Up In The Air Movie Review

Up In The Air

Grade: A-

This is a very good movie.  Good story, good characters and good acting.  I have to admit, I wish I had seen it earlier in it's release.  With all the whoop-to-do I've been hearing and it making all the Top 10 Movies of the Year lists, I was kind of expecting more.  It's not that it isn't a very good movie, I just think my expectations were raised a little too high.

George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham who is addicted to his life on the road.  Ryan works for a company that processes massive layoffs and he travels more then 300 days a year going from city to city; firing people.  His particular lifestyle choices requires very little real human contact which ultimately makes him very good at his job.  The appearance of  empathy without any real feeling. 

He has also perfected the art of travel.  He's got every Frequent Guest VIP card to  every travel related services known to man.  He knows the secrets to manuevering through every airport, hotel and rental car service. He's a front of the line kind of guy.

The story behind this movie, comes from the changes in Ryan's life, both at work and in his personal life, causing him to question his life choices.  His supporting characters include Vera Farmiga as Alex, a charming fellow travelaholic who he meets in a hotel bar and Anna Kendrick as Natalie, a recent Cornell grad set to revolutionize the world of employee transitioning. 

Anna Kendrick kind of stole this movie for me.  I felt that it was her character that gave the film it's real heart.  The previews don't really give her character it's just due.  She is smart and accomplished while at the same time, naive and quirky.  I really liked the development of her and Ryan's relationship in the film.  I think their relationship helps each of them grow and evolve into better people.

Oh...and George looks as good as ever.