Tagline: A different class of misfits.
Set in the 1980s, this poignant slice-of-life film revolves around Campbell Babbitt (Steve Coogan), a morally challenged and emotionally distraught New York reporter sent to cover the New Hampshire hometown hoopla surrounding Christa McAuliffe, the first civilian astronaut.
Upon arriving in the small New Hampshire town, Babbitt decides to call an old college friend, only to discover an apparent suicide. As another teacher (Molly Shannon) attempts to keep a looming scandal and celebration spoiler out of the newspaper, Babbitt gravitates toward his friends students in hopes of finding an unsung hero story about a teacher who made a permanent impact on kids that nobody understands.
Instead, he discovers the least likely teachers a group of dysfunctional high school students, misfits, and outcasts led by a narcissistic seductress (Hilary Duff), a repressed voyeur (Josh Peck), and a scheming pregnant teen (Olivia Thirlby). After sharing his own lapse of ethics in New York to gain their trust, Babbitt becomes obsessed with their subtleties of manipulation, need for attention, and desire to make heroes where no heroes exist.
In a gradual reversal of roles, the students teach Babbitt that the characteristics he is attempting to project on them might really be qualities that he and other adults possess. The lesson Babbitt learns is that he may need a hero more than students need him to replace their hero. And, in learning he is not so different than the students, he begins to relate to them in unexpected and potentially perilous ways, including an infatuation with the same student rumored to have had an affair with his dead friend.
What Goes Up is a comedy-drama film distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment starring Hilary Duff, Steve Coogan, Josh Peck, Olivia Thirlby, and Molly Shannon, directed by Jonathan Glatzer and co-written by Glatzer and Robert Lawson. Coogan also serves as an executive producer.
It premiered on May 8, 2009 at the 3rd Annual Buffalo Niagara Film Festival. What Goes Up was released in the US through Sony Pictures and Three Kings Productions in select theaters on May 29, 2009 and expanded to more theaters the following week. Cities included Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, Buffalo, Boston and Chicago. The movie grossed $5,290 in its opening weekend.
What Goes Up (2009)
Directed by: Jonathan Glatzer
Starring: Hilary Duff, Steve Coogan, Molly Shannon, Olivia Thirlby, Josh Peck, Max Hoffman, Molly Price, Laura Carswell, Sarah Lind, Andrea Brooks, Colleen Rennison, Aubrey Mozino
Screenplay by: Jonathan Glatzer, Robert Lawson
Production Design by: Tony Devenyi
Cinematography by: Antonio Calvache
Film Editing by: Jennifer Godin, Fenster Itski
Costume Design by: Andrea Des Roches
Set Decoration by: Sierra Laflamme
Art Direction by: Kerri Elliott
Music by: Roddy Bottum
MPAA Rating: R for sexuality, language and some drug use, all involving teens.
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Classics
Release Date: May 29, 2009
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