Steve Coogan, Hilary Duff, Molly Shannon

Set in the mid-80's when a reporter is sent to cover the Challenger Space Shuttle launch only to become mixed up in the lives of some local students.

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35% liked it

11,073 ratings

Critics

11% liked it

27 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 44 min.

Directed by: Jonathan Glatzer

Release Date: May 29, 2009

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DVD Release Date: June 16, 2009

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Stats: 169 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (169)


  • July 12, 2009
    Tries pretty hard to be weird, but a lot of the characters seemed pretty pointless and their actions unmerrited.
  • July 9, 2009
    Campbell Babbittt is a reporter who is sent to New Hampshire, to cover the story of home town teacher Christa McAuliffe, who is going up in space on the Space Shuttle Challenger. Campbell's college pal ,also a teacher, dies that same week, in that same town. Along the way Campbe...( read more)ll gets mixed up in his life and the class of outcasts that he taught at the local High School.
    I saw a preview for this movie and thought to myself " Hmmm a class of misfits, set in the 80s, that could be good." I was sadly mistaken.
    HAD this movie taken the comedy route that it's previews led it to be, it may have saved itself, and even been a decent film. Instead, you have a bunch of people thrown together in an almost antithetical way. You are never really explained much about any of them and they are all just there, aimlessly.
    There is some decent talent in this film, so I was very shocked that it was such a dud. Olivia Thirlby was tolerable as Tess but even she didn't totally shine like she could have in that role.
    Overall I was bored and unimpressed with this film. Sometimes What Goes Up comes crashing down on it's face.
  • October 14, 2009
    Why did I even waste my time?!!!
  • October 6, 2009
    I'm not sure what everyone's issue was with this movie, I thought it was a truly wonderful film. Excellent cast, good dialogue, really highly recommend it.
  • August 8, 2009
    Josh Peck and Olivia Thirlby gave great perfomances. Seemed like Hilary Duff has done better acting then this.
  • July 12, 2009
    Steve Coogan doesn't lift this one alone. It never blasts off.
  • July 10, 2009
    Two years ago I didnt even know who Steve Coogan was but since seeing him in Tropic Thunder and Hamlet 2, I have become a fan of everything I have seen him in since. The guy has a balance of comedy and drama that brings back memories of the late great Peter Sellers. Here he plays...( read more) a reporter in 1986 sent to cover a story on doomed teacher/astronaut Christa MacAullife prior to her ride on the shuttle Challenger. There he seeks out a college buddy whom he later learns committed suicide leaving behind a special ed class of emotionally challegened students who loved the guy and immediately take to Coogan as their late mentor's replacement. Good story and great supporting job by Duff, Peck, and Shannon.
  • July 6, 2009
    This is a drama movie that was not that good. Hilary Duff has done movies that are a lot better than this one. I would not recommend.
  • July 2, 2009
    That is a strange movie to be honest, but in another way it was pretty good too, I loved steves and hilarys acting in this movie, so it scores on that too :)

Critic Reviews


May 25, 2009
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

What Goes Up's point that Americans create icons to fulfill their own screwy needs is made through contrived and nonsensical plotting. full review

View more What Goes Up reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • Rosepetal75
    January 25, 2009
    http://www.hninsider.com/content/safety-glass-steve-coogan-and-hilary-duff-langley
    Safety Glass - Steve Coogan and Hilary Duff in Langley
  • TwilightFan4ever
    July 25, 2008
    i really hope this is good. i think it will be because hilary duff is in it.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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