Who better to star in a meta-fiction film about the perils of fame than A-list movie star George Clooney?
In a way, the charismatic Clooney is the perfect actor to lead Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly,” a sentimental drama about an aging screen star who embarks on a sweeping European expedition to solve his personality crisis. In the film, the charming titular character, like the man who portrays him, has reached the highest heights in his industry, but he’s feeling rather low about the fact that the only thing he has to show of his accomplished life is a bountiful filmography that’s made him beloved around the world (“All my memories are movies,” he says).
The same can’t be said about Jay’s personal life, though. He’s distant from his two grown daughters, Jessica (Riley Keough) and Daisy (Grace Edwards), after prioritizing work for so many years, and his closest friends are those on his payroll — including his longtime manager, Ron (Adam Sandler), and publicist, Liz (Laura Dern). The exception is Jay’s mentor, Peter Schneider (Jim Broadbent), whose funeral brings an old friend back into his life: his former acting bud, Timothy (played by a very good Billy Crudup), who still holds a grudge over Jay seemingly stealing his big break and a life of stardom.
A fateful confrontation between the two sends Jay spiraling about the choices he’s made in his life. His solution? Why, an extremely last-minute trip to Italy to find his daughter and accept a tribute he previously turned down from a film festival. Never mind the new movie he already agreed to shoot, the result of Ron pulling so many strings. The latter and Liz unwillingly join Jay’s trip to keep an eye on him, but, of course, that doesn’t go according to plan.
The rest of the movie follows Jay’s aimless travels — which involve an adventurous train ride to Tuscany (and a headline-making hero moment after he stops a purse robbery), rumors of a shocking street fight (which almost leads to a lawsuit) and some surreal soul-searching in the woods — though it’s not as compelling as the movie wants you to think. In fact, as cathartic as Jay’s journey to self-discovery sounds, it’s a bit too buttoned-up to make its emotional weight feel believable.
Sure, there are flashbacks to a disgruntled Jay dismissing Jessica during a surprise therapy session, which helps explain their estranged relationship and why the movie star so desperately wants to fix it (even if his solution is flying his daughter out to watch him accept a tribute that reminds her of his absence). And there’s something slightly heartbreaking about him wanting to cherish his last summer with Daisy before she’s off to college, even when she’d rather country hop with her beau.
But even with all those revelations, “Jay Kelly” isn’t a splendid movie because of Jay’s physical and emotional voyage — what ultimately saves the movie is Sandler, delivering another career-best performance as the exhausted and overworked Ron, who has busted his ass for years for Jay with very little reward.
In many ways, his journey in the movie parallels Jay’s, as he, too, often leaves his family behind for work (including bailing on a family vacation to babysit Jay on their Italian trip). The married man also had a once-serious fling with Liz that never quite became official, which he’s forced to grapple with as another loss in his life. Throughout the film, you can see these burdens weighing on Ron’s spirit, a spirit Sandler portrays with complexity and depth. When he finally reaches his last straw with Jay, Sandler makes you buy into the stirring performance he’s absolutely selling.
Ron’s breakdown is actually what makes Jay’s epiphany at the end slightly worth it. The weightlessness of the film still doesn’t convince you that he’ll actually change his ways after realizing what a tool he’s been to his loved ones. However, the tear-jerking moment he and Ron share at the tribute — watching a slideshow of Jay’s many films, a symbol of all their dedication and hard work together — makes for a powerful ending, even if it is manufactured.
“Jay Kelly” is streaming now on Netflix.
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