The Air Up There (1994) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
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.
Rated PG • 1994 • 1h 47m
This PG-rated sports comedy received its rating for some violence and surprisingly frequent language. In The Air Up There, college basketball coach Jimmy Dolan travels to Kenya to recruit a talented player, Saleh, and finds himself embroiled in a conflict over tribal land. Parents should be aware that the film contains more profanity than is typical for its rating, including multiple uses of "s--t," "ass," and "Goddamn." Violence is… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is The Air Up There appropriate for kids?
This PG-rated sports comedy received its rating for some violence and surprisingly frequent language. In The Air Up There, college basketball coach Jimmy Dolan travels to Kenya to recruit a talented player, Saleh, and finds himself embroiled in a conflict over tribal land… Read more — free account
Content severity in The Air Up There
What happens in The Air Up There, moment by moment
- 0:08 💬 Language 4/10
- 0:15 💬 Language 5/10
- 0:22 🍷 Substances 2/10
Sex and nudity in The Air Up There
Sexual content is not a factor. There may be a brief, passing romantic comment or a light flirtation between adult characters, but there are no sexual situations or nudity.
Violence and gore in The Air Up There
Violence is moderate and mostly sports-related. Scenes include aggressive and sometimes dirty play during basketball games, with hard fouls, shoving, and arguments on the court. A few brief scuffles and altercations occur off the court, including a character being punched, but none of the violence is graphic or bloody.
Language in The Air Up There
The film contains more profanity than is typical for its PG rating. The IMDb Parents Guide notes multiple uses of "s--t" (around 9 times), "ass" (including "asshole"), "damn," "hell," and exclamations like "Goddamn" and "S.O.B." The name "Jesus" is also used as an exclamation.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Air Up There
There are a few instances of social drinking. Adult characters are shown drinking beer in bars or other settings. The Kenyan villagers also share a traditional alcoholic beverage as part of a custom.
Mature themes in The Air Up There
The main themes involve the clash and eventual blending of American and Kenyan cultures, as well as the 'fish out of water' experience for the main character. There are also mature themes of corporate greed, as a mining company threatens to take the tribe's ancestral land, creating peril and high stakes for the community. The film explores concepts of family duty versus personal ambition.
Scary moments in The Air Up There
No standout scary moments have been catalogued for The Air Up There yet. Because this title is recommended for younger kids, sign up to get community-flagged jump scares, tense scenes, and startling imagery as parents submit them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Air Up There appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Air Up There is best for ages 10+. It's rated PG. This PG-rated sports comedy received its rating for some violence and surprisingly frequent language. In The Air Up There, college basketball coach Jimmy Dolan travels to Kenya to recruit a talented player, Saleh, and…
What age rating does The Air Up There have?
The Air Up There is officially rated PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 10+.
What is The Air Up There about?
This PG-rated sports comedy received its rating for some violence and surprisingly frequent language. In The Air Up There, college basketball coach Jimmy Dolan travels to Kenya to recruit a talented player, Saleh, and finds himself embroiled in a conflict over tribal land. Parents should be aware that the film…
Is there sex or nudity in The Air Up There?
Sexual content is not a factor. There may be a brief, passing romantic comment or a light flirtation between adult characters, but there are no sexual situations or nudity.
How violent is The Air Up There?
Violence is moderate and mostly sports-related. Scenes include aggressive and sometimes dirty play during basketball games, with hard fouls, shoving, and arguments on the court. A few brief scuffles and altercations occur off the court, including a character…
Is the language in The Air Up There appropriate for kids?
The film contains more profanity than is typical for its PG rating. The IMDb Parents Guide notes multiple uses of "s--t" (around 9 times), "ass" (including "asshole"), "damn," "hell," and exclamations like "Goddamn" and "S.O.B." The name "Jesus" is also used…
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Air Up There?
There are a few instances of social drinking. Adult characters are shown drinking beer in bars or other settings. The Kenyan villagers also share a traditional alcoholic beverage as part of a custom.
What mature themes appear in The Air Up There?
The main themes involve the clash and eventual blending of American and Kenyan cultures, as well as the 'fish out of water' experience for the main character. There are also mature themes of corporate greed, as a mining company threatens to take the tribe's…
How long is The Air Up There?
The Air Up There runs 107 minutes, directed by Paul Michael Glaser, released in 1994.
Where can I read the full The Air Up There parent guide?
Create a free Bontent account to unlock the full scene-by-scene notes, filter by your kids' ages, and save titles to your personal watchlist.
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