Saturday, January 9, 2010

Up In The Air
the review

Up in the air is a dramatic comedy about the quintesential batchelor, Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), who's a terminator.   He's a professional hired by companies to terminate employees for them in a one-on-one setting.  He is smooth and to the point, going from one city to the next firing people.

Ryan is obsessed with his frequent flyer reward cards that give him VIP access  to everything from flights, hotels, car rentals and restaurants.   He's loving this life style insulated from the real world. 



He meets Alex (Vera Farmiga) as he eats dinner in the lounge of a hotel.   They discover that they have a lot in common.   Alex is cool, but sexy and witty.  She also travels solo and enjoys all the same perks that go with a frequent flyer.





Ryan and Alex like each other, and there relationship takes on a romantic flavor as they meet up in different cites in their travels.   They agree to have no commitment to each other. 





Meanwhile, Ryan's employer is convinced by Natalie Keener, a young efficiency expert to save on travel expenses to go high tech and conduct the terminations from  computer hookups.   Of course this doesn't fit very well into Ryan's lifestyle.   He convinces his boss to have Natalie shadow him as he travels from city to city conducting his work.  He has to change her way of thinking, so as not to mess with his perks. 

Along the way Natalie meets Alex, and can't understand why neither Alex or Ryan don't want a committed relationship with someone. 




Ryan heads home to attend his sister's wedding and invites Alex to come as his date.   He shows her around his home town, and they start seeing each other in a whole different light, and like what they see.






As Ryan reflects on his life, and wonders if there might be more to it  than just the friendly skies. 

I loved this movie.  It's different and jumps around a bit...but it's good. 



I give it 4 out of 5 airplanes.






11 comments:

Pumpkin Delight (Kimberly) said...

I loved it! It made me a little depressed, but it was like real life. Plus, I L-O-V-E LOVE George Clooney.
I liked the cardboard cutout part of the story.

Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. said...

Anything with George Clooney has to be good. Glad you like it GJ.
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Connie said...

Thanks, Grandma J. It sounds like a good one! Now if I can just make time to get to see it.

Daryl said...

Its an odd duck of a movie .. not a comedy but not really a drama .. and George is always so easy on the eyes on top of being an excellent actor.

Glad you liked it.

I highly recommend Crazy Heart

Busy Bee Suz said...

This sounds good. But really. I could watch paint dry if George cloony is anywhere in sight.

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Sounds like a good one, and once again your stellar movie reviewing skills really make me want to see this.

Unknown said...

I love George too. I am glad to read your good review. I love your reviews!

Mental P Mama said...

Awesome review, and I'm glad you didn't tell too much!

Jenny said...

Sounds like a great review! Thank you! I saw you on Suz's blog and thought I'd come over to visit! I'm glad I did. I'm your newest follower!

Karen Deborah said...

You know you really are good at reviewing movies!

hollywood said...

Agrees with Karen. I thought he was a pilot from the commercials. My mom said she liked the movie, but that she thinks someone 'up high' just wants George Clooney to get an Oscar and she didn't think this was Oscar-worthy for him. I just like GC.