Movie of the moment: ‘Up in the Air’

This new comedy with bleak undertones follows a dashing corporate downsizer (George Clooney) as he flies around the country to do the dirty work of handing out pink slips.  The film also examines the impact of being laid off, dramatized by several characters at various points in the film.

I haven’t seen it yet (can’t wait), but here’s what some reviewers say:

“Crisply funny and fleetly paced, it’s in its quiet way one of the saddest things in the theaters all year. … It soars.” (Amy Biancolli, SF Chronicle)

“One of the pleasures of “Up in the Air” is that its actresses — including Anna Kendrick, who plays Bingham’s colleague Natalie — share the frame with Mr. Clooney as equals, not props.” (Manohla Dargis, NY Times)

“It’s a rare and sparkling gem of a movie.” (Owen Glieberman, Entertainment Weekly)