Going Up

Going Up follows a group of ambitious go-getters: Mark (Jake Beauvais), Graham (Max McKune), Celeste (MacKenzie Mollison) and Audrey (Heidi Musec), who get caught up in a financial investigation that reveals the line between valued employee and expendable drone. The film is a corporate comedic thriller set entirely in an elevator that challenges the four central characters' ideologies.

The film immediately thrusts the audience into the lives of four rising corporate stars over the course of a week. The single-set location works brilliantly, driven by tight framing and propulsive dialogue. Despite its rising tension, it never takes itself too seriously and balances drama and comedy without ever feeling jarring. The film’s opening, in particular, rarely lets up, as each character's distinct moral code keeps the tension high, and it's compelling to watch them defend their principles. Todd Wells’ script introduces each character charmingly, and despite its rapid pace, the concept is distinctive and ambitious. While each character is profoundly unlikable, their self-centred personalities make it hard not to feel invested in their ruthless hunt to get to the top of the corporate ladder.

Going Up is a competently shot film with some wonderful editing choices that make the experience flow seamlessly through its brisk runtime. Molly Torres serves as the film's director of photography and primarily frames the film through a medium fixed wide shot of the four characters at the centre of the frame. The camera also shifts to extreme close-ups of each character’s clothing, drawing attention to their individual fashion choices. It's an apt choice as it never loses focus on its tightly managed concept.

All four central performances from Jake Beauvais, Max McKune, MacKenzie Mollison and Heidi Musec in their portrayals of Mark, Graham, Celeste and Audrey, respectively, are fantastic. Each performance offers something singular in their greed and comedic charm, and they take an already well-written screenplay and elevate it with their fun and despicable presence.

Despite its technical prowess, the film’s narrative falters in a rushed and anticlimactic conclusion that feels unearned, largely due to the increasingly monotonous and repetitive nature of the story. The audience is ultimately not given enough time to feel invested in any of the four characters despite how engaging the opening feels. While the dialogue is propulsive thanks to each character's distinct personality, it becomes grating by the end because the central mystery is so underdeveloped. Perhaps this is because everything is set up in a single location; however, its tight runtime works against its ambitious concept by quickly resolving the financial investigation with an underwhelming payoff.

The film sadly amounts to fairly minor in its conclusion, despite its competent filmmaking and engaging performances. It starts promisingly; however, the film slowly meanders to a grinding halt and an anticlimactic revelation that may leave viewers frustrated.

Going Up is a well-written, tightly edited experience that suffers from a plethora of issues that hold it back from being a home run. While its visual storytelling is deftly executed, the conclusion ultimately feels underwhelming and unearned, owing to a rushed and repetitive narrative.