George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a man whose life is defined by
waiting lounges and swipe cards. Ryan measures his existence in
frequent flyer miles and corporate loyalty points, flying the
faux-friendly skies firing people for companies who don’t want to do it
themselves. He’s got a knack for wielding the chopping block for many
reasons, not least of all because he considers the alienation it
requires to be a perk.
There is a (very) small amount of honour in what he
does and Ryan feels it’s compromised when young hotshot Natalie Keener
(Anna Kendrick) swans in, proposing the terminations be done via
webcam. Ryan and Natalie hit the circuit so he can show her the error
of her ways. Perhaps Natalie’s influence can crack his shell – maybe
even encourage Ryan to make ‘casual stopover’ woman Alex (Vera Farmiga)
into something more.
Jason Reitman directs his third feature with the same precise eye and comedic timing he brought to Thank You For Smoking and Juno.
It’s funny, sharp and biting, yet has just enough sweetness to impress.
As with Reitman’s earlier efforts, it’s also relevant and timely,
providing a great commentary on corporate America in the wake of the
Global Financial Crisis.
Clooney is perfect and Farmiga furthers the great promise she showed in The Departed and The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, even keeping
up with George in a charisma contest.
There are the slightest hiccups in pacing and Jason Bateman is
surprisingly underwhelming as Ryan’s boss but otherwise – this is a
helluva film.
