Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Raunchy comedy with sex, drugs, violence, and language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Balls Up
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
BALLS UP is the brand name of an innovative new condom designed by the straight-laced Elijah (Paul Walter Hauser) and marketed by his carefree salesman colleague Brad (Mark Wahlberg). The pair strikes gold when they sell the condom to Santos (Benjamin Bratt) as a main sponsor of the upcoming World Cup in Brazil. But things go south when Brad pressures the sober Santos to have a drink to celebrate, and things get even worse when the American duo accidentally change the results of the World Cup final. Elijah and Brad find themselves on the run for their lives when the entire country of Brazil wants them dead.
Is It Any Good?
When a character in this film asks if his faux Brazilian accent is offensive, and the response is that it's "right on the line," the exchange pretty much sums up this whole affair. It also—sort of—gives Balls Up a pass on casting actors like Sacha Baron Cohen and Benjamin Bratt to play other nationalities with fake accents, and on being giddily offensive in general. This film is satisfied with building on the existing Farrelly canon of buddy movies with good hearts and middle school humor. If you keep them low enough, your expectations will be completely met.
There's the usual gross-out comedy and lewd gags, mostly revolving around heterosexual men's sex drives and discomfort with each other's body parts. Polite social norms are smashed, and some funny but not groundbreaking commentary is made on the importance of soccer to people's identities in most countries around the world. Laughs can be had involving men's parts, soccer fans, Gisele Bundchen, and more. Wahlberg and Hauser make a suitable odd couple who find common ground in a goofy, far-fetched, South America-set life-or-death situation.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about if they found aspects of Balls Up offensive, and whether that's the point. Why can it be fun to watch films that break norms and even gross us out? Do you think the filmmakers go too far at any point?
How do you explain the fierce fandom of soccer aficionados around the world? Where could you go to find more information about soccer's global reach?
Would you characterize this film as a buddy movie? How about a road trip movie? Explain.
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : April 15, 2026
- Cast : Mark Wahlberg , Paul Walter Hauser , Sacha Baron Cohen
- Director : Peter Farrelly
- Studio : Prime Video
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Friendship , Sports ( Soccer )
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : crude sexual material, drug content, language throughout, violence and graphic nudity
- Last updated : April 17, 2026
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