Good, But Not As Good As I'd Heard

Rating: 7/10 (6 December 2009)

Entertaining film. Nice story about a man who fires people for a living. THIS we all know.
He has no real home or home life. His entire life is his job and literally being "up in the air" because he flies constantly. In the midst of an economic crisis not just OUT THERE, but within his OWN company a sharp young woman comes in to help HIS company by being more efficient and trim the fat on firing people and find a much more cost effective way to get this done efficiently. Hooray for modern technology. Clooney's character being an old dog and not interested in new tricks is offended by her presence and even though it's his new position to show her the ropes he feels this is absurd and that HE will show HER how it's really done and the reason their company even has a business, that you cannot trim the fat on firing people. It's bad enough you are destroying their lives. The very least you can do is spare them an ounce of dignity.
This story runs side by side with a woman he meets who seemingly is his perfect match; another heavy duty business traveller who also is detached from any kind of home life and completely at peace with this. While finding HER would seem to be the perfect antidote for what ails him and enable to guiltlessly continue his life as it is while ALSO having a sort of partner in crime.
Ironically the younger girl who he felt knew nothing due to her age and lack of maturity shines a light on him and forces him to question his lonely life, which previously he'd seemed fairly content with.
I lived this movie as it pointed out A LOT of issues, and questions we ask ourselves all the time; what is the point of life? Is work life? Without the traditional office job which possibly "holds us back from our real dreams or purpose" are we then freed of all the things that hold us back from pursuing a more authentic life"? What is the point of marriage? Is ANYONE who gets married really happier than non married people? What's the point of collecting a whole bunch of stuff; a house, a car, furniture.....when one 5 minute meeting with H.R. can yank that all away in an instant? His case is to live without; without a home, baggage, family.....because what's the point? He seems fairly content, although the majority of those he fires cry about their home, their family, keeping things together.....and from HIS point of view; if you have nothing than you never really have to worry about losing anything.
I liked, didn't love, but it was entertaining for sure.