Up in the Air (2009)

The hero of Up in the Air fires strangers for a living, and the movie still wants you to envy how he packs. George Clooney rolls through security like a surgeon, and when he and Vera Farmiga slap their loyalty cards down on a hotel bar like a poker game, it’s pure fantasy. The problem is the arc. A loner learns that people matter, and you can see that lesson coming from cruising altitude. Anna Kendrick’s Natalie also gets stuck explaining the theme out loud too often. Still, Clooney has never used his charm more cleverly, as a mask he forgot he was wearing. Farmiga matches him line for line, a woman who treats romance like a rewards program. Kendrick is sharp and funny as a hotshot who learns that her video call idea has a human cost. The firing scenes are hard to watch, and they should be. A 7.8 because it’s smart, sad and a little too tidy. $3,187 says you open your wallet tonight, count your rewards cards, and feel weirdly judged by the total.

What works: George Clooney and Vera Farmiga have sharp, grown-up chemistry, and Anna Kendrick holds her own as the eager new hire.

What doesn’t: Ryan’s change of heart follows a very familiar path, and the script spells out its message more than it needs to.

Who it’s for: Frequent flyers, office workers and anyone who has ever wondered if their job is quietly running their life.