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This is a great season for movies. Oftentimes, there aren’t any good movies at Christmas time, but this year, there are a slew of them. Up in the Air is one of the best. It is the story of a confirmed bachelor who flies all over the U.S. to tell people they’re fired. He’s a high-flying exec whose goal is to rack up 10 million frequent-flyer miles. Just as Thank You for Smoking and Juno did in their own ways, Jason Reitman’s third film cleverly taps into specific cultural aspects of the contemporary zeitgeist, although in a somewhat less comically manner. I believe Up in the Air is much more sentimental and true to life than Reitman’s other films.

George Clooney is absolutely brilliant as Ryan Bingham, a career transition counselor (code for a gun-for-hire corporate assassin), who specializes in the dirty work some corporate bosses don’t like to do themselves –  firing employees. He’s cool, detached and an expert at suggesting to devastated workers that new horizons in life can now be explored. He loves the lifestyle of spending most of his time in business class seats and upscale hotels; given that, at last count, he’s on the move 322 days per year. When he does stop at his apartment in Omaha, it resembles a cold undecorated motel room. His “home” is in the air.

Having adapted Walter Kirn’s novel with Sheldon Turner, Reitman generates a lot of humor in describing Ryan’s life. Ryan delivers occasional motivation speeches on how you should be able to fit all that’s important to you into a backpack, and he practices what he preaches by traveling with just one carry-on bag. He receives top-level, members-only treatment at airports, car rental desks and hotels and, picking up a like-minded woman, Alex, played adeptly by Vera Farmiga, in a lounge one night, impresses her by revealing he’s very close to achieving 10 million-mile frequent-flyer status.

Ryan has never been in love and Alex is the feminine version of him. Their relationship is easy and fun. They have great chemistry in the movie with a wonderful sense of play.

All is going great in Ryan’s world until his boss, Craig (played by Jason Bateman), introduces him to their new whiz-kid, Natalie Keener, played by Anna Kendrick (of the Twilight Saga: New Moon fame). Keener, having come of age in front of a computer, has no grasp of the human. She’s cold, calculated and ruthless at the ripe old age of 23. Anna Kendrick absolutely shines in this movie and steals every scene she’s in. By the way, she has been nominated for a Golden Globe for this role. Craig explains to Ryan that he can slash expenditures by firing people via video conferencing. Natalie has introduced this new concept and Ryan doesn’t like it one bit. However, faced with a drastic lifestyle change at best and his own walking papers at worst, Ryan is ultimately obliged to accompany the humorless, tight-lipped, prim and proper hotshot on a tour to show her how he does it, and then attempt the changeover.

Throughout the movie are montages of workers reacting to their sudden professional demise and the incomprehension, fury, bewilderment, sense of injustice, hopelessness and despair with which these people express themselves is touching, honest and true. It makes one pause and take a look at what’s happening in our world. The movie touches on many important economic factors. It’s poignant.

The difference between the generations is acknowledged in a humorous way through Natalie’s eyes – a young, 23 year old. (Clooney’s and Farmiga’s characters are old to her.) Natalie thinks she has it all figured out, with career, relationship, marriage, babies, and life path all configured onto a timeline. For his part, Ryan believes he’s got it all worked out as well, and he does, as long as he doesn’t mind the lack of much human connection, not to even mention marriage or family, which he scoffs at as not for him.

Ryan has to attend the northern Wisconsin winter wedding of his younger sister, Julie (Melanie Lynskey), to regular guy Jim (Danny McBride). He asks Alex to come along with him for fun – or maybe they’re falling in love – and finds himself having a wonderful time. There are some poignant questions at the wedding – such as What happens when you get married? Or choose to spend life alone?

Clooney, Farmiga, and Kendrick are all simply brilliant in their roles. I would have enjoyed seeing a little more of Jason Bateman. His role could have used more layering to clarify his relationship with Ryan, as to whether it was personal or strictly professional.

Much of the action is played out on interchangeable airport-area locations as the characters zip from city to city, but there are some interesting overhead shots of numerous American cities. The production and editing of this film was impeccable and the soundtrack is fun.

Up in the Air is rated R, but only because there are a couple of crude words in the movie and partial female nudity (backside). Honestly, don’t let that keep you from seeing it. It’s a wonderful movie and is not offensive in any way. I can’t wait to see it again!