Hawaii is both a comforting, laid-back breeze and a groggy journey through personal crossroads in Alexander Payne’s latest, a warm and often hilarious film that details complex crises in clear, compassionate strokes. The aforementioned tropical setting is used to refreshingly natural effect here, the touristy idealism stripped away to reveal a rather ordinary suburbia, with characters who feel real and worn down. This is perhaps no more potent than when applied to leading man George Clooney, whose unkempt graying hair and wide, vulnerable brown eyes convey a down-to-earth sensitivity that is as convincing as anything the actor’s done. Through floral shirts and flip-flops we navigate his rocky relationships and resentments, big economic decisions and family heritage, finally arriving at a place of calm, collected human insight. The third act of the picture deflates a bit after a terrific, nearly faultless two thirds, but no matter: “The Descendants” is always enjoyable, sharp in its comedy, supple and pure in its tragedy.