Jay Kelly, the latest film from director Noah Baumbach, dives into the personal and professional crisis of a seemingly unstoppable Hollywood star. The tragicomic road movie, which premiered at the Venice Film Fest 2025, stars George Clooney as Jay Kelly, an actor grappling with aging, family estrangement, and the nature of authenticity in filmmaking.
- George Clooney stars as Jay Kelly, a Hollywood icon facing a career and personal crossroads.
- The film, directed by Noah Baumbach, explores themes of authenticity, celebrity, and family.
- Adam Sandler provides significant comedic and emotional depth as Kelly’s manager.
- The movie features a European road trip mirroring Kelly’s internal journey.
The film opens with an elaborately staged scene of Clooney’s character, Jay Kelly, delivering a final monologue on a movie set. This dramatic exit sets the stage for Kelly’s real-life descent after filming wraps. He finds himself at a professional and personal impasse, estranged from his older daughter, Jessica, and with his younger daughter preparing for college. The death of Peter Schneider, a director who mentored a young Jay, further triggers Kelly’s existential crisis.
Jay Kelly (George Clooney) is honored at a film festival – but in fact he is in a personal crisis and on a professional scabbard
At Schneider’s funeral, Kelly reunites with his former best friend, Timothy (Billy Crudup), now a youth therapist. What begins as a candid conversation over drinks escalates when Timothy, under the influence, confronts Kelly about sabotaging his acting career. This confrontation forces Kelly to face his past. His manager, Ron (Adam Sandler), and PR consultant, Liz (Laura Dern), are unable to prevent him from impulsively flying to Europe to follow his daughter and attend a film festival honoring him.
Baumbach uses the train journey across France and Italy as a metaphor for Kelly’s life stages. The compartments of the train become windows into a world Kelly, a celebrated star, has long been disconnected from. He questions, “How can I play people when I don’t know people?” The film contrasts Kelly’s experience with that of ordinary travelers, a scene that leans into a nostalgic, almost kitschy celebration of the mundane.
Through the windows in the long -distance train between France and Italy, Kelly looks not only into the next compartment, but also into his own past.
The film grapples with the intersection of cinema and reality. While Baumbach references filmmakers like Robert Altman and Federico Fellini, the execution occasionally feels less effortless than its inspirations. The dialogue, often stilted, centers on the nature of art and authenticity.
Thank God for Adam Sandler
Despite its narrative stumbles, “Jay Kelly” boasts a remarkable cast. George Clooney embodies the charm of classic Hollywood, evoking comparisons to Cary Grant as he’s described as “the last of the old film stars.” The dynamic between Clooney and Adam Sandler is a significant strength.
Sandler, reuniting with Baumbach after “The Meyerowitz Stories,” brings both humor and heart to his role as Ron, Kelly’s long-suffering manager. Sandler’s ensemble often includes his family, including daughters Sunny and Sadie Sandler and wife Jackie Sandler, as seen in films like “You Are Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.” His performance as Ron, who affectionately calls clients “Puppy,” provides many of the film’s most memorable lines and poignant moments.
Ultimately, “Jay Kelly” sees Baumbach return to his familiar territory of star-studded ensemble comedies focused on neuroses and self-discovery. While the film has its length and script weaknesses, the compelling performances, particularly the chemistry between Clooney and Sandler, make it a worthwhile watch.
