Pop Culture Happy Hour – "Jay Kelly" (December 10, 2025)

Host: Linda Holmes (NPR)
Guests: Aisha Harris, Andrew Lapin

Episode Overview

This episode delves into Netflix's "Jay Kelly," a Hollywood drama directed by Noah Baumbach and starring George Clooney as an aging movie star grappling with fame, family estrangement, and the legacy of his choices. The Pop Culture Happy Hour team (Linda Holmes and Aisha Harris) is joined by critic Andrew Lapin to unpack the film’s themes, performances, and the self-referential nature of Clooney's role, highlighting the movie's sentimental and meta qualities alongside sharp commentary on fame and authenticity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Premise and Cast (04:44–06:03)

• Film Summary:
  • George Clooney stars as Jay Kelly, a legendary movie actor whose status resembles Clooney’s own.
  • The film follows Jay as he impulsively reconnects with his adult daughter while on a tumultuous European trip, shadowed by his manager Ron (Adam Sandler), publicist Liz (Laura Dern), and personal regrets.
  • Jay is forced to confront old wounds, particularly regarding his family and fading relevance.

Initial Reactions to the Film (06:03–07:51)

• Aisha Harris:
  • Surprised by her enjoyment, having been "pretty neutral" on past Baumbach films.
  • Highlights two memorable scenes: an early bar confrontation with Billy Crudup (Timothy) and the unexpected final scene:

    "There are two scenes that kind of got their hooks in me and still have their hooks in me… the early scene with Crudup in the bar... and then the final scene... it kind of rips the rug out of you at the very last moment in a way that I found very satisfying." [06:17]

• Andrew Lapin:
  • Appreciates the film’s slightly more sentimental take compared to typical Baumbach characters, describing Jay as "pricklier and kind of uglier side of human insecurity."
  • Commends the film’s exploration of the "limits of charisma and charm," especially how Jay craves adoration from strangers but fails at meaningful relationships.

Performances – Focus on George Clooney & Adam Sandler (09:01–10:48)

• Adam Sandler as Ron:
  • Praised as possibly Sandler’s best dramatic performance:

    "I think Adam Sandler is outstanding… maybe my favorite dramatic performance of his in the sense that it is so vulnerable." — Linda Holmes [09:14]

  • Ron’s life is entirely invested in Jay’s career, showing both professional devotion and personal sacrifice.
• Laura Dern as Liz:
  • Mentioned as the stressed publicist, forced to confront the destructive cycle of enabling Jay.

Fame, Family, and Authenticity (10:48–14:53)

• Linda Holmes:
  • Analyzes Jay’s dichotomy—he will "go way, way, way out of his way" for performative acts of heroism but resists mundane requests that don’t get him adoration.
• Andrew Lapin:
  • Sees the film as an "elegy for a certain kind of movie star," referencing Clooney as potentially the "last of his breed"—a star known for charisma, not IP franchise work.
  • Notes the irony of the film releasing as Hollywood faces further consolidation ("Netflix drops this movie on the same day that we learn they might be buying Warner Brothers").
• Aisha Harris:
  • Spotlights the film's meta approach, with Clooney essentially playing a reflection on his own persona ("this feels like the culmination of his public Persona as a movie star" [13:16]).
  • Recalls a sharp line about actors playing themselves, echoing Cary Grant:

    "You know how difficult it is to be yourself? You try it." — Ron/Jay Kelly [14:17]

Motifs and Emotional Core (15:09–18:22)

• Running Motif:
  • Jay uses charm as a default response, struggling for genuine connection.
• Themes Explored:
  • The strain fame places both on the star and their support system.
  • The ambiguity around whether business relationships have real emotional depth:

    "It is a movie about feelings... about this emotional bond between Jay and Ron and whether or not it is real." — Linda Holmes [16:54]

  • Use of affectionate nicknames ("Puppy") as a coping mechanism for boundary issues.

Comparisons and Subversions (18:22–21:09)

• Comparison to "Sentimental Value" (Joachim Trier’s film):
  • Whereas that film is less sentimental, "Jay Kelly" leans in but avoids easy resolution.
• Ambiguity & Absence of Villain:
  • The film doesn’t assign villainy—everyone exists in shades of gray, enmeshed by complicated love and regret.

Narrative Structure and Technique (20:02–21:09)

• Flashbacks:
  • Serve as homage to films like Fellini's "8½" or "Wild Strawberries," showing Jay as a distant observer of his own youth.
• Opening Sequence Shoutout:
  • Andrew Lapin praises the dynamic, movie-set tracking shot as "exactly my jam."

    "It’s a movie set. There’s all these moving parts. Extended take…" [20:02]

Film’s Emotional Honesty and Ending (21:22–23:03)

• Ending Ambiguity:
  • Jay cannot truly repair lost closeness with his daughters, underscoring that some consequences are irreversible:

    "... it's too late… you have to find a way to be at peace with that and to try to be honest with yourself about your regrets." — Linda Holmes [22:30]

• Current Cultural Moment:
  • Recurring stories about the sacrifices for greatness, and the film asks, "Can men have it all?" with no clear answer.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Performance:

  "Great job, Adam Sandler. Just great job." — Linda Holmes [23:17]

• On Stardom’s Price:

  "He craves the attention of these adoring strangers, but he has next to no meaningful relationship with his own family or with his closest staff." — Andrew Lapin [08:29]

• On Meta-Narrative:

  "There’s just something very interesting about someone like George Clooney doing this sort of meta version of himself..." — Aisha Harris [14:21]

• On Relationships:

  "You're my friend. My friend who takes 15% of my income." — Aisha paraphrasing a line in the movie [18:22]

• On Regret:

  "...you have to find a way to be at peace with that and to try to be honest with yourself about your regrets and about your choices." — Linda Holmes [22:30]

Key Segments & Timestamps

• Film Introduction and Setup – 04:44–06:03
• Panelists' Initial Impressions – 06:03–07:51
• Performance Highlights: Sandler & Clooney – 09:01–10:48
• Themes of Fame and Family – 10:48–14:53
• Meta Commentary on Hollywood Stardom – 12:52–15:09
• Emotional Core and Manager-Client Bond – 16:54–18:22
• Discussion of Sentimentalism and Comparative Films – 18:22–21:09
• Structure, Flashbacks, and Opening Sequence – 20:02–21:09
• Discussion of Film’s Honesty & The Irreversible Nature of Regret – 21:22–23:03

Tone and Style

The conversation is warm, conversational, and insightful, balancing personal reactions with sharp cultural analysis. The team celebrates the film’s performances, debates its sentimentality, and explores its resonance with real-life Hollywood dynamics, all with the cheerful camaraderie Pop Culture Happy Hour is known for.

Recommendation:
All hosts recommend "Jay Kelly" for its performances (especially Sandler and Clooney), emotional depth, and smart reflections on the changing face of stardom.

For more pop culture conversations:

• Find the show on Facebook: facebook.com/PCHH
• Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/nprpopculture
• Episode produced by Liz Metzger, Carly Rubin, Kayla Latimore, and Mike Katzeff
• Edited by Jessica Reedy