If Ben Braddock of The Graduate had a wise-cracking older mentor in his life to help guide him through the anxiety of post-graduate adulthood – and if that mentor was the inimitable Billy Crystal – you might get something similar to Standing Up, Falling Down, a feel-good buddy comedy about the unlikely friendship between an unsuccessful young comedian and his life-affirming dermatologist.

Making its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, the comedy settles on the softer side, bordering on conventional clichés that makes for familiar beats, but is still a light-hearted look at moving on, brought to life by a pair of wonderfully charismatic performances.

Stand-up comedian Scott (Ben Schwartz) isn’t so much down on his luck as he is failing to realize he keeps playing the same bad band. With his comedy career going nowhere fast, he leaves L.A. to move back in with his parents in Eastern Long Island, which, at thirty-four, hits on a certain anxiety of this millennial generation that feels honest. Now home, Scott is forced to confront the life he left behind for the dreams of L.A. – and the people he left, including sister (Grace Gummer) and ex-girlfriend (Eloise Mumford). In his grief state which warrants a medical check-up, he meets the karaoke-loving dermatologist, Marty (Billy Crystal). It’s not long before Marty’s natural cheer mixes with Scott’s cynical self, and the two find themselves getting along – having drinks, smoking pot, hanging out, and without knowing it helping each other move on from a rut.

Wearing its heart on its sleeve, Standing Up, Falling Down probably won’t find its way into the classics of all-time buddy comedies. But this earnest little flick from director Matt Ratner (who produced both of 2015’s Manson Family Vacation and Band of Robbers) should delight those looking for a light, enjoyable film that digs into substantial themes when it wishes to. It certainly will find itself being watched by the faithful fans of the film’s stars, Billy Crystal and Ben Schwartz. What certainly intrigued me about this film was the anticipation of the comedic pairing between two comic talents who I personally acknowledge as being part of my love of comedy in their own ways. Schwartz, perhaps most widely recognized as Jean Ralphio in Parks and Rec and who’s seeing his own star rising as of recently (voicing the main blue speedster in Sony’s Sonic the Hedgehog opposite Jim Carrey), carries the film from start to finish with his affable and casual charm. But it’s Crystal that proves his legendary status, taking this lovable character and making him all his own. Crystal’s warm-hearted wit and heart of gold will make you laugh, which makes the moments of true loss that much more emotionally weighted.

While the film’s title could have been called Standing Up, Falling Down and Standing Back Up Again and probably have the same effect, more or less spelling out its intentions every step of the way, it is still an enjoyable and pleasant watch. The pairing of two truly amazing comedians with natural comic chemistry will show you what it’s like to move on from hardship and have a fun time doing it.

This review originally ran on May 1, 2019, during the Tribeca Film Festival.

STANDING UP, FALLING DOWN (2019)

Starring Billy Crystal, Ben Schwartz

Screenplay by Peter Hoare

Directed by Matt Ratner

Distributed by Shout! Studios. 91 min. Opening this Friday at the Laemmle Royal.