A Hollywood satire that’s gentler and softer (and in moments downright sentimantel) than one might expect from a director like Noah Baumbach. Jay Kelly is a semi-successful effort to dissect the notions of modern celebrity.
Grade: B- (*** out of *****)
Baumbach co-wrote the scrit Jay Kelly with Emily Mortimer, so it’s not easy to establish who wrote what sectioms of the sharply uneven film, which goes out of its way to humanizeiz a self-absorbed celeb like Jay Kelly.
The film feaures an ensemble cast that includes Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, and Billy Crudup.
The tale follows a famous actor (Clooney) as he travels through Europe with his manager (Sandler), and reflects on his life choices, familial and professional relationships, and the nature of his legacy.
After completing his latest film, actor Jay Kelly attempts to spend time with his daughter Daisy before she leaves for Europe and begins college. She declines, preferring to travel with friends. Jay learns from his longtime manager, Ron Sukenick, that Peter Schneider—the director who had launched Jay’s career—has died. Months earlier, Schneider had asked Jay to attach his name to a new project to secure financing, which Jay refused. After the funeral, Jay meets Tim Galligan, his former acting-school roommate, and the two go for drinks where they reminisce about their lives. The conversation turns hostile when Tim accuses Jay of stealing “his” part, and the two have a fistfight in the parking lot, leaving Jay injured.
Jay exits his upcoming film and abruptly books a trip to Europe to follow Daisy. Ron warns that abandoning the project will damage his career, but Jay ties the trip to a ceremony in Tuscany for a career-tribute award that he had previously declined. Using a friend’s credit card activity, Jay’s assistant Meg locates Daisy’s group. When Jay and his team arrive in Paris, Daisy is boarding a train, and they follow. Onboard, Jay interacts with passengers who recognize him, while Ron and Jay’s publicist Liz receive word that Tim is suing him for assault. Ron and Liz discuss their long history managing Jay’s crises and the personal costs of remaining in his orbit; Liz later quits and departs the train.
On the train, Jay flashes back to moments from his past, including his strained relationship with his older daughter Jessica, whose mother Jay cheated on with his co-star. Jay finds Daisy in the dining car and invites her to his tribute, but she chooses to remain with her friends.
When a cyclist on the train steals a passenger’s handbag, Jay chases after him and retrieves it, generating attention as a hero; a viral clip boosts Jay’s visibility.
Ron proposes inviting Jay’s estranged father in Tuscany, and Jay hopes of repairing their relationship.
Ron departs to meet another client, Ben Alcock, who was set to receive the tribute after Jay’s initial refusal, only to now have to share it. Ben reluctantly tells Ron he is firing him, in part due to Ron’s preoccupation with Jay.
Ron reports that Tim dropped the lawsuit after lawyers uncovered an old drug charge in Tim’s past. He and Jay argue how much Jay takes Ron for granted. Jay’s father experiences dizziness at the party and chooses to return to Maine; Jay urges him to stay but fails to stop the departing taxi. Jay runs into Ben and his family and gives them most of his guest tickets to the tribute, then wanders into the nearby woods. He calls Jessica asking her to visit, but she refuses; Jay apologizes for prioritizing his career over his children, while Jessica says she has made peace with not having him in her life.
Jay returns to the villa and sees Ron departing by taxi. Ron can no longer work for him. Jay asks Ron to attend the tribute as friend and says he shares his professional success with him.
At the tribute, the two tearfully watch a reel of Jay’s performances, ending with footage of Jessica and Daisy as children.
As the audience applaud, an emotional Jay looks to the camera and asks, “Can I go again? I’d like another one.”
Swedish cinematographer Linus Sandgren shot the project on 35mm film, in NYC, London, Tuscany, marking his first collaboration with Baumbach.
Jay Kelly had its world premiere at the 2025 Venice Film Fest in competition, and then screened at the 63rd New York Film Fest and the 69th London Film Fest.
It was shown in select theaters on November 14, before releasing on Netflix on December 5.
Cast
George Clooney as Jay Kelly, a famous actor
Charlie Rowe as Young Jay Kelly
Adam Sandler as Ron Sukenick, Jay’s manager
Laura Dern as Liz, Jay’s publicist
Billy Crudup as Timothy Galligan, Jay’s school buddy who never got a break
Louis Partridge as Young Timothy
Riley Keough as Jessica Kelly, Jay’s elder daughter
Grace Edwards as Daisy Kelly, Jay’s younger daughter
Stacy Keach as Mr. Kelly, Jay’s father
Jim Broadbent as Peter Schneider, a recently deceased director who gave Jay his big break[5]
Patrick Wilson as Ben Alcock, another actor managed by Ron
Eve Hewson as Daphne Spender, Jay’s co-star in earlier film, with whom he had an affair
Greta Gerwig as Lois Sukenick, Ron’s wife
Alba Rohrwacher as Alba, film festival assistant, Jay’s guide in Tuscany
Josh Hamilton as Carter, Jessica’s therapist
Lenny Henry as Larry, Jay’s acting coach from his youth
Emily Mortimer as Candy, Jay’s hairstylist
Nicôle Lecky as Krista, Liz’s assistant
Thaddea Graham as Meg, Jay’s assistant
Sadie Sandler as Vivienne Sukenick, Ron’s daughter
Isla Fisher as Melanie Alcock, Ben Alcock’s wife
Jamie Demetriou as Clive, passenger from France to Italy
Patsy Ferran as Brenda, Clive’s girlfriend
Parker Sawyers as Props
Lars Eidinger as German Cyclist
Kyle Soller as the director of the film Jay completes prior to his Europe trip
Tom Francis as Actor at Audition
Giovanni Esposito as Antonio, one of Jay’s father’s Italian friends
Baumbach and cinematographer Linus Sandgren make cameos as the director and camera operator, respectively, on one of Jay’s past films.
