'Jay Kelly' Review: Adam Sandler outshines George Clooney in Netflix's glossy but hollow showbiz dramedy

Does the powerfulness of a Hollywood movie prima inactive exist? We unrecorded successful an epoch erstwhile less and less big-budget films gain the wealth they erstwhile did and A-list actors are nary longer guaranteed container bureau gold. Gone are the days of Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne.

In Netflix's "Jay Kelly," George Clooney stars arsenic the rubric quality — ostensibly 1 of the past iconic starring men moving successful Tinseltown. Just having wrapped up a movie shoot, Jay hopes to walk his clip disconnected with his girl Daisy (Grace Edwards), who is soon heading disconnected to college, earlier helium starts his adjacent task successful 2 weeks. Except Daisy has already booked a European getaway with friends.

Knowing helium already crippled his narration with his eldest estranged daughter, Jess (Riley Keough), Jay drops everything and hops connected his backstage pitchy to articulation Daisy anyway, creating headaches for his entourage led by his longtime manager Ron (Adam Sandler) and his publicist Liz (Laura Dern), who are ever tasked with putting retired their boss's fires.

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Adam Sandler and George Clooney successful Netflix's "Jay Kelly." (Peter Mountain/Netflix)

Throughout the film, Jay drifts into flashbacks showing pivotal moments of his vocation arsenic good arsenic his deepest regrets, ranging from his acting people and his life-changing audition to his past bitter brushwood with Jess and however helium treated his aging mentor earlier his death, reflecting connected however helium has treated friends and family. At 1 point, Jay makes a sobering realization: "All my memories are movies."

Clooney fundamentally plays himself: a handsome, charming, successful, pampered histrion who possibly believed the satellite revolved astir himself, lone to look his ain flaws arsenic helium enters his twilight years. We've seen this look earlier — and done amended — deliberation Michael Keaton successful "Birdman" oregon Sandler successful "Funny People." Clooney gives a good performance, but Jay Kelly mightiness beryllium what you would expect if you followed the existent Clooney astir with his entourage.

What's acold much compelling are Ron and Liz, some of whom are visibly drained by Jay's antics and causing a strain connected their household lives. Ron gives implicit devotion to idiosyncratic helium considers a person portion Liz gives Ron a dose of reality: "We're not to him what helium is to us."

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George Clooney stars arsenic Jay Kelly successful Netflix's caller showbiz dramedy "Jay Kelly." (Peter Mountain/Netflix)

Clooney whitethorn get apical billing, but it's truly Sandler that stands out, delivering 1 of his astir emotionally nuanced performances of his career. Dern besides shines arsenic Jay's perpetually frazzled publicist.

Writer-director Noah Baumbach — known for his indies similar "The Squid and the Whale" and "Frances Ha," arsenic good arsenic his Oscar-nominated "Marriage Story" — expands his standard here, assembling an all-star formed that includes Billy Crudup, Patrick Wilson, Isla Fisher, Jim Broadbent, Stacy Keach, Greta Gerwig (Baumbach’s wife) and Emily Mortimer, who co-wrote the script.

Oscar-winning cinematographer Linus Sandgren ("La La Land") makes "Jay Kelly" glisten connected screen, peculiarly with the picturesque scenery successful Tuscany, portion composer Nicholas Britell (best known for the "Succession" rubric taxable music) delivers a lush people fitting for Jay's lavish lifestyle.

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Laura Dern and Adam Sandler successful Netflix's "Jay Kelly." (Courtesy of Netflix)

The Verdict

"Jay Kelly" is simply a acquainted cautionary communicative of an aging Hollywood prima — the accumulation worth is high, but determination isn't overmuch beneath the surface. Adam Sandler's melodramatic crook is the film's biggest draw. Beyond that, it's forgettable.

★★ — SKIP IT

"Jay Kelly" is rated R for language. Running time: 2 hours, 12 minutes. In prime theaters, streaming connected Netflix December 5.

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