Here’s a film that tries desperately to land smack-dab in the middle of the “modern indie drama” genre — complete with valuable life lessons, characters awakening to their wasted lives and a soundtrack that would make Sundance audiences jizz in their pants. That is not to say that this is a bad film… Far from it. “Up In the Air” is often smart and marginally poignant. It is well acted and it keeps the pace brisk enough to preempt glances at the time on your iPhone. Clooney might be on autopilot, gliding his way through the running time with an abundance of Clooney-ness, but his charm is enough to carry the film safely home. Vera Farmiga is a very talented actress who doesn’t have a lot to do here. The one stand-out is Anna Kendrick, who steals the show with a great effort. She is a star. However, the entire production is too aloof… too brief… too shallow to be entirely meaningful. It is a good film without ever even attempting to be anything more. I felt cold and detached — much like the main character. I was interested where the story would take me without ever really caring very much. And as the final credits rolled, “Up In the Air” left me exactly where its title promised.
