Upgrade Review: 5 Ups And 1 Down

6. Down: Side Characters Are Underdeveloped

Although Grey receives considerable development throughout the film, the other characters aren't as lucky. The film's antagonists never really go beyond their initial villainous act, teasing potential character depth but never realizing it. In turn, they're little more than hostile presences for Grey to hunt down and fight.

Then there's Betty Gabriel's Cortez, who is relegated to the exact beats you expect her character to hit. She's a foil for Grey to deal with, little more. Worst of all, Grey's wife Asha is given limited time to establish herself as the Grey's primary motivation, leading to the movie's set-up still being effective, albeit without hitting every emotional beat it attempts.

This is definitely the film's weakest component, leading to the film dragging during certain moments where Grey isn't on-screen. The actors and actresses do what they can, but unfortunately everyone outside of Grey's character is noticeably-underwritten. It's not enough to derail the film by any means, but it's difficult not acknowledging the hidden potential some characters had, and how it ended up simply unrealized.