The Upside of Anger 2005

The film opens with a heart-wrenching funeral scene, where Terry Wolfmeyer and her four daughters, along with their friend Denny Davies, gather to say their final goodbyes. The air is thick with sorrow, but this solemn event is merely the start of their challenging journey.

Flash back three years, and we discover Terry’s life prior to this moment. The situation takes a disastrous turn when she and her daughters—Hadley, Andy, Emily, and Popeye—learn that their father, Grey, has left them for his secretary in Sweden. This painful revelation triggers Terry’s downward spiral, leading her to seek refuge in alcohol as a means to cope with her heartbreak and outrage.

As the months roll by, the bond between Terry and her daughters begins to unravel under the strain of her excessive drinking. Her behavior not only jeopardizes her health but also leaves a profound impact on her family. It is during this turbulent time that she meets Denny Davies, a former baseball player turned radio talk show host, who becomes an unexpected source of support for her amid her struggles.

As Terry and Denny’s friendship deepens, they find comfort in their shared habit of drinking. However, their relationship raises eyebrows, especially when Andy takes a job at Denny’s radio station as a production assistant. There, she meets Shep, who is in his 40s and is both Denny’s producer and an unsettling figure in Andy’s life. Her burgeoning romance with Shep infuriates Terry, creating escalating tension within the household.

Meanwhile, Popeye navigates the complexities of young love, discovering that his crush, Gorden, is gay. Instead of letting this revelation drive a wedge between them, they forge a strong friendship rooted in their experiences of navigating broken homes.

As the narrative unfolds, Terry’s connection with her daughters continues to weaken. Emily, who aspires to be a professional ballet dancer, faces resistance from her mother, who insists she should pursue a conventional university education. After much inner turmoil, Emily ultimately chooses to follow her passion for dance at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, but not before a battle with an eating disorder lands her in the hospital. When she returns home, a new understanding begins to blossom between her and Terry.

During this tumultuous period, Andy starts to excel in her role at the radio station, ultimately moving on from her relationship with Shep. Hadley, now a college graduate, reveals her engagement to David, which sends Terry into a rage, feeling betrayed that Hadley did not share this news with her sooner or introduce her to David. This leads to an awkward lunch encounter with David’s parents, deepening the rift within the family.

As the Wolfmeyer family grapples with their individual challenges, they also confront the repercussions of their choices. Can they find a way to heal and support one another, or will their longstanding issues pull them further apart? When Popeye seeks advice about his feelings for Denny’s mother from Terry, he is met with an explosive reaction. Terry accuses him of distracting her from serious commitment, leading Denny to confront her about her behavior. In a fit of anger, Terry leaves their home, prompting Popeye to reflect on their relationship.

After navigating through this emotional turmoil, Terry eventually reconciles with her feelings for Popeye, and they strengthen their bond. Just as they come to terms with life’s ups and downs, they face a significant moment when a real estate venture involving both Terry and Denny leads to the discovery of an old, forgotten well, which unveils the remains of Grey Wolfmeyer.

As the truth about Grey’s disappearance emerges—it becomes evident he never left but tragically passed away in the well—Terry is forced to confront her wrongful beliefs about his abandonment. Returning to the funeral scene, we find the Wolfmeyer family, now including Denny as part of their extended circle, gathered to remember Grey.

In this emotionally charged moment, Terry wrestles with the implications of her past decisions alongside those of her daughters. Although still grieving their loss, she begins to embrace a newfound sense of inner peace, a hard-won acceptance that inspires her to move forward with renewed hope and resilience.