In just five years, Alexander Payne made three films that established him as a major filmmaker. In 1999’s “Election,” 2002’s “About Schmidt” and 2004’s “Sideways,” he made his name with a distinctive voice that alternately sent up and sympathized with the memorable characters he created. It’s taken him seven years to return to the big screen — and, disappointingly, “The Descendants” doesn’t feel like a masterpiece that took that time to craft. It’s a good film — how many starring George Clooney aren’t? And made by a rookie director, it would have shown promise. But we expect more from Payne, who looked to be our chronicler of modern American alienation.

Clooney is Matt King, a real estate lawyer living in paradise. At least, he knows that’s how most outsiders see Hawaii. “Are they insane? Do they think we’re immune to life?” he asks. “Hell, I haven’t been on a surfboard for 15 years.”