Up in the Air

By Our man in the Cheap Seats

Starring: George Clooney; Vera Farmiga; Anna Kendrick

Ryan Bingham (Clooney) is a man you don’t want dropping by your desk anytime soon. He is, only in America, a career transition counsellor. That means he drops by to fire people with the minimum of fuss and legal blowback. He pretends that this is an opportunity for people to realise their dreams, rather than a corporate cost cutting exercise.

Ryan spends most of his time in the air or in chain hotels. “Last year,” he says proudly, “I was away for322 days last year and only spent forty three miserable days at home.” He has loyalty cards coming out of his ears and expects preferential treatment at airports and hotels. Ryan is alone and has little contact with his family, but seems unworried by that. He gives inspirational talks to fellow geeks and talks about emptying the backpack of life of relationships and possessions. He personally lives in some dump in Omaha, Nebraska.

One fine day a sharp talking, outrageously ambitious graduate, Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) turns up at his company. She proposes that, instead of having executives like Ryan swanning round the country, the poor lumpen proletariat get fired by webcam. “Think of the savings in the travel budget,” she coos.

Ryan’s boss loves it. Ryan is less enthusiastic. His lifestyle will be ruined if it goes ahead – what about the air miles! He claims there is some dignity in what he does, and the recipients of his packages appreciate the human touch. Before the system is rolled out, he reluctantly agrees to take Natalie out on the road to learn the tricks of the trade. “We’re here to make limbo bearable,” he tells her.

Natalie is on the phone to her beau. She doesn’t realise Ryan can hear her conversation. “What about this guy you are travelling with?

“Oh, him!” she says, “he is so old.” A startled Ryan looks in a convenient mirror, raises his eyebrows and smiles. Delicious.

In the meantime, he has bumped into a fellow traveller, Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga) in some dismal hotel bar. It’s not clear what she does but they start comparing privilege cards. They chat, they schmooze, they retire upstairs for fun and frolics. She reassures him that, “I’m the woman you don’t have to worry about. Just think of me as yourself, only with a vagina.”

Ryan fancies Alex. Ryan starts to think maybe not all emotional baggage should be discarded. Ryan takes her to his sister’s wedding. Ryan goes to visit her in Chicago. Hearts and flowers or tears and heartache? Go see.

Verdict: excellent and witty adult romance. Well worth a look.