Review of Up in the Air (2009) by Joseph M — 14 Apr 2013

I was expecting a Catch Me If You Can-esque caper and for half an hour that is what I got. When Up in the Air is a relatively frivolous comedy it is at its best, it is when it tries to be something deeper that it falls short.

The main problem being, paradoxically, the films greatest asset. George Clooney has a screen presence that equals any of the major Hollywood actors of his generation and central to this is his likability.

This is exactly the reason that it is difficult to relate to him as a guy who is as lonely as Ryan Bingham is supposed to be. Up in the Air is flawed and it probably would have been better playing as a straight comedy.