George Clooney charms, mesmerizes... the film is George Clooney!

Rating: 6/10 (4 December 2009)

Jason Reitman's film is clever, mesmerizing with numerous scenes succeeding in stirring up laughter, and has a host of memorable images of very expressive faces of characters ... at least for only the first 30 minutes before it gradually glides into tediously silly sub-plots. Luckily, the film does have George Clooney to keep the audience's eyes glued to the screen from scene to scene. In the same way Ellen Page's charming presence took over literally every scene in Reitman's Juno, George Clooney is built into every scene to charm the audience. Every other character is merely playing second fiddle to his screen prominence.
Clooney is marvelously captivating throughout the film. Indeed, he is the film. Yep, he's the Cary Grant of the 21st century and does deliver style, confidence, elegance, and phenomenal acting talent! Yes, he appears so iconic, immaculate and savvy in his suit! His stylistically, suave and handsome Ryan keeps the audience's eyes glued to the screen, and immensely charmed by Clooney. Clooney is Ryan, and Ryan is Clooney! Everything else, including the out-of-place and silly subplots, like the wedding scenario, and Reitman's awkward cameo scene, becomes secondary. Yep, Clooney holds the responsibility to make or break this film!
Vera Farmiga's Alex (at times, reminding me of Leelee Sobieski.) does try hard to steal the limelight from him, but fails. Her character is unconvincing and superficial, her moods and expressions pretty one-dimensional. Her acting performance hasn't changed much since her Madolyn in "The Departed", The interactions between her and Ryan seem too theatrical even with her flirtatious ploy, and there is no convincing chemistry between the two. It does make me wonder if that is meant to be a hint for predicting the story's ending.
Anna Kendrick's Natalie is an oddball, marvelous when exhibiting her peculiar and oft times, bizarre behavior. She is the only character in the film capable of stealing the momentary limelight from Clooney's Ryan. In a strange way, the camera seems to be focusing consistently on her set of teeth, at different angles, to make me wonder if they are meant to arouse laughter, or that they are elements relevant to her performance. Overall, the Natalie character is not very interesting. I doubt I'd miss her if she's written out of the script. Maybe, her character is meant to be there to pose challenges to Ryan's career security? Hard to tell!
CLOONEY DOES DESERVE AN Oscar NOMINATION. He is the story; he is the film, and he grabs the viewer's attention from scene to scene, allowing them to overlook any brouhaha, the tedious and slow pacing of events, and the silly subplots with little bearing to the film's initial 30 minutes of plot and themes. I was very glad for the film's ending before Clooney's Ryan starts to lose his complete poise and savvy disposition, and sinks to the same silliness exhibited by Natalie.
Clooney is fabulous; the film/storyline, overall, is mediocre.