Film Review: JAY KELLY

George Clooney and Adam Sandler

I was really looking forward to seeing the new Netflix film Jay Kelly, mostly because I love Adam Sandler in almost everything he has done and he's already received critical acclaim for his role in this one. Once again I learned that professional critics can be wrong, or else they can be bought, I'm not sure which applies in this case.

Full disclosure: I had to shut it off a little more than halfway through. My decision was based on several things: First, George Clooney, the star portraying the fading star of the movie's title, was totally unconvincing, mostly because he can't really act, he just looks the part. 

Next, even the ones who can act, like Billy Crudup as an old friend with a grudge from Jay's past, are awful, because the script is awful. Written by Noah Baumbach (and his wife), it's as usual overloaded with the AUTHOR'S MESSAGE throughout. Okay, we get it -- actors aren't around for their kids when they are little. And yes, they live pretend lives and thus miss out on their own. 

Okay, anything else to tell us? That Hollywood is full of preening vapid people more concerned with making deals on their phones than living real life in the moment? Check. That people in Hollywood live in luxurious homes and fly in private jets? Check. That Laura Dern is very unappealing as whoever she was supposed to be? (It was not made clear.) Poor Adam Sandler as Jay's agent was lost in this mess. 

So was I, so I turned it off.