Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- breezy
- uplifting
- witty
- family movie night
- sports movie marathon
What critics said
Critics regarded the film as a formulaic family sports comedy weakened by cultural imperialism and similarities to earlier Disney films.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jimmy Dolan travels to Africa specifically to find Saleh and secure a major coaching promotion.
Jimmy's recruitment mission places him inside Saleh's community, where tribal responsibilities conflict with basketball ambitions.
Saleh's tribe faces pressure from a mining company whose basketball team becomes part of the conflict.
The film juxtaposes Jimmy's college basketball world with village life and an unfamiliar local community.
Films like The Air Up There, and why
Cool Runnings
shared family-friendly sports comedy, outsider protagonist, and cross-cultural fish-out-of-water premise
The Mighty Ducks
shared underdog sports story, coaching mentorship, and upbeat ensemble comedy
The Big Green
shared family adventure, cultural encounter, and conventional inspirational sports formula
Movie Details
- Director
- Paul Michael Glaser
- Release Date
- 1994-01-07
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (173)
Cast
- Kevin Bacon
- Charles Gitonga Maina
- Yolanda Vazquez
- Mabutho 'Kid' Sithole
- Sean McCann
- Dennis Patrick
- Ilo Mutombo
- Nigel Miguel
- Eric Menyuk
- Keith Gibbs
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Air Up There about?
- A career-hungry college basketball coach ventures into Africa to recruit a gifted player whose community needs him for a far larger fight.
- What is The Air Up There like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Air Up There as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is The Air Up There violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Air Up There.
- What did critics think of The Air Up There?
- Critics regarded the film as a formulaic family sports comedy weakened by cultural imperialism and similarities to earlier Disney films.
- Which films are like The Air Up There?
- Films with a similar feel include Cool Runnings, The Mighty Ducks, and The Big Green.
- How long is The Air Up There?
- The Air Up There runs 107 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Air Up There?
- In United States, The Air Up There streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
