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The Air Up There

  • 19941994
  • PGPG
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
8.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Kevin Bacon and Charles Gitonga Maina in The Air Up There (1994)
A basketball coach travels to Africa to recruit a new star.
Play trailer0:32
1 Video
17 Photos
ComedyFamilySport

A basketball coach travels to Africa to recruit a new star.A basketball coach travels to Africa to recruit a new star.A basketball coach travels to Africa to recruit a new star.

IMDb RATING
5.5/10
8.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Paul Michael Glaser
  • Writer
    • Max Apple
  • Stars
    • Kevin Bacon
    • Charles Gitonga Maina
    • Yolanda Vazquez
Top credits
  • Director
    • Paul Michael Glaser
  • Writer
    • Max Apple
  • Stars
    • Kevin Bacon
    • Charles Gitonga Maina
    • Yolanda Vazquez
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 31User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro

    • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 0:32
    Trailer

    Photos17

    Charles Gitonga Maina, Dennis Patrick, and Yolanda Vazquez in The Air Up There (1994)
    Charles Gitonga Maina and Ilo Mutombo in The Air Up There (1994)
    Kevin Bacon and Dennis Patrick in The Air Up There (1994)
    Kevin Bacon and Charles Gitonga Maina in The Air Up There (1994)
    Kevin Bacon and Charles Gitonga Maina in The Air Up There (1994)
    Kevin Bacon in The Air Up There (1994)
    Kevin Bacon and Charles Gitonga Maina in The Air Up There (1994)
    Kevin Bacon and Charles Gitonga Maina in The Air Up There (1994)
    Charles Gitonga Maina in The Air Up There (1994)
    Charles Gitonga Maina in The Air Up There (1994)
    Kevin Bacon and Charles Gitonga Maina in The Air Up There (1994)
    Kevin Bacon and Charles Gitonga Maina in The Air Up There (1994)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kevin Bacon
    Kevin Bacon
    • Jimmy Dolanas Jimmy Dolan
    Charles Gitonga Maina
    Charles Gitonga Maina
    • Salehas Saleh
    Yolanda Vazquez
    • Sister Susanas Sister Susan
    Winston Ntshona
    Winston Ntshona
    • Uruduas Urudu
    Mabutho 'Kid' Sithole
    • Nyagaas Nyaga
    Sean McCann
    Sean McCann
    • Ray Foxas Ray Fox
    Dennis Patrick
    Dennis Patrick
    • Father O'Haraas Father O'Hara
    Ilo Mutombo
    • Mifundoas Mifundo
    Nigel Miguel
    Nigel Miguel
    • Halawias Halawi
    Eric Menyuk
    Eric Menyuk
    • Mark Collinsas Mark Collins
    Keith Gibbs
    • Buddy Wilsonas Buddy Wilson
    Miriam Owiti
    • Beisaas Beisa
    Douglas Leboyare
    • Ikedoas Ikedo
    Francis Mutei
    • St. Georgeas St. George
    Gibson Gathu Mbugua
    • Harimboas Harimbo
    Vusi Kunene
    Vusi Kunene
    • Ntzukoas Ntzuko
    Connie Chiume
    Connie Chiume
    • Mrs. Uruduas Mrs. Urudu
    John Matshikiza
    John Matshikiza
    • Mingori Mining Company Clerkas Mingori Mining Company Clerk
    • Director
      • Paul Michael Glaser
    • Writer
      • Max Apple
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Jimmy Dolan is a college basketball coach who wants a big promotion. To get it, he needs to make a dramatic find. He ends up deep in Africa, hoping to recruit Saleh, a huge basketball prodigy Jimmy glimpsed in a home movie. But Saleh is the chief's son and has responsibilities at home, since the tribe's land is threatened by a mining company with its own hotshot basketball team. —Reid Gagle
    basketball sportbasketballcollege basketballafricaathletic scout3 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Jimmy Dolan went to recruit a new player. What he found was a whole new ballgame.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Family
      • Sport
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG for some violence and language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jimmy Dolan (Kevin Bacon) states the mythical St. Joseph's University won the 1981 National Championship. Indiana University won the 1981 National Championship led by Isiah Thomas. Both Indiana University and Isiah Thomas get a reference later in the movie.
    • Goofs
      Mifundo (Ilo Mutombo) speaks Lingala and not Swahili, the local language in Kenya and spoken by all the other African characters speak Swahili. Lingaga is the language of western DRCongo, and would never be spoken in Kenya.
    • Quotes

      [Sister Susan kisses Jimmy after his team wins]

      Jimmy Dolan: Sister! You're allowed to kiss?

      Sister Susan: [smiling] Only if I really mean it!

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Intersection/The Air Up There/Body Snatchers/Iron Will/Hoop Dreams (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      WASHINGTON POST
      Written by John Philip Sousa
      Performed by The Stateside Marching Band

    User reviews31

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    OK but hardly memorable
    Kevin Bacon stars in "The Air Up There," a family "comedy" that is nothing more than a few familiar faces and half-hearted laughs. It's another feel-good underdog story of which is not particularly memorable.

    Kudos to Bacon for turning a pretty routine script into a watchable, even amusing movie with some OK moments and likable characters. Not as good as "Cool Runnings," but still worth catching if it's on Sunday afternoon or something.

    3/5

    Not great, but good.
    helpful•6
    2
    • MovieAddict2016
    • Dec 5, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 7, 1994 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Japan
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Una tribu en la cancha
    • Filming locations
      • Hoedspruitt, South Africa
    • Production companies
      • Hollywood Pictures
      • Interscope Communications
      • Longview Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $17,080,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $21,011,318
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,240,859
      • Jan 9, 1994
    • Gross worldwide
      • $21,011,318
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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