Up in the Air ( ***1/2 )

December 1, 2009 7:25 a.m. EST

109 minutes

In theaters December 4, 2009

Rating: R, Comedy

Where Up in the Air is concerned, there's nothing to be up in the air about: this one soars.

Movies don't come much more timely and topical than this marvelous seriocomedy about corporate downsizing. The familiar economic anxiety of our current recession era is an umbilical component, the film's signature emotion, and it fits like a cinematic glove.

For which the lion's share of the credit goes to Jason Reitman.

There have been few starts to a directorial career as distinguished as that of Jason Reitman, who follows the brilliant Thank You for Smoking and the delightful Juno, for which he was Oscar-nominated, with his third impressive outing, a thoughtful, stimulating mix of light comedy and bittersweet drama.

George Clooney stars as Ryan Bingham, a job terminator who is on the road -- well, in the air -- constantly, doing the dirty work of easy-way-out employers and at the behest of his demanding boss, Jason Bateman. Bingham's job is to inform people in person that they are being let go and then to soften the blow and prop up their proverbial pillows as a legitimately compassionate hatchet man -- er, that is, "career transition counselor."

He travels so much, living in hotels and out of suitcases and accompanied by a wallet stuffed with plastic, that he has become obsessed with frequent-flier miles and is approaching his ten-millionth such mile. A dizzying parade of boozy one-night stands comprises his blessedly unencumbered way of life, a no-emotional-baggage lifestyle that barely leaves room for him to get to know his own siblings. That is, he wears ties, but not the kind that bind.

Then he meets another obsessive traveler played by Vera Farmiga and begins a fitful romance while training a new colleague played by Anna Kendrick by taking her on the road with him.

What this young hotshot is proposing is the computerization of Bingham's business, thus eliminating the travel component, which makes him unhappy, and laying off folks by remote control, which makes him livid.

So imagine his reaction when his whatever-it-takes employer, played by Jason Bateman, brings him in from the skies to sit behind a desk in their Omaha, Nebraska corporate headquarters.

The direction by Reitman -- who co-produced with his father, Ivan -- is not only confident but assured and inspired, perhaps even masterful. And he also co-wrote (with Sheldon Turner) the fine screenplay, a loose adaptation of the 2002 novel by Walter Kirn.

Reitman gets four terrific performances from his principal cast. First and foremost is a consummate star turn by the charismatic and consummate Clooney, who almost miraculously manages to make his cocky character vulnerable and sympathetic as well, in a larger-than-life but nuanced way that should put to rest any contemporary complaints about our not having real movie stars anymore.

In support, Farmiga, in her showiest role yet, holds her own and then some as Clooney's opposite number. Youthful Kendrick is funny and fabulous as the unwilling protege and corporate "game-changer." And the reliable Bateman makes a crucial contribution as Clooney's bottom-line-besotted boss.

Another nice touch of Reitman's is to use real workers (from Detroit and St. Louis) who had actually been sacked recreating their firing experiences as points of documentary-like punctuation throughout the film.

There's something almost casual about the film's style and rhythm that belies its level of priority-evaluating insight and profundity. This is mainstream moviemaking at its most entertaining and worthwhile.

Jason Reitman's third triumph in a row is a thoroughly enjoyable, richly resonant, and absolutely thought-provoking dark-edged comedy. Make your way to this movie that matters and watch Up in the Air take off.