--- title: "Up in the Air: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/up-in-the-air/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/up-in-the-air" critics_score: 72 critics_reviews: 18 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Up in the Air (2009): what the critics said Critics' score 72 from 18 reviews: 15 positive, 0 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics like it, and the reviews lean firmly positive. The praise gathers around George Clooney, whose frequent-flyer downsizer is called charming, amiable and quietly vulnerable, with Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick singled out almost as often for the wit and rapport they bring to the two women in his life. Reviewers also credit Reitman with balancing recession-era bleakness against light comedy without letting either swamp the other, and several point to the firing scenes featuring recently redundant workers as the moments that give the film its weight. The reservations are about polish. A handful of critics find it too smooth, a comedy with a message that upsets nobody and questions nothing, and object to a moralising third act and a reliance on musical montage. Slant Magazine and Time Out are the harshest, with Paste calling it formulaic and poorly timed. The spread is unusual: there is no middle ground, only admirers and a small, sharp group of dissenters. ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 30 December 2009. The critic praises the film's light touch on heavy themes of recession and isolation, highlighting Clooney's charismatic yet vulnerable performance as the frequent-flyer downsizer and Reitman's skillful direction that balances romance, comedy, and social commentary. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/air-2-review/) ## Film Comment — Scott Foundas Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). The critic praises Reitman’s most accomplished film to date for its craft and avoidance of typical Hollywood patterns, highlighting the novelty of its focus on the workplace and the performances of non-actors in firing scenes that give the movie its soul. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/article/up-in-the-air-review/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 29 November 2009. The critic praises the film's sustained tension between its bleak backdrop of job losses and its blithe comic energy, highlighting Vera Farmiga's witty, layered performance as a standout. He notes Reitman's skill in balancing the tones but suggests a stronger emphasis on the darker elements. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/12/07/nowhere-man-2) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 4 December 2009. The critic views the film as a tidy package that initially spotlights Clooney's charming loner but deepens by exploring how his actions affect those around him. She singles out the strong performances by Clooney and Farmiga for praise while noting some overused elements like the soundtrack. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/movies/04upinair.html) ## IndieWire — Eric Kohn Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 12 September 2009. Festival review. The review lauds Clooney’s commanding lead turn as the corporate downsizer whose lifestyle is upended, singling out the timely handling of layoffs and character dynamics for praise. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/review-drifting-through-layoffs-clooney-plays-his-trumpcard-in-reitmans-up-in-the-air-2-246553/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 September 2009. Festival review. The review praises the smart and poignant romantic comedy for gracefully addressing contemporary issues, anchored by Clooney’s flawless performance, and balancing laughs and pathos in its story of downsized workers and love’s redemptive power. It notes some narrative drawbacks but calls it Reitman’s most mature film. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/festivals/up-in-the-air/5005573.article) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 January 2010. The critic describes the film as a smart, light cosmopolitan comedy that works well as an expertly made snack rather than a full meal. He singles out Clooney’s amiable, genial and sophisticated lead performance as perfectly suited to the role, along with the film’s attractive treatment of brand names and corporate identifiers. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/jan/14/up-in-the-air-review) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Stephen Farber Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2009. Festival review. The critic praises the film's blend of cynicism and sentiment, highlighting George Clooney’s strong performance and the darkly hilarious moments while noting it remains biting and moving with clear-eyed intelligence. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/up-air-review-movie-2009-93466/) ## Slant Magazine — Fernando F. Croce Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 30 November 2009. The critic calls the film a smooth but glib rom-com-with-a-message that settles for polish over depth, praising the relaxed rapport between Clooney and Farmiga while complaining it offends no one and questions nothing. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/up-in-the-air/) ## Time Out — Keith Uhlich Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 1 December 2009. The critic finds Reitman’s film a rancid mix of acid and sugar that cancels itself out, with pedestrian visuals, reliance on musical montages, and a moralistic third act that feels alien to the characters. It acknowledges strong performances but faults the attempt to sum up the recession era. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/up-in-the-air) ## Den of Geek — Luke Savage Rating 5/5. 12 January 2010. The review calls the film the most mature and fully realised from Reitman and Clooney, praising its mix of humour and heart, real characters, and unpredictable ending that feels true to life. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/up-in-the-air-review/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating A-. 4 December 2009. The critic calls it a great movie with a sharp script, astonishing direction, outstanding cast, and timely yet timeless themes. The film succeeds as a strong awards contender by focusing on an unlikely hero in a corporate downsizer who learns about meaningful connections. [Read the review](https://collider.com/up-in-the-air-review/) ## /Film — Peter Sciretta Rating 9/10. 6 September 2009. Festival review. The critic calls it Reitman’s best film yet, charming, funny and moving with witty dialogue and layered performances that explore isolation and connection. They single out the authentic details of the frequent-flyer lifestyle and Anna Kendrick’s standout performance. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/505271/movie-review-jason-reitmans-up-in-the-air/) ## HeyUGuys — Jon Lyus Rating 4. 12 January 2010. Festival review. The critic praises Reitman’s follow-up as his best work yet, an intelligent and funny indictment of corporate culture and modern disconnection that blends road movie, romance and existential themes. They single out the stellar ensemble performances, especially Clooney’s nuanced lead and strong supporting turns, for elevating the material. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/bfi-lff-review-up-in-the-air/) ## Digital Spy — Mayer Nissim Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 25 December 2009. The critic highlights the film’s witty dialogue, real emotional connectivity from the leads, and strong performances, especially from Clooney, Farmiga and Kendrick, calling it a modern classic that combines quirkiness with depth. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a192589/up-in-the-air/) ## Eye for Film — Paul Griffiths Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 October 2009. The critic calls the film an enjoyable if ultimately sentimental commentary on the times, crediting its timely subject and strong cast for keeping it airborne. They single out the real-life interviews with recently redundant workers for adding credibility, though noting they risk veering into mawkishness. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/up-in-the-air-film-review-by-paul-griffiths) ## The Playlist — Rodrigo Perez Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 October 2009. Festival review. The critic finds the film funny, touching and timely in its humanizing of the economic crisis, with strong chemistry between Clooney and Kendrick. They single out its emotional restraint and occasional distance as keeping it from being fully profound or a complete winner. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/very-belated-tiff-review-up-in-air-20091008/) ## Paste — Robert Davis Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2009. Despite fine acting from the leads, the film is uneven and formulaic, with Reitman stretching into contrivances that feel like a cynical bid for awards. It fetishizes the protagonist's efficiency but ultimately comes across as manipulative, timed poorly amid economic hardship. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/up-in-the-air/up-in-the-air) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/up-in-the-air.md