REVIEW: “Jay Kelly” (2025)

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I’ll watch anything Noah Baumbach makes, honestly. I’ve been a fan since his early work with Wes Anderson, and I’ve really enjoyed pretty much everything he’s directed since then. Whether it’s a fun, energetic indie like “Frances Ha”, a really moving drama like “Marriage Story”, or something totally out there like “White Noise”, he just gets me. I love his quirky style, the way he looks at things, and especially how great his characters’ conversations are.

Noah Baumbach’s newest film, “Jay Kelly,” definitely feels like a Baumbach movie, but it also does some interesting things differently. While his films usually take place in small, contained worlds, this one is much larger in scope. Instead of a deeply personal story, he’s told a much broader one. Even the way the film is made feels different, with a style reminiscent of classic Hollywood filmmaking.

George Clooney stars as Jay Kelly, a famous actor going through a personal crisis that makes him question his priorities. The film begins as Jay finishes shooting his latest movie, “Eight Men From Now.” His dedicated manager, Ron (played brilliantly by Adam Sandler), has already planned Jay’s next project, but Jay surprises him by announcing he’s taking a break and traveling to Europe instead.

Jay’s sudden decision threw his team into chaos, leaving them struggling to understand what he was doing. Ron had to cancel his personal plans and rush to join Jay on a flight to Paris. There, he intends to surprise his daughter, Daisy (Grace Edwards), who is traveling with friends. After that, he’ll take a train to Tuscany to accept a career award he’d initially turned down.

Ron’s primary task is to keep his biggest client happy and talk him out of abandoning his upcoming film. However, the indifferent Jay seems more focused on socializing with fans and searching for Daisy, who prefers to be with her friends on the road. This behavior exasperates Jay’s team, particularly his easily agitated publicist, Liz (Laura Dern). Through the surrounding turmoil, we start to understand the underlying reason for Jay’s recent withdrawal – he’s taking time to contemplate his life, both his professional achievements and his personal shortcomings as a father.

Lost in thought and sadness, Jay starts to reflect on his life and the impact of his decisions, especially on his two daughters. He still has a bond with his younger daughter, Daisy, but his relationship with his oldest, Jessica (played by Riley Keough), is strained. Prioritizing his own ambitions has created a rift between them, and Jessica isn’t willing to reconcile just yet. Despite having limited screen time, Keough delivers the most emotionally powerful scenes in the story.

The film also explores Jay’s bond with Ron, a relationship central to his personal growth. George Clooney and Adam Sandler share fantastic chemistry, consistently bringing both warmth and humor to their scenes together. Clooney effortlessly embodies Jay, often feeling like he’s playing a version of himself. Sandler delivers one of his strongest performances to date, and arguably the best supporting role of the year. He’s truly the emotional core of the story, representing everything Jay has sacrificed in pursuit of success.

From the beginning, Jay shares a striking thought: “All my memories are movies.” This could suggest he’s lived so much of his life through a camera lens, making it difficult to recall experiences that weren’t filmed. Alternatively, it might mean he doesn’t have genuine, personal memories – instead, his recollections feel like movies created for an audience. Both interpretations are possible, and they both contribute to Jay’s deep sense of regret.

Noah Baumbach’s heartfelt script, co-written with Emily Mortimer, follows Jay Kelly as he struggles with difficult self-reflection. Importantly, the film doesn’t offer a simple, feel-good resolution. While Jay earns our understanding, he doesn’t escape the repercussions of his actions or the hurt he’s caused. Combined with strong acting, beautiful visuals, and Baumbach’s skillful direction, the film is both a thoughtful look at one man’s journey and a powerful reminder of the consequences of our choices.

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2025-12-11 20:58