Up in the Air: R: language, sexual content; 1:49; $ $ $ $

“Up in the Air” begins with a bang and literally flies on golden wings for more than an hour before it starts coming in for a predictably soft landing with about 40 minutes left. Certainly that doesn’t mean co-writer/director Jason Reitman (“Juno”) hasn’t deserved the hefty plaudits his film is getting, but it also might not justify its anointing as the year’s Best Picture a full two months before actual Oscar voting begins.

In fact, its hero, the eventually worn-down business traveler played by George Clooney, seems like an uber popular actor mostly playing himself. Besides, is his corporate downsizer really someone to admire these days?

Regardless, until Clooney’s Ryan Bingham hits Milwaukee for the wedding of his sister (Melanie Lynskey), there really is a lot to love as Reitman adapts the Walter Kirn novel of the same name with wit and wisdom.

Opening segments featuring an upbeat version of “This Land is Your Land” and a slew of folks losing their jobs during in-your-face interviews really could mark the best introduction to a feature film all year. The latter pieces, naturally covering the gamut of emotional instability and surprise, are narrated by Bingham, a hatchet man working for a company hired to fire and headed by a major sleazeball (Jason Bateman).

Bingham’s job gives him entrée into the world of a frequent flyer, complete with perks, discounts and maybe even a one-night stand or two. Hey, the guy just loves to travel, though this constant seduction suddenly is jeopardized when a bright young co-worker (Anna Kendrick) talks the too-eager boss into letting people go via video conferencing.

A test period keeps Bingham busy in various cities, at least temporarily, showing his protégé the ropes while himself distracted by a sexy fellow road warrior (Vera Farmiga), who just might be the usually carefree Bingham’s soulmate.

Or maybe not . . . that is, if anyone is actually surprised by how it all turns out. Somehow, the Reitman-stirred concoction goes down mostly entertainingly, even with so many unemployed workers actually being left up in the air.

Read more by John M. Urbancich at http://jmuvies.blogspot.com/