Up in the Air

What’d I miss? Up in the Air has so much buzz around it, surely I missed something. It’s a good movie, but whoever is promoting it could probably sell ice to Eskimos, because the movie just wasn’t all that …or maybe I missed something.

George Clooney stars in Up in the Air, and it could be loosely based on his real life (it’s not, but it could be). Clooney, who bet Nicole Kidman $10,000 dollars that he wouldn’t be married by age 40, plays bachelor, Ryan Bingham. Side note: Clooney won the bet. Kidman sent him a $10,000 check, but he returned it with a note saying, “'Double or nothing for another 10 years.” Anyway, getting back to the movie...Ryan (Clooney) spends most of his time with strangers; he’s either flying with them or firing them. Then, he meets Alex, played by Vera Farmiga, and realizes, maybe, he’s found that special someone. Maybe, he doesn’t want to be alone. Maybe, he wants a closer relationship…but, maybe, not.

The film is appropriately rated R for language and some sexual content.

There’s a social connection to our current economic situations because of all the lay-offs that take place during the film. Even with that relevant piece I still don’t get all the excitement around this film. As far as reviews go, I’m pretty much alone on this because Up in the Air is nominated for more Golden Globes than any other film. I’m more than willing to recommend you JOG slowly to this movie, but any faster than that leaves me asking "What'd I miss?"

Rating For Up in the Air = **1/2 JOG slowly To This Movie

R.A.N.’s Rating System:
*****RACE To This Movie = Amazing/Oscar Worthy
****RUN To This Movie = Great
***JOG To This Movie = Good
**WALK To This Movie = So-So
*SKIP Past This Movie = Bad