Film Review: Jay Kelly
Everyone Knows Jay Kelly, But Jay Kelly Doesn't Know Himself
INTRODUCTION
This is a quick review of the newly released film Jay Kelly. Please note that this is just one of the many movies I will have watched each year, and my initial grade for this film may change over time, for better or worse. To stay up to date on my thoughts about other movies and any potential changes in my opinion on this one, follow me on Letterboxd.
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PLOT
Via Letterboxd: Famous movie actor Jay Kelly embarks on a journey of self discovery confronting both his past and present, accompanied by his devoted manager Ron.
REVIEW
It’s been a few years since Noah Baumbach came out with something generating legitimate awards buzz and “Best of the Year” chatter. His previous works include many indie darlings, most notably 2019’s critically beloved Marriage Story. But I have to confess that I’ve never been as enamored with his films as others are. His writing and storytelling sensibilities don’t generally vibe with the kind of stuff that truly excites me when I experience a new film.
But with this newest entry in his catalogue, Baumbach is tackling something explored earlier this year in a film I happened to love in Sentimental Value, filmmaking and the toll it can take on one’s familial bonds. With Jay Kelly, however, Baumbach takes a much more straightforward comedic approach. And instead of focusing on a European auteur, he examines the same thematic territory through the lens of a Hollywood A-lister traveling across Europe on his way to a tribute, all while trying to reconnect with the daughters he wasn’t there for because he was too busy making movies.
George Clooney plays the man himself, Jay Kelly, while Adam Sandler plays his manager, Ron. And though the ensemble includes big names like Laura Dern, Greta Gerwig, and Billy Crudup (who steals the show with a scene in the first act), the movie is really about the dynamic between Jay and Ron, Hollywood star and longtime manager, tied together for what the movie hints to be decades.
I’ve seen some criticisms claiming Clooney is basically just playing himself, but I’m not sure I fully agree. Sure, he might be the ideal guy to play an aging Hollywood legend as he’s lived that life, but he still has moments here where real range is required. Jay has to confront the harsh reality of how absent he’s been from his daughters’ lives, and he starts questioning whether devoting everything to moviemaking was worth it in the end. Sandler is great too, even if it’s not the knockout level of his Uncut Gems work. He gets his own moments of reckoning, questioning the sacrifices he’s made in service to Jay.
All of this culminates in a finale that’s easily one of my favorites of the year. We see Jay watching a tribute to his career, and the films we see him watching are ones we recognize, real films, which forces you to wonder whether all the sacrifices these artists make are really worth it. The film ultimately lands on a certain answer, but it’s one that genuinely elevates the movie despite some of my qualms.
Those qualms mostly stem from how obviously this is a film written by a Hollywood guy for Hollywood people, which could lead general audiences to vibe with it less. The characters feel a bit alienated from us, whereas the comparable Sentimental Value kept things so intimate and grounded that I found those characters far more relatable. The middle section here also meanders; the movie shouldn’t be as long as it is, and it definitely could’ve been tighter.
I’m currently at a super strong B+ for Jay Kelly. That could easily go up and push it into my “Best of 2025” list, but I’ll need time to digest and rewatch it before I can say. For the most part, this is Baumbach’s first movie that I actually vibed with far more than I usually do. I’m just not quite ready yet to say I loved it. Yet, at least.
“TL;DR”
Pros: Yet another interesting study about an elderly man whose lived a whole life trying to engage with their estranged daughters; One of the best finales of the year
Cons: The film is clearly written by and for the Hollywood crowd in a way that will potentially alienate general audiences; The middle section arguably meanders and spins its wheels
GRADING
½ way into it and I admit I am not liking it that much. Feels a bit predictable/cliched and hence boring.