UP IN THE AIR (USA 2009) ***
Directed by Jason Reitman

Director Jason Reitman’s UP IN THE AIR is more THANK YOU FOR SMOKING than JUNO.  Again, Reitman tackles an unpopular occupation.  The smoking lobbyist is replaced here by a professional downsizer. 

Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) fires people for companies, flying from one state to another to do his job, which he does more than competently.  There are two plots going on in the film – one concerning Ryan’s love interest (Vera Farmiga) and the other, the relationship with his young trainee, Natalie (Anna Kendrick).  But the centre of the story is Ryan and how he deals with his life, business and loves.  Reitman balances humour with a rather serious view and insight of life as seen from two perspectives – the matured (Ryan) and the maturing (Natalie). 

The result is a pleasant piece of entertainment though it is obvious at many points throughout the film that Reitman is trying too hard to make his movie cool.  But to Reitman’s credit, UP IN THE AIR contains the coolest club scene in a movie this year with Ryan and date doing a rap dance.