Jay Kelly Parent Guide

After 35 years in the movie business, Jay Kelly (George Clooney) is a global superstar, famed for his blockbuster hits and chiseled jaw. But as he wraps up his latest film, Jay starts to wonder if his life and legacy have any meaning. Is his estranged daughter Jessica (Riley Keough) correct when she describes him as an “empty vessel?’

Determined to find himself, Jay ducks out of the preparation for his next film and heads to Europe. He plans to redeem himself as a father by following his youngest daughter, Daisy (Grace Edwards), who is taking a pre-college trip through France and Italy with her friends. Whether or not she wants her dad around is another question…

Of course, a celebrity of Jay’s stature can’t have an existential crisis in solitude. He’s accompanied through Europe by an ever-dwindling retinue, helmed by his self-sacrificing manager, Ron (Adam Sandler). As Jay tries to find himself, Ron throws his own family’s needs aside while he scrambles to come up with semi-credible reasons for Jay’s travels, tamp down a potential lawsuit, and coerce Jay into returning home for his next film.

Jay Kelly is stuffed with messages about the cost of fame, the tenuousness of celebrity, our desire for legacy, and our need for family. Director Noah Baumbach does a decent job of weaving these plot strands together, but the real credit goes to the film’s superb cast. I won’t judge you if you come to the theater simply to stare raptly at George Clooney, but he’s more than just a pretty face. Clooney delivers a poignant portrait of a man who finally takes time to assess his life and to learn that recognizing mistakes doesn’t erase their consequences. It’s a painful process and it’s hard to watch Ron make some of the same errors as his client. Adam Sandler is a pleasant surprise in his role as Ron: Sandler’s not usually second fiddle in any film, but his soothing character is essential in keeping the mercurial Jay tethered to reality.

Partially balancing its pensive tone, the movie has comic moments, mostly arising from the absurdity to be found in Jay’s celebrity lifestyle. From the ubiquitous cheesecakes (specified in Jay’s contracts but disliked by the star) to the insanity of his hyper-attentive retinue, there are some funny scenes here. But they are bittersweet, lighter notes in a movie that becomes increasingly somber.

Given its melancholy tone, Jay Kelly isn’t likely to be a blockbuster hit. It’s pensive and sad, and also contains over three dozen profanities including 22 sexual expletives. There’s some low-level violence, a low intensity sex scene being filmed on a movie set, and multiple scenes of alcohol consumption. The film comes in on the low end of the Restricted scale, but it’s still not suited to young viewers. I suspect that the bulk of its viewers will be George Clooney fans, and anyone else who wants to meditate on the weirdness of the film industry and the lives of celebrities.

About author

Kirsten Hawkes

Kirsten Hawkes has a BA in Political Science and English and has worked in international development and medical education and marketing. Kirsten enjoys reading, watching movies, and debating politics with her husband and sometimes unwilling children.