Up In The Air

In ultimately affirming the value of love, this film is a romantic comedy; but in its protagonist's contempt for formula (in love, lifestyle, domesticity) it nuances this affirmation in interesting ways.

Every character except Ryan Bingham is capable of being earnest in love; his foils include a woman who uses him as an escape and a pseudo-gamine who punishes him with generic discourse brimming with unchecked conformist cant.

But after he gives sincerity a shot, a disappointed Bingham returns to his starting point only to find that his old game is much less thrilling. The lesson: if you're cynical you better find a good way to stay so. The moment you vacation in hope, trust, belief etc., the poverty of cynicism will come into view but it won't necessarily be easy to change.