Common Sense Media Review
By John Sooja
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gun violence, language in solid '90s basketball drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
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Where to Watch
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Above the Rim
What's the Story?
In ABOVE THE RIM, Kyle Lee Watson (Duane Martin) is a local basketball phenom on track to go to Georgetown on a full scholarship. But some of his friends, like Birdie (Tupac Shakur) and Bugaloo (Marlon Wayans), might distract him from staying focused. Will the influences of Kyle's mother (Tonya Pinkins) and her new boyfriend, Shep (Leon Robinson) be enough to keep Kyle on the right path?
Is It Any Good?
A bit formulaic, but incredibly watchable, Above the Rim showcases some great young Black male stars (Tupac Shakur, Duane Martin, Marlon Wayans), many of whom go on to have wonderful careers. Most compelling, though, is certainly Shakur, whose charisma and charm effortlessly capture every scene he appears in. While bad decisions, legal trouble, and scandal would frequent Shakur's life during and after this film until his death 2 years later, his "Birdie" and other roles in Juice ("Bishop") and Poetic Justice ("Lucky") still indicate what a massive talent he was.
While there are some cliched moments, dialogue, and overacting, the quick pacing and confident story structure keeps the film afloat. Sometimes, dramas like this somewhat depend on a villain worthy of the role. Thankfully, Shakur's performance ramps up as the stakes increase, and the film is better for it, even if its conclusion has long been foreshadowed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in dramas. How does the violence in Above the Rim differ from violence in similar movies made 20 years later?
If this film were made today, what do you think would be different? What would be the same?
Why do you think Bugaloo did what he did to Birdie at the end? What message does this send?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 23, 1994
- On DVD or streaming : August 1, 2022
- Cast : Duane Martin , Leon Robinson , Tupac Shakur , Marlon Wayans
- Director : Jeff Pollack
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : pervasive strong language, and for violence
- Last updated : December 12, 2023
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