The Air Up There
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.,In the story of his National Championship heroism, Jimmy Dolan refers to a play at the end of the fourth quarter of a game. College basketball is played in two halves, not in quarters.,[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!,Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Intersection/The Air Up There/Body Snatchers/Iron Will/Hoop Dreams (1994),WASHINGTON POST
Written by John Philip Sousa
Performed by The Stateside Marching Band,When college basketball coach Jimmy Dolan loses the hottest new recruit by beating him in a game of one on one and damaging his pride he loses his job and looks for a way to get back. He sees a brilliant African player on a home movie and travels to Kenya to recruit him. However Saleh is the Chief's son and has his own problems as a mining company is trying to get control of the tribe's land.

Bacon is not really a lead actor but someone who can give a good performance in co-lead or support. Here he has a film to carry on his own and struggles with it. Mainly it's due to the formulaic nature of the plot  lets be honest, even from the plot outline above I bet you could guess how's it going to end. However that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable  just not very good. It has plenty of nice laughs and the basketball action is fun and will directed if not realistic.

Despite the formula the cast mainly do quite well, but really it never manages to get above the sort of formulaic sports comedy that we see so often. However it is entertaining and I did enjoy just switching off my brain and letting it go in one ear and out the other.

Instantly forgettable and very by the numbers but some good laughs, good locations and good basketball action make it an entertaining enough film to just veg out in front of. Not great but passable.,