Burn Out, Not Fade Away: ‘Jay Kelly’ Review

The trappings of Hollywood are well documented. Unfortunately, ‘Jay Kelly’ did not get the memo. Noah Baumbach’s take on what it takes to be a star and how that affects those around the “star” falls flat in absolutely every demonstrable way possible, complete with zero redeemable characters despite the best efforts of an all-star cast. It just doesn’t work. The trope feels tired and poorly executed. ‘Jay Kelly’ is a film with no real direction, making it a waste of talent as well as the time spent with it.

Jay Kelly is a star. He’s made sure of it by screwing over just about everyone he’s called a friend or claimed to love, inclusive of his children and those around him who work tirelessly to maintain Kelly’s fame. He appreciates and sees none of that. Only when he finally realizes his star is beginning to fade and he’s missed everything does he make even a modicum of an effort to make up for his life’s transgressions.

Deciding to follow his daughter through Europe after suddenly realizing that he hasn’t spent any time with her, Jay Kelly drags his entire team away from their homes for a self-aggrandizing trip through Europe culminating in a film festival dedicated to him that he had declined in the first place. From a pure plot perspective, the film falls flat and feels self-indulgent, much like its titular star. The plot is poorly executed, leaving the audience wondering why they chose to spend time with it in the first place.

When Glitz and Glamour Dim

The real problem with ‘Jay Kelly’ is its attempt to retread a story that’s been done over and over: A fading star realizes they missed the lives of the people they purport to love and now must go on this great journey to find themselves and get that time back. The issue is…none of that really happens.

Every avenue that Kelly takes that can seemingly teach him something just doesn’t happen, and it feels like he is constantly rewarded for poor treatment of others. As a whole, it’s very off-putting and just leaves a bad taste in the mouths of its viewers. There is no payoff for what the audience has witnessed. Kelly rewards himself in his own mind, and that’s it, no true resolution.

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‘Jay Kelly’ is genuinely a few story choices away from being a good film. Ron Sukenik (Adam Sandler) has an incredible story arc across the film, so much so that, in my opinion, if the film had been made from his perspective, we’d be having a more serious conversation about Adam Sandler and awards, as well as a completely different emotional impact of the film as a whole. That was until the end, when it felt as if the film just kind of gave up on any kind of character development at all, especially when it comes to Sandler’s Ron Sukenik.

The Sandman

The true star of ‘Jay Kelly’ is the supporting cast. Laura Dern is phenomenal as Liz, cutting through the hard exterior of her character to get to the real sense of loss she has over the work that she has done for Kelly over the years. She had missed sporting events, time with her family, as well as a former love. That sense of longing is there, but so is that selfishness that seems to exist among each of the characters. Billy Crudup and Patrick Wilson both play integral roles, but both end up wasted. Their work, nonetheless, is still exceptional.

The heartbeat of the film is Adam Sandler. After being snubbed for a nomination from the Oscars for his role in ‘Uncut Gems’, Sandler is once again exceptional in a role that has real depth and soul to it. The way in which he portrays the torment he feels when he has to choose Jay or his family feels authentic, which most likely comes from personal experience, I’m sure. Sandler’s work is truly a masterclass.

For his own part, George Clooney is ok. Clooney essentially plays what feels like himself, which, ironically, is an overarching theme of the film. It’s just not special. Clooney is an exceptional actor. His work on ‘The Fantastic Mr. Fox’ and ‘Good Night and Good Luck’ was exquisite, but that talent gets lost in ‘Jay Kelly’ because of its lack of direction. While the role suited him, it just didn’t feel like the character had much substance.

Final Thought:

‘Jay Kelly’ takes a tired Hollywood blueprint and mixes it with a talented cast, only to fail at every possible turn. Despite the efforts of the cast, particularly Adam Sandler, the film has zero redeeming qualities for any of its characters or story. Much like Jay Kelly himself, the audience learns nothing and is left worse off for it.

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