Parents' Guide to

The Air Up There

By Randy White, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Offensive, shop-worn comedy.

Movie PG 1994 108 minutes
The Air Up There Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 7+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Jpmills1
Jpmills1 Adult
February 4, 2019
age 6+

Grew up watching this as a missionary kid

This is a fun, feel good, family friendly comedy set in Africa. My parents lived in Africa, we are friends with Africans. This movie captures the warm humor, community, values, and culture of the African people. It shows the growth of our main character from being a selfish competitive man to a selfless friend who embraced the culture of the people. I am 25 and watched this when I was 5 years old and I have loved it since.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
MovieLover4Lyfe
MovieLover4Lyfe Adult
October 6, 2010
age 8+
This movie isn't really worth watching. Offensive and not very well made.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In THE AIR UP THERE, ex-point guard Jimmy Dolan (Kevin Bacon) has his eye on the coach's job at the college he once led to a national basketball championship. Desperate for an edge, he travels to Kenya in an effort to recruit a promising player. When he gets there he discovers that the tall and talented Saleh can't go back to America because he is the future ruler of his people. All is not well with Saleh's tribe -- a greedy businessman wants the tribe's land. So, it's up to J.D. to rescue the helpless clan by organizing a winner-take-all basketball game. If Jimmy is to play in the game, he must go through a series of religious rituals to become one of the tribe. Not surprisingly, the team wins, Saleh comes back to America, and Jimmy lands the head coaching position.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2):
Kids say: Not yet rated

The air up there must be pretty thin stuff, because whoever thought up this offensive comedy was surely lacking oxygen. The story strains all credulity. Even audiences of a lightweight comedy will balk at the idea that an African tribe would risk everything on a basketball game. The bulk of the movie's humor is of the juvenile or gross-out variety. While Bacon is not given much to work with, he doesn't even deliver on the basics. He is an unconvincing dribbler and his comic timing is weak. This actor has done much better work just about everywhere else.

Given the racial stereotyping, the moralizing tone of the movie is outrageous. Bacon's J.D. learns the typical Hollywood lesson about overcoming pride and figuring out that there are more important things in life than winning. Of course, then J.D. goes out and wins the big game. A 12-year-old girl was extremely unimpressed. Granted, she's probably not the movie's target audience, but her derisive laughter throughout said it all: How dumb do moviemakers think kids are?

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about racial stereotypes and how they are reflected in pop culture.

  • Why is a an outsider brought into the tribe to save it? How does this make you feel?

Movie Details

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