Whether the ending is crap or not is just an opinion. It definitely had an ending, though.
Clooney clearly had issues which made him hate a normal life and love the road. The story is about the events that made him question this, including the possibility that he would be stuck in a more normal life, and his family calling him. But it all falls apart, and he retreats back to his five-mile high hole. A tragic ending, but an ending.
I’m curious as to what your dad found unrealistic. I know people hung up on their miles, and who take every opportunity to show them off through upgrades. Every one of us is concerned with status. With his world, status did not come from either a car or living arrangements, since they were both paid for by his company. Nor his possessions, all of which had to fit neatly in his carry on bag. What did he have as an indicator of status except his miles? What goal did he have except for the million mile club?
I was slightly disappointed in the movie, but I thought the ending was the best part.
I was really surprised about the shoes too. We don’t do that down here… and we should, after all terrorists striked twice in Argentina.
My wife and I found it dull and unfunny. Then again, we disliked Little Miss Sunshine from a few years ago, which was getting a lot of buzz.
I know it was supposed to be dramatic and funny, but the drama was not something we could relate to.
To be honest, I strongly preferred the parts with the people saying how they felt after being fired/laid off. I would rather see a documentary following their lives post-employment. I heard they used actual people who have lost their jobs too, which is neat.
Some comments:
I think it’s funny that we keep referring to the main character as “Clooney.” For the life of me, I can’t remember the dude’s name either.
In any event, I knew as soon as the groom-to-be said that they couldn’t afford a honeymoon that Clooney was going to gift them a trip. However, it was really stupid for him to book them on an around-the-world trip. People in that socioeconomic class and age rarely have a month’s vacation built up, let alone the ability to just up and leave for a month when you’re starting up a business. It would have been far more realistic had he sent them to Hawaii for a week.
I thought it was good. Of course, I also thought Juno was good, although I have to say that the writer’s experience is not the middle class America that I grew up in. My family is all solidly middle class and we can afford to have receptions in nicer places.
I was very relieved that Clooney didn’t end up in bed with the 20ish chick, which is what I thought when I saw her.
If you want to see people nuts about miles, go to FlyerTalk. I’m a proud member of that group, though my travel goals are far less lofty.
My husband and I enjoyed both movies. Isn’t it nice when your spouse shares your taste?
I remember his name, but for a very odd reason. There’s a singer songwriter who wrote the song “The Weary Kind” featured in the movie Crazy Heart which is nominated for Best Song at the Oscars. By pure coincidence, the songwriter has the same name as Clooney’s character in Up In The Air:
Ryan Bingham.
This is probably the first discussion about this movie that I’ve seen where there were people that didn’t like it. Seems like all my friends have liked it, even though then went in not expecting much.
That does make me a bit more hesitant, but I’m still willing to check it out, I’m generally a pretty big Clooney fan.
If you like Clooney, you’ll probably enjoy it – he’s very Clooneyesque. (And I mean that in a very, very, very good way.)
I saw it when it first came out, and I liked it a lot.
This probably will end up being the last movie we see in the theater for a long time, because our son was born about a week later.
Belated congratulations. 