Welcome to the twisted, bitingly sarcastic, upside-down world of director Jason Reitman’s Thank You for Smoking.  Opening with spokesman for the Academy of Tobacco Studies, Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart) in what many would consider pure hell, this satirical film starts off with a bang and never looks back.  Seated on the stage of the Joan London show and surrounded by anti-smoking lobbyists, a current cancer patient and other passionate health advocates, Nick doesn’t sweat the daunting task before him.  Instead, smiling winsomely, he succinctly shows the logic, legitimacy and compassion inherent in his job and on a broader scale, the entire existence of the tobacco industry.  After all, if he can prove others wrong he will by default be right.

Such is the dizzying but hilarious pace of this witty, tongue-in-cheek comedy.  The laughs keep coming as Naylor’s life, seemingly destined for success, spins slowly out of control.  With the story resting squarely on Naylor’s shoulders, Eckhart does not disappoint.  He gives Naylor surprising power, managing to strike a balance between vulnerability and showmanship, between being loveable and merely an object of scorn.  He is the guy next door . . . who just so happens to sing the praises of the big bad Tobacco Industry.

Beyond the character of Naylor himself, the heart of this movie rests in the relationship Nick has with his son, Joey.  Joey (a delightful Cameron Bright) wants to understand his dad, wants to believe that what he does is good not bad.  Traipsing across the country with Naylor, he learns what it means to argue and teaches his dad a thing or two in the process.  Satire, endless laughs and heartfelt emotion?  Yes please!

Outside of Eckhart and Bright, the supporting performances are spot on as well.  Katie Holmes (Heather Holloway) proves a seductive temptress and snitch.  As members of the MOD Squad, Maria Bello (Alcohol Lobbyist Polly Bailey) and David Koechner (Gun Lobbyist Bobby Jay Bliss) beautifully disguise camaraderie and support beneath biting humor and pointed jabs that always hit their mark.  And William H. Macy (Senator Ortolan K. Finistirre) adds kicks and giggles as the often frustrated and angry counterpoint to Naylor’s charm and charisma.

While the plot flows seamlessly from one event to the next, one particular segment grabs the spotlight and refuses to let go.  On Naylor’s trek to Hollywood, his meeting with mega-Agent Jeff Megall (Rob Lowe) and his assistant Jack Bien (Adam Brody) nails the agency scene directly on the nose.  After leading Naylor and Joey through the newly remodeled interior of agency powerhouse Entertainment Global, Jack leans down to Joey’s level and says, “Can I get you an Orange juice?  Some Coffee?  A Red Bull?”  Sheer genius.

Over all, Thank You for Smoking has incredible style and panache.  Having adapted the script from Christopher Buckley’s powerful novel, Reitman doesn’t fail to make the film his own.  He is subtle, sneaky and out-and-out hilarious.  The performances are strong and aggressive, the plot effortless and smooth.  Thank you for smoking?  No, no.  Thank you!