Standing Up, Falling Down

YOU’VE probably seen this routine before, but a brilliant performance from Billy Crystal adds sparkle to this likeable buddy comedy. Ben Schwartz, who recently lent his voice to Sonic The Hedgehog, is 34-year-old Scott who has moved back into his parents’ suburban house in New York after failing to make it as a stand-up comic in Los Angeles.

His return is met with disappointment from his parents (Debra Monk and Kevin Dunn) and sarcasm from his little sister (Grace Gummer), but he finds an ally in his boozy, 65-yearold dermatologist Marty (Crystal).

After a chance meeting in a pub toilet they bond at the funeral of a young man they barely knew.

Scott has rolled up hoping to bump into the girl he left behind, while Marty is there to engineer a chance meeting with his estranged son (Nate Corddry).

When their plans blow up they hit a local bar to swap life stories. Scott’s biggest regret is leaving his girlfriend Becky (Eloise Mumford) to chase fame. Marty’s tale is even sadder as he’s a widower, two-times over, who has turned to drink and drugs. After cleaning up his act for his second wife he had to watch her die from cancer. He’s now back on the bottle (he calls his wild side “The Beast”) but longs to make up with his kids.

The rambling dialogue is consistently amusing, but the script is a bit light on laughs for a film about a comedian. Mad Marty could easily tip into caricature, but an excellent Crystal grounds him with heart and sly humour.