REVIEW: ‘Up In The Air’

Adapted from the novel of the same name by Walter Kirn, “Up In The Air” is the same old story we all have heard time after time: a workaholic comes to a realization that with all his success in his career, his personal life is an utter failure. We are all too familiar with this storyline and we have seen it a countless number of films and most recently in “The Family Man,” “The Proposal” and “New In Town.” So why is “Up In The Air” any different from the other movies? Well those movies didn’t have one of Hollywood most gifted writer/directors at the helm, Jason Reitman.

“Up In The Air” Rated R • 109 minutes Starring George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, Vera Farminga Directed by: Jason Reitman Written By: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner RCC Rating: Worth Full Price On Opening Weekend

Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is a corporate executive “executioner” who each day travels from city to city and office to office for one purpose only, in a true testament of our time, downsize the employees in those offices. Bingham goes down a list and meets face to face with each employee and proceeds to fire them. (An item to note: all the employees in the movie that were given the ax on film, with the exception of the wonderful J.K. Simmons and the hilarious Zach Galifianakis, are actual recently laid-off employees who were told to vent out their feeling to the cameras as if it was their boss.)

As awful as his career is, Bingham enjoys it. He tries his best to ensure that those employees leave with dignity and contentment and into a world that they are free to fulfill their life ambition and dreams. During Bingham’s off time, he is a motivational speaker who spreads his gospel on living life free of any attachment being it physical or emotional, what he likes to call ‘What’s in your backpack?’ Like all good motivational speakers he practices what he preaches and his home life is nothing but an empty apartment. You see what Bingham calls his home is lies 30,000 ft in the air inside a pressurized cabin of an American Airlines plane. He is the modern day Nomad.

Bingham’s dream is to achieve a feat that only six others have accomplished: accumulating over 10 million air miles, a feat that is well within his reach. On a stop in Dallas, Bingham meets his female counterpart and his love interest Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga). Goran is identical to Bingham in every way and she casually describes herself as “you (Bingham) with a vagina.” The only thing that is impeding Bingham’s goal and and his romance with Goran is the young new “executioner,” Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick), whose revolutionary ideas of dismissing employees might just ground Bingham. In order to get his wings back and to continue his romance with Goran,  Bingham allows Keener to shadow him to prove to her that his way is the only way to fire someone. Along the way he begins to realize that maybe his nomadic philosophy of life might not be the life he wants to live.

Like his previous movies “Thank You For Smoking” and “Juno,” Reitman delivers an “A” caliber movie that is funny, smart and a bit charming.  Reitman questions the true nature of why we have relationship in a way that not condescending to the viewer.  He allows the characters to develop and question their personal attachments, or lack thereof. Reitman truly knows how to balance a serious drama with a light refreshing comedy and make it work.  

Clooney’s acting and character is charming, dapper and suave. In a way, Clooney is not acting but just being himself. The on-screen chemistry between Clooney and Farmiga starts off great, but gradually loses steam as the movie progresses.

The true surprise of this movie is Anna Kendrick. Her portrayal of a cold and frigid character that you wind up caring for is outstanding. I started off this movie absolutely hating her and her character and by the end I just adored her. She can definitely carry her own weight acting alongside of Clooney. I wouldn’t be surprised if her name is tossed around for an Oscar nomination.

Overall, Jason Reitman is three for three. “Up In The Air” is entertaining and poignant, but I wouldn’t mark this film as his best work. Still, it is a very good movie to watch, that far exceeds any other movie that has used this storyline.