Review: 'Up In The Air' Soars With Emotion

'Up In The Air' (R)(out of four)

In today's climate of unemployment, a depressed economy and a fascination with text messaging, "Up in the Air" calls it like it sees it.

George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a traveling "downsizer" who lives for frequent flyer miles, airport executive clubs, and his next businessman's holiday. His job is flying into cities from Detroit to Kansas City and every where in between to give employees the news that their wimpy bosses don't want to deliver. Quicker than Donald Trump can say, "You're fired," Bingham does it with ease, then sends employees he's never met before packing.

He's also created a motivational speaking business out of the gig. He gets booked in hotel conference rooms for his "Backpack" lecture. "How much does your life weigh?" he tells eager listeners who want to turn their lives around. From a podium he delivers his speech as the followers sit at long white conference room tables. "Imagine for a second that you're carrying a backpack. I want you to pack it with all the stuff that you have in your life."

Then he advises everyone to unstuff their backpack, which is precisely the way Bingham lives. He has no strings attached, a small apartment that contains nothing more than he can fit in a suitcase, and, of course, no lasting relationships.

Bingham's got the traveling down to a science, especially the tricky parts, like airport security. "Never get behind old people. Their bodies are littered with hidden metal and they never seem to appreciate how little time they have left. Bingo, Asians. They pack light, travel efficiently, and they have a thing for slip on shoes. Gotta love 'em."

Clooney relishes the role of the self-indulgent cross-country traveler, and director Jason Reitman ("Juno") gives him the air to breathe. Clooney is at his best in the film when Bingham is at his most shallow, but when the script starts to take a sappy turn, Clooney seems to struggle to switch gears.

This is also true for his lady love interest Alex Goran (played by Vera Farmiga). When Farmiga is swapping stories of hotel room sheet thread count and airline perks, she's at her best. Farmiga also has the chutzpah to equally spar with Clooney's acting chops, and she's a pleasure to watch. She, too, however seems to lose her footing when the script turns to mush and the two need to kiss their narcissistic selves goodbye.

Adding juxtaposition to the alter egos is Anna Kendrick as Natalie Keener, who is enlisted by Bingham's boss (Jason Bateman) to find a way to save travel money and start delivering the ax to soon-to-be former employees via teleconference.

Kendrick stands tall against the acting heavyweights, and there are some very funny, and also poignant, moments between Kendrick and Clooney. There are times, frankly, that Kendrick actually steals a few scenes away from Clooney, including one where she's put in a position to fire a veteran employee via teleconference. Her heart begins to melt and yours will, too.

Fans of "Twilight" will remember Kendrick as Jessica Stanley, the preppy girl who first makes friends with Bella when the girl moves to Forks. Here, she's sheer perfection.

From the minute "Up in the Air" leaves the gate, the thoughtful, contemporary movie speaks in a language its audience will understand. Its message? Although the beginning of the 21st century has become a time of emotional disconnect, there's nothing that can take the place of human connection.