MovieChat Forums > Up in the Air (2009) Discussion > Why did Alex act like it was obvious (sp...

Why did Alex act like it was obvious (spoilers)....?


...why did she act like it was obvious to Ryan that she was married and had a family?

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[deleted]

It really bothered me. It´s completely out of character, for Alex. It doesn´t make any sense. Why would she even go to the wedding with Ryan in the first place, if she was married and had a family? Completely incoherent. Just bad writing for me.

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Sorry if this has already been answered but how did Ryan know where Alex lived?

Are to assume he just looked her up?

I dont recal knowing how he found her address

Foillow me on Twitter: @ryanferreira2

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Alex had plenty of opportunities to tell Ryan that she was a whore and was using him as a *beep* stick... at the airport "call me when you're lonely" & he immediately says "i'm lonely" she could have fessed up.
I'm sure she has a Ryan in every airport code, as well as the pharmacies that supply her Valtrex & Penicillin in 5 gallon spackle buckets.

Were people actually surprised by this 'revelation'

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I haven't read the replays to your question yet.After just watching this for the second time I get how Alex felt Ryan was on the same page as her.I think the key to seeing it through Alex eyes comes down to watching the movie at least twice.However this time pay extremely close attention to everything that comes out of her mouth and pay attention to her facial expressions.When you already have the knowledge of Alex's mindset and what she wanted from Ryan, you should see her point of view easily.I think one of the main reasons why the audience(Including myself)and Ryan was caught completely off guard is because she's a woman.Yes,we all know women are capable of cheating.The writers and the way Vera played her role did such a good job at flipping the script.I didn't see it coming.However I'm happy they decided to go in that direction.If they went the route I expected(Ryan and Alex would end up together and happy), I would view the movie as average and forgetable.

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What irritated me was that she was the one having an affair, and she had the audacity to flip out on Ryan about almost ruining her "happy home life." No, honey, if that life winds up in shambles, it's entirely your fault.

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Exactly, MysticGoddess! It really angers me how she had the audacity to try to turn it around on him and somehow make it HIS fault. Um, hello lady? You decided to cheat. Your real life with your home and family wouldn't be in jeopardy to begin with if you just didn't cheat. I mean, really...what did she think could happen? Did it really never occur to her that she could get found out and lose it all? If she supposedly valued them as much as she wants Ryan to believe, she wouldn't have been unfaithful to begin with.

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I think when they are meeting in hotels for quickies, it's obvious what their relationship is.

However, when they move to Ryan's sisters wedding, they have clearly escalated proceedings. Him showing her his high school and their tactile affectionate intimacy at the reception are clear signs of two people becoming more 'loving' with each other.

For her to dismiss his misreading of their relationship with some kind of offhand 'I thought you knew' line, was a little out of order.


Small moves Ellie, small moves

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The devil is in the details. Did anyone notice Alex wasn't wearing a wedding ring?

So from the get-go, she leaves the ring either at home, in her suitcase, wherever and from there she's being dishonest with whoever she meets and herself. Odds are she's unhappy at home (says she can't act this way at home when they're on the boat). Being a road warrior herself (which - trust me - it's a miserable, lonely existence), the affair was likely an escape from the pain of being away from the kids and the comfort of home. So why mention it and ruin the escape / fantasy / carefree fun?

But in Ryan's case - no wife, no kids, no desire to have either. Even his relationship with his siblings is distant (older sister said before the wedding that he doesn't even exist to them). So for Ryan, no reason to discuss family. He's essentially a drifter. For all we know in between scenes, Alex may have flat-out lied to Ryan about her home life but was written in the script.


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