What Goes Up

Name: What Goes Up
Genre: Drama
Released: May 29, 2009
Rating: 22

2009

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	Your Score
7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Ratings

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What Goes Up

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures | Release Date: May 29, 2009 | R

Summary: It is 1986. An emotionally damaged New York reporter is sent to cover the hometown hoopla for a local hero. But rather than pursue his assignment, which leaves him cold, he follows a group of disaffected students, whose own hero - their beloved, unconventional teacher has just died under a cloud of scandal. Their passionate and, at times,It is 1986. An emotionally damaged New York reporter is sent to cover the hometown hoopla for a local hero. But rather than pursue his assignment, which leaves him cold, he follows a group of disaffected students, whose own hero - their beloved, unconventional teacher has just died under a cloud of scandal. Their passionate and, at times, ludicrous expressions of grief attract the reporter. He moves into their alternate universe, a willing "substitute teacher", but descends into a web of lies and misplaced sexual desire with this group of confused and combustible youths who attempt to cast him as their new hero and teacher. (Sony Pictures)… Expand

Director: Jonathan Glatzer

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

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Critic Reviews

Andrew O'Hehir

Director and co-writer Jonathan Glatzer handles his talented cast well, and the movie is dark, droll and sentimental in roughly the correct proportions. Worth a look. Read full review

Noel Murray

What Goes Up has a one-of-a-kind character in Coogan, a cynic with a savior complex, who lies partly out of convenience, and partly because he knows--as Glatzer and Lawson know--that even a messy story can still inspire. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Even when Mr. Coogan can't make his scenes work, his prickly presence keeps you watching, as does the eerie scenes of winter that Mr. Glatzer captures with the camera. Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

Glatzer's self-consciously quirky indie is misguided on every level. Read full review

Ethan Alter

A turgid mess of a film that has a lot of ideas on its mind, none of which prove very interesting or in fact coherent. Read full review

Glenn Whipp

Glatzer aims to wring laughter out of this desperation but succeeds only in producing a series of contrived characters and situations that make "The Breakfast Club" look like an unfiltered documentary. Read full review

Michael Phillips

Nothing in this movie is properly focused; everyone keeps talking about a character whom we never meet and does not matter; the tone keeps slipping around from indolent satire to thudding sincerity, and the Challenger shuttle disaster backdrop is queasy-making at best, offensive at worst. Read full review

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User Reviews

brandyh

Jul 13, 2009

Ok, it was weird and not the best movie, but I enjoyed it. I think Hilary Duff did very well, at least out of them all. But still, it was a movie i"d watch again.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

ashleyj

Jul 13, 2009

I liked this movie. it was messy and had too many things going on to the point where i was confused but, hey, it rocked!

1 of 1 users found this helpful

bentlyh

Jul 13, 2009

Creative and a very good movie. i enjoyed it.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

JayH

Jun 14, 2009

Director Glatzer has too many things going on, the film lacks focus, but he does have an interesting style, and time will tell if he develops it effectively. The cast tries, Steve Coogan is quite bland though. Too many slow and uninteresting stretches.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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