‘Up Against It’ Review: Antonio Banderas Stars in a British Family Dramedy That Ignores Its Own Conundrums

Trudie Styler directs a scattered story of divorce, a sick child, medical ethics, and a great many glossed-over ideas.

By Siddhant Adlakha

Siddhant Adlakha

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A crisscrossing family dramedy, Trudie Styler’s “Up Against It” features wonderful performances and intriguingly modern ideas, but it seldom coheres as comedy or drama. A tale of divorced parents, their respective partners and their ailing, precocious teen, this occasionally effervescent film has much to enjoy, but just as much that lands with an awkward thud.

Opening with 14-year-old Rose (Eden Hamilton) getting into arguments on the London tube, the movie swiftly establishes its character dynamics by way of arguments and celebrations. Returning home from school, Rose balks upon learning that her mother Saffron (Eva Birthistle), a high-strung paralegal, has got engaged to psychiatrist Kingsley (Arinzé Kene) on the same day her divorce has been finalized. Unhappy with this development, and with life in general, Rose calls to complain to her renowned classical musican father Alvaro (Antonio Banderas) — her loving “papi” — and his younger cellist girlfriend Lara (Úrsula Corberó), before joining them for dinner.  

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