Having trouble getting a sprite to do what I say

So what I'm trying to do is make a platformer with two different sprites: the legs and the body.

The legs I have working like a charm. They move left, move right, jump, and fall. The problem is in the body. For some reason I can't get it to do anything. I mounted it on the legs already and that sorta works, but it doesn't mirror like the legs do and when I press the up key it doesn't display the sprite I want. Instead it is stuck on its default sprite and direction.

Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong? Here is the code if you need it. I tried to keep it super simple since all I need it to do is mirror depending on its direction it's moving and display an animation when I press up.

function torsoClass::onLevelLoaded(%this, %scenegraph)
{
$ptorso = %this;

moveMap.bindCmd(keyboard, "up", "torsofaceup();", "torsofacefront();");
}

function torsofaceup()
{
$playertorso.up = true;
}

function torsofacefront()
{
$playertorso.up = false;
}


//functions for keystrokes done

function torsoClass::setCurrentAnimation(%this)
{
%xVelocity = %this.getLinearVelocityX();

if (%xVelocity > 0)
{
%this.setFlip(false, false);
}
else if (%xVelocity < 0)
{
%this.setFlip(true, false);
}

//direction done

if ($playertorso.up = true)
{
%this.playAnimation(torsoup);
}
else
{
%this.playAnimation(torsorelaxedfront);
}
}