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Joan Allen, Kevin Costner, Erika Christensen, Evan Rachel Wood, Keri Russell ... see more see more... , Alicia Witt , Mike Binder , Tom Harper , Dane Christensen , Daniel Webb , Magdalena Manville , Suzanne Bertish , David Firth , Roderick P. Woodruff , Stephen Greif , Arthur Penhallow , Richard Mylan , Robert Perkins , William Tapley , Owen Oakshot , Bella Sabbagh , Michelle Denholm , Natalie Domanski , Sophie Gorrod , Carolyn Logan , Alison McWhinney , Natasha O'Brien , Stina Quagebeur , Olivia Ratcliffe , Laura Suttle , Nicola Wallis , Miki Weatherford , Nao Yamazato , Gavin Munn , Nicholas White , Peter Hajioff , Chris Banks , Roger Batting

Two friends wonder if there might be more between them when their lives both take a left turn in this romantic comedy. Terry (Joan Allen) is a middle-aged housewife and mother of four teenaged daughte... read more read more...rs and gets the shock of her life when her husband, without a word of warning, leaves them behind, presumably to move to Sweden with his secretary. Going through a bender of depression and alcohol, Terry finds herself commiserating with Denny (Kevin Costner), a former baseball star turned unenthusiastic radio personality who was her husband's colleague and friend and an occasional presence at the house. With both Terry and Denny feeling down in the dumps about recent events in their lives, the two find themselves drawn to one another, and while Terry fights the notion of a new romance, her daughters -- Andy (Erika Christensen), Hadley (Alicia Witt), Emily (Keri Russell), and Lavender (Evan Rachel Wood) -- each have different ideas about their futures. The Upside of Anger was written and directed by Mike Binder, who also plays a supporting role as the producer of Denny's radio show. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

59% liked it

28,608 ratings

Critics

75% liked it

170 critics

R, 1 hr. 58 min.

Directed by: Mike Binder

Release Date: March 11, 2005

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DVD Release Date: July 26, 2005

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Stats: 1,259 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,259)

  • SirPant
    May 31, 2011
    SirPant
    The only upside to this film is the twist ending that is only welcome because you end up hating the characters so much (I won't spoil the ending but I also wouldn't recommend this film). To be fair though, I thought Kevin Costner was pretty good in this and I liked his character.... read more Joan Allen is good at what she does but what she does best is play really hateful people and sometimes (most of the time) they are not necessarily the kind of characters I enjoy. Erika Christensen, Keri Russell and Alicia Witt play hateful daughters of a hateful mother really well too because I now hate them and don't wish to see any other films that they are in. Evan Rachel Wood is forgiven and has more than made up for it since. Basically I found this film in the bargain bin and it had 'Incredibly funny' written on the sleeve. It's not 'Incredibly funny' but it does however belong in the bargain bin.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    August 12, 2009
    FiLmCrAzY
    I really quite liked ths movie, it was a beautiful storyline and brilliantly acted as well!
    Its funny, dramatic sad and a powerful drama that really is inspiring as well!
    the story is about a wife who comes to believe her husband has betrayed her and left her for his receptioni... read morest so she comes so engrossed in her feelings of anger and betrayal that she ignores the fact she has a responsibility as a mother, this story is mainly about finding yourself and becoming a new person and that there is an upside to anger!
    A really good movie really wroth a watch Joan Allen is fantastic in this role!
  • jennifxu
    July 11, 2009
    jennifxu
    Whoa, SO not what I was expecting but surprisingly funny and touching at the strangest parts! Joan Allen is certainly a marvel, and the rest of the female supporting cast is pretty wonderful too. The ending was...very cathartic.
  • aliceinpunderland
    February 17, 2008
    aliceinpunderland
    Joan Allen is rock-awesome and ending is totally boss...BUT everything preceding it kinda sucked ass. Script is full of what Binder thought was clever at the time but really isn't in practice. The daughters have one identifying trait each and nothing beyond that. Also, the thr... read moreee eldest all look the same age. Keri Russell is delightful but casting-wise, she should have been the eldest. The only well-written character is Terry but even then, I saw no trace of "the nicest person" Popeye spoke of. She had to have the potential to become mad and drunk. And since I haven't seen "Thirteen" yet, I'm still not convinced ERW is that great of an actress.
  • LitelBluHli
    December 2, 2007
    LitelBluHli
    Lovely film!
  • roygutteridge
    September 9, 2007
    roygutteridge
    Compelling and honest with flashes of dark humour which makes this a meaty comedy drama.
  • Redlats
    June 9, 2007
    Redlats
    Yet another feel-good movie. Terry (Joan Allen) is left to fend for herself and raise four daughters when her husband disappears. Her neighbour and fellow drunk Denny (Kevin Costner) start to have feelings for each other. Does everybody live happily ever after?
  • deano
    January 3, 2007
    deano
    Amusing drama and Joan Allen is at her best in an excruciatingly tense and funny restaurant scene.
  • allan913
    November 27, 2006
    allan913
    A pleasently entertaining, funny and warmhearted movie. The laughs are gut busting. A wonderful movie that has plenty of dramatic and comic effect. Joan Allen is fantastic. Kevin Costner has never been better.
  • mjgildea
    November 13, 2006
    mjgildea
    Kind of disappointing. Not as much drunken trainwreck anger as I was hoping for.

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Critic Reviews

Jonathan F. Richards
September 15, 2005
Jonathan F. Richards, Film.com

Binder wrote this movie for Joan Allen, and it is her flinty performance that gives the undertaking what claim it has to success. Full Review

Kirk Honeycutt
April 2, 2005
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter

The actors tune in to their individual characters perfectly, but this is Allen's show.

Geoff Pevere
March 25, 2005
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

Standard-issue. Full Review

Desson Thomson
March 18, 2005
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

What's best about Upside is its gonzo-sitcom craziness, a situation that lends itself to enjoyable performances. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
March 18, 2005
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

It feels like a retread of several better movies, with a nastier, more bitter edge. Full Review

Ruthe Stein
March 18, 2005
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle

The characters are actually believable, and the messes they get into approximate real life. Full Review

Roger Moore
March 18, 2005
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Perfectly adult, perfectly acted and perfectly adorable, it surprises and charms for most of those 90 minutes. Full Review

Rick Groen
March 18, 2005
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Meant to explore anger, all this picture does is manufacture it. Full Review

Tom Long
March 18, 2005
Tom Long, Detroit News

One seriously enjoyable film, filled with laughs and recognizable situations and people you might know or like to know.

Terry Lawson
March 18, 2005
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Allen, who is without doubt one of the best actors of her era, gets to go places she has never before gone, while Costner gets to remind us exactly what it was we were drawn to in Bull Durham. Full Review

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The Upside of Anger Trivia

  • who direct the movie"the upside of anger"?  Answer »
  • Which Actor stars in All These Movies?? Field Of Dreams The Bodyguard Dances With Wolves The Upside of Anger Message in A Bottle  Answer »
  • "Field Of Dreams", "For Love Of The Game", "Bull Durham" and "Chasing Dreams". Name another movie Kevin Costner played a baseball player in.  Answer »
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