JAY KELLY

The film opens on a set for a film, “Eight Men From Now”. Lead actor and Hollywood superstar Jay Kelly (George Clooney) is on his last take. After the director yells “cut”, Jay asks for another take, but the director tells him that he is happy with what they got, and Jay changes his mind.

Jay is managed by his friend Ron Sukenick (Adam Sandler), who dotes on Jay more than most of his clients. At home, Jay speaks to his youngest daughter Daisy (Grace Edwards), wanting to spend time with her, but she is going to Europe with friends. Ron goes to Jay’s house to inform him that Peter Schneider (Jim Broadbent), the director that launched Jay’s career, has passed away. Jay recalls his last meeting with Peter, where he asked Jay to put his name on his upcoming film to secure funding, but he declined.

Jay and Ron go to Peter’s funeral, where they run into Jay’s former friend and roommate, Timothy Galligan (Billy Crudup). He invites Jay out for dinner and drinks later that night. Although their initial encounter is pleasant and cordial, it quickly turns confrontational when Tim accuses Jay of stealing his shot at a career from him. Jay walks out but is followed by Tim, and the two get into a physical fight.

The next day, Ron is with his wife Lois (Greta Gerwig) and daughter Vivienne (Sadie Sandler) at tennis practice when he learns from publicist Liz (Laura Dern) that Jay is dropping out of his latest film. Ron goes to find Jay and finds him packing for a trip to France since he got his assistant to track Daisy through her friend’s mom’s credit card, passing it off as going to Tuscany to accept a tribute award that he previously turned down. Ron reluctantly joins Jay alongside Liz and other members of Jay’s entourage.

On his way to France, Jay flashes back to his youth when he was just a casual actor (here played by Charlie Rowe) taking a class before joining Tim (here played by Louis Partridge) at the fateful audition for Peter’s film. Peter quickly took to Jay’s audition as he read with Tim, then offered him to read the lead parts.

Jay learns that Daisy and her friends are heading towards Italy, so the entourage makes their way towards the train station. All the people on the train are astonished when they see Jay. Liz tells Ron about Jay’s fight with Tim and how he’s suing JAy, but the lack of information only indicates that Jay assaulted a child therapist. Liz and Ron try to get Jay to explain himself, but he doesn’t disclose full details.

Jay has another flashback to one of his last meetings with his oldest daughter Jessica (Riley Keough), a schoolteacher with even less of a connection with Jay than Daisy. Jessica invites Jay to a session with her therapist Carter (Josh Hamilton), but Jay starts to get frustrated over confronting his problems with Jessica. She leaves the session angry at her dad.

Back on the train, Liz tells Ron to try and help get control over Jay since he is like an infant and that he does not see them as a friend the way Ron sees him as one. Jay eventually spots Daisy on the train with her boyfriend and has to admit how he found her, causing Daisy to get annoyed. She ditches Jay and chooses to stick with her friends. Liz privately tells Ron that she quits but is apologetic about it. As Jay settles in, he has another flashback to his time as a young actor and how he slept with a co-star, Daphne (Eve Hewson), while he was married to Jessica’s mother.

As the train stops, a German cyclist (Lars Eidinger) steals a bag and runs off the train. Jay chases him and catches the guy, retrieving the bag and being seen as a hero by onlookers, while the cyclist’s friend tries to defend his behavior. Jay parts amicably with Daisy as she boards on a bus to her next location.

Jay and Ron arrive in Tuscany. They split off as Jay goes to meet with his father (Stacy Keach) while Ron meets with another client, Ben Alcock (Patrick Wilson), who was going to accept the tribute in Jay’s place after he declined, but now has to share with Jay. Ben tells Ron that he is firing him as his agent because he needs someone who treats all their clients the way Ron treats Jay. Meanwhile, Jay’s father is unimpressed with his career and openly talks about it in front of guests, even rejecting a gift from Jay in front of them.

Jay goes to a party with Ron, who tells him that Tim has dropped his lawsuit against Jay after drug charges from his past were dug up. Jay and Ron start to argue over how Jay takes him for granted, and Jay walks out. Mr. Kelly starts to get dizzy and faints, prompting his decision to return to Maine despite Jay’s protests and attempts to get him to stay.

Jay runs after his father’s taxi but loses sight of it. He is found by Ben and his wife Melanie (Isla Fisher), along with the rest of their family. Jay gives them his guest tickets for the tribute and walks into the woods after declining a ride. He calls Jessica and tries to invite her to the tribute, but she refuses. Jay tries to apologize for not being there for her, but Jessica has gotten used to life without her father and essentially cuts ties with him for good.

The next day, Ron is leaving, but Jay manages to catch up to his taxi. Ron tells Jay that he can no longer work with him, but he will still be at the tribute.

Ron helps Jay get ready for the tribute, which features a showcase of Jay’s roles. Jay and Ron get emotional watching it. The reel ends with footage of Jessica and Daisy performing together as kids. The audience applauds while a teary-eyed Jay looks at the camera and asks for another take.