Jay Kelly Review: George Clooney Shines in Baumbach’s Latest

Estimated reading time: 15 minutes

A Storied Genre: Actors Portraying Actors

There have been numerous films about actors portraying actors. Among the best-known are Sunset Boulevard, All About Eve, and the original A Star is Born. In writer-director Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly, George Clooney assumes the title role, beginning a journey that occasionally takes him back in time as he travels to receive a lifetime achievement award in Tuscany.

Plot Synopsis: A Star’s Unraveling Journey

As the curtain rises, Jay is finishing the final scene of his most recent movie. He hopes to spend unencumbered time with his younger daughter, Daisy (Grace Edwards), but she has already planned a trip to Europe with her friends before starting college. Jay’s shortcomings as a father to Daisy and her older sister, Jessica (Riley Keough), are gradually exposed.

His manager, Ron Sukenick (Adam Sandler), has handled the actor’s problems for years—a responsibility that has frequently intruded on Ron’s personal life and contributed to his past breakup with former girlfriend Liz (Laura Dern), Jay’s publicist. Ron informs Jay about the death of director Peter Schneider (Jim Broadbent), who gave Jay his first big break. Jay recently repaid Schneider by refusing to lend his name to the director’s new project, costing it vital funding.

After the funeral, Jay meets his former acting school roommate, Tim Galligan (Billy Crudup), now a child psychologist. Flashbacks reveal how a young Jay (Charlie Rowe) stole both a movie role and a girlfriend from young Tim (Louis Partridge). After drinking, the two older men fight outside a bar, leaving Jay with a black eye.

A Trip to Europe: Chaos and Reckoning

The next morning, Jay drops out of his next film, forcing Ron into constant damage control. Jay books a flight to Europe with Ron to track down Daisy in Paris and then attend the Tuscan tribute he initially declined. A rare bright moment occurs when Jay becomes a real-life hero, chasing down a thief who stole a woman’s handbag from their train.

Matters worsen for Ron, who is fired by another long-term client, actor Ben Alcock (Patrick Wilson). A final effort to have family at the ceremony fails when Jay’s father (Stacey Keach) falls ill in Tuscany and returns home.

Performances and Highlights: Sandler Steals the Show

Jay Kelly is an uneven account of an egotistical film star’s struggle for self-discovery. The performance that makes this film worth watching is delivered by Adam Sandler, whose character must choose between staying with Jay or investing in his long-suffering wife, Lois (Greta Gerwig), and their children.

Additional strengths include cinematographer Linus Sandgren’s on-location views of Caorso, Italy, thrilling crowd dance sequences, and fine contributions from the supporting cast. The film also features a highly anticipated sequence of clips from Clooney’s own films, screened during the tribute, alongside a home video of his daughters performing a play just before their father rushes off to work.

Final Verdict: Oscar Buzz and a Niche Appeal

This film will likely generate Oscar buzz, particularly for Sandler’s performance, but it remains chiefly one for Clooney aficionados. For others, whether you relish the idea of “Clooney plays Clooney” or not, Jay Kelly is a middling film. It may, however, interest viewers in revisiting the screen classics mentioned earlier and appreciating how actors playing actors can be more challenging than anticipated.

Jay Kelly is streaming now on Netflix.   

Details

• Rating Certificate: R (for language)
• Studios & Distributors: Heyday Films | NBGG Pictures | Pascal Pictures | Netflix
• Director: Noah Baumbach
• Written By: Noah Baumbach | Emily Mortimer
• Country: US | UK
• Language: English
• Run Time: 132 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Release Date: 5 December 2025