UP IN THE AIR: more than a flighty comedy

Rating: 10/10 (8 July 2010)

ZIP up the carry-on bag, SNAP up the handle, ROLL up to the gate, and V.I.P. through the automatic check-in machine. ZIP. SNAP. ROLL. VIP. "It's a pleasure to see you again Mr. Bigham." In V.I.P. time, Ryan Bigham is "Up in the Air."
This is the structured, comfortable life of Corporate Downsizing Expert and elite frequent flyer Ryan Bigham (brilliantly played by George Clooney.) Bigham happily travels 322 days a year. He is on the verge of achieving his ultimate goal - to win a golden card for earning ten million frequent flyer hours. And he has just met the frequent flyer woman of his dreams, Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga) - a sexually adventurous woman with no excess baggage.
I was delighted to discover that "Up in the Air" was a charming, witty, and ultimately poignant film in the tradition of Prestin Sturge's smart comedies. Kudos to director/co-writer Jason Reitman ("Juno," "Thank You for Smoking,"), co-writer Sheldon Turner, and an award winning ensemble cast.
Brigham flies from city to city firing unsuspecting corporate employees. He handles his job with the necessary objectivity while treating his victims with as much dignity as he can muster. He gives them a package that includes their severance benefits and a plan for reclaiming their unrealized dreams. No doubt it is a great comfort to get "up and away" from it all.
Brigham is in danger of being grounded when an Ivy League graduate Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) develops a plan to save travel costs by firing people via video conferencing. Brigham's comfortable routine is challenged when he is forced to take Natalie on the road to show her the ropes. She observes, "You have set up a way of life that makes it impossible for you to have any kind of human connection." I found myself routing for this self-centered man to finally grow and learn how to connect with other people.
"Up in the Air" reminds us that in these difficult times, we need the strength we get from our connections with others. I loved it.
Movie Blessings! Jana Segal, Reel Inspiration