In The Upside of Anger, Terry Wolfmeyer (Joan Allen), a cynical mother of four girls, drowns her sorrows in alcohol when her husband leaves her. She finds solace in Denny (Kevin Costner), a former baseball player whose idea of a pick-up line is telling a woman that he'll mention her on his radio show. Their relationship evolves and allows them to develop with each obstacle they face together.
The film starts off sloppily; the audience is forced to trust the director's instinct as the plot grows more random and the characters err continuously. Although the characters are flawed and immature, they remain honest and three-dimensional, and that's what makes the film interesting. We sympathize with Terry's hatred of Shep (Mike Binder), Denny's sleazy producer who enters a relationship with her teenage daughter Andy (Erika Christensen). We see Emily's (Keri Russell) desire to pursue dancing despite her mother's insensitivity toward her plight. We see how Denny is caring, despite the fact that he is immature and irresponsible.
The talented cast also makes up for the flaws in the film. Costner breathes vulnerability and innocence into Denny, and Allen is brilliant as a disillusioned woman trying to cope. Despite the film's varying plot, well-executed performances and a redeeming ending make it worthwhile.
