Jay Kelly (George Clooney) follows a famous actor in the midst of an existential crisis, one I’m sure most Hollywood superstars hit at some point, where they begin to question whether their career has been worth sacrificing fatherhood, friendships, or any real chance at a love life. If this sounds reminiscent of Sentimental Value, you wouldn’t be far wrong, except I imagine writer-director Noah Baumbach punching the air in frustration, because Jay Kelly is far less relatable and, quite simply, not as good.

The film’s biggest issue is its shallowness. There’s an ongoing sense of celebration surrounding Jay Kelly’s life and career that forms the backbone of the narrative, so when the inevitable moments of self-realisation arrive, they don’t feel earned or particularly organic. This lack of relatability is present throughout, but it’s most obvious in the now-viral ending, where Jay Kelly breaks down as a montage of his career highlights plays out. It feels like Baumbach is aiming for something deeply poignant and emotionally devastating, but instead it landed for me as more of a boo-hoo, why should I feel sorry for this rich asshole moment.

Jay Kelly’s family aren’t the only ones treated poorly either. His manager, played by Adam Sandler, and publicist, played by Laura Dern, are also on the receiving end of his self-centred behaviour. Dern’s character at least sees sense early on and disappears entirely, which is a shame, as she’s barely given any opportunity to shine. Sandler, on the other hand, is afforded more screen time and is very good in the role, but even here the film falls short. Themes surrounding his family life are introduced and then left frustratingly underdeveloped, material that could have made for a genuinely compelling subplot and added another layer to Sandler’s performance.

Ultimately, Jay Kelly tries to juggle too many complex ideas, and most of them end up falling flat. The result is not the emotionally engrossing experience it so clearly wants to be. That’s not to say Jay Kelly is a bad film. It definitely isn’t. But I’d be lying if I said I enjoyed it as much as I’d hoped, instead leaving with more unanswered questions about Jay Kelly’s life than insights, especially given the fairly bloated 132 minute runtime.