Film Analysis Essay on Up In the Air

The personal qualities that help the protagonist solve his or her problem are often a part of the lesson to be learned in a film.

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One of the most outstanding qualities that make Ryan excel at his job is his charisma and composure. Somehow through his charisma employees who would otherwise be devastated on learning that their careers are over can find a silver lining in the whole process. His composure enables him to remain level headed and offer sound advice even when some of the terminated employees throw tantrums or can't see past their termination. His quality to remain alienated from both his family and social acquaintances to concentrate on his career also helps him excel at his job. He fights for his independence and avoids all manner of commitments. Both these qualities are vital in developing the film's themes of career vs. family, love vs. romance, and freedom vs. engagement. Unfortunately for Natalie, she does not quite have these qualities as she immediately gets emotional on her first day of firing people. She also has a boyfriend that leaves her further compromising her ability to do the job. Lacking charisma, and composure, she finally quits her job with Ryan and changes careers.

What are these qualities and where have you seen them in your own experience (at work or personal), either in your own behavior or in behavior of someone you know?

Personally, I see these kinds of qualities in most of my interactions both at a personal and professional level. Some of my friends are quite like Ryan with a lot of charisma, and confidence: traits that make me tend to believe them more than I should. Composure is also a quality I interact with on a daily basis as I observe how some of my social and professional acquaintances handle situations, that I would personally be over-agitated, calmly and with reason.

How did the film make you feel?

The film leaves the view the viewer with mixed feelings. The themes of independence vs. commitment, love vs. romance, and family vs. career make bring out feelings of affection, empathy, and betrayal.

Of the many feelings expressed in the film, with which are you most familiar with?

In particular, the feeling of betrayal and empathy is most relatable. When Ryan and Alex are getting to know each other, it leaves me feeling affectionate towards the young couple. Further, when Ryan chooses family and decides to attend his sister's wedding, it makes one think that love and family are winning. However, when Ryan finds out that Alex is married, it leaves me with a bitter feeling of betrayal mainly because all the events leading to that moment suggested that they were meant for each other. Nevertheless, the movie left me feeling affectionate and mushy though disappointed in the not so happy ending.

What life lessons can be learned from the choices made by the characters in this story?

Arguably the most important lesson that can be drawn from the movie is that companionship however much we may deny it is vital to a fulfilling life and it's worth giving it a chance. Ryan ends up giving away all his flying miles to his sister despite working all his life to get them after he realizes that his achievement is not as satisfying as he had hoped without a companion. We can also infer that we love, commitment and family are more important than romance, freedom, and career respectively as is demonstrated when Alex chooses her marriage over Ryan, and Ryan picks Alex over his freedom. Finally, the way the firms treat their employees by hiring Ryan and Natalie to do their dirty work drives home the lesson that career is not always worth sacrificing the little family and social life you have. In the end, the same companies to whom you gave most of your life will not have the dignity to look you in the eye and fire you.