Long Island, we are introduced to Marty, who's going through his own troubles. He's been separated from his wife and daughter, and he's resorted to alcohol to numb the pain. Scott meets Marty at a bar, and the two end up bonding over their shared love for jokes, and they form a unique friendship that will help them both move forward.

Scott is hoping to reconnect with his estranged father, but he soon realizes that the reason for their disconnect runs deeper than he thought. His father (played by Kevin Dunn) is a recovering alcoholic, and he's been attending Alcohol Anonymous (AA) meetings regularly. This revelation raises questions for Scott and provides him and Marty with a chance to discuss their own struggles with addiction, and how they have approached dealing with their issues.

Throughout the movie, we see Scott trying to make amends with his father and sister, while also trying to revive his stand-up career, and Marty trying to overcome his alcohol addiction and find a way to reconnect with his estranged wife and daughter. The two men find solace in each other and take on each other's problems, forming an unlikely friendship that helps them come to terms with their own issues and overcome their struggles.

One of the key themes of the movie is forgiveness; as Scott struggles to come to terms with his past, he learns that forgiveness can start with oneself. His bonding with Marty helps him see that he is not alone in his struggles, and that he does not need to keep running away from his problems.

The acting in the movie is excellent, with Billy Crystal and Ben Schwartz delivering great performances that truly capture the emotions of two men struggling with different addictions. Grace Gummer, who plays Scott's sister, adds a sense of levity and family warmth to the movie, as she tries to reconnect with her brother.

The movie is directed by Matt Ratner, who brings a great sense of comedy and drama to the story. The cinematography is also impressive, setting the right tone for each scene while capturing the essence of Long Island.

Overall, Standing Up, Falling Down is an engaging, heartfelt movie that blends comedy and drama well. The central friendship between Scott and Marty is wonderfully portrayed, and the film's themes of addiction, forgiveness, and family are relatable and authentic. Billy Crystal and Ben Schwartz's performances alone make it worth watching, and the movie itself stands up well as a great example of a buddy comedy-drama that's incredibly endearing.

Standing Up, Falling Down is a 2020 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 70.