I’ve Had An Opinion About Adam Sandler’s Career For The Past 30+ Years That Jay Kelly Just Crystalized

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Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched Jay Kelly via Netflix subscription.

Calling something ‘like an Adam Sandler movie’ brings to mind a wide range of possibilities – from silly comedies to intense dramas and heartwarming family films. However, Noah Baumbach’s critically acclaimed Jay Kelly, coming to Netflix in 2025, stands out. While lavish and over-the-top, it feels much more grounded in reality than many of Sandler’s films, offering a surprisingly bleak and honest portrayal.

While everyone delivers strong performances in Jay Kelly, from George Clooney’s sensitive portrayal to Laura Dern being uniquely Laura Dern, I surprisingly connected most with Adam Sandler’s Ron Sukenick. He’s the long-suffering, incredibly loyal manager who’s constantly at the mercy of Jay’s desires, and I found him to be the real heart of the film. Playing Ron actually helped me understand some feelings I’ve had about Sandler’s work for years, feelings I hadn’t quite put into words before.

Adam Sandler Is Getting Oscar Buzz For Jay Kelly, And I Think It’s Well Deserved

In the film, Adam Sandler plays Ron Sukenick, a man dedicated to his job and prioritizing his most important client over his own family. This creates a sense of ongoing disappointment for his family, who always come second. While they’re resigned to this reality – it’s simply the cost of Ron’s success as Jay Kelly – Sandler’s performance shows a character weighed down by exhaustion and a quiet acceptance of his life. The role doesn’t offer many opportunities for Sandler to showcase his usual cheerful persona; instead, he portrays a man who seems tired and defeated.

Honestly, I was really moved by Ron’s story in the movie – it felt so real and a little heartbreaking. I was genuinely surprised when he decided to stay for the awards show, and I’ll admit, I was rooting for him. It just felt like Jay was only reaching out as a last resort, and Ron deserved better than that – I really felt for the guy.

Even before the trailer for Jay Kelly came out, Adam Sandler was being talked about as a possible Oscar contender, partly because of his distinctive style. The positive buzz continued after the film was shown, and Sandler himself seemed pleased. This was confirmed when he received a Golden Globe nomination on December 8th, which he absolutely deserves, along with an Oscar nomination. The reason? His character, Ron, feels like a slightly more downcast version of Adam Sandler himself, making the performance incredibly authentic.

Ron Sukenick Brought Into Focus That My Favorite Adam Sandler Performances Are (Almost) Always His Least Performative

As a movie fan, I’ve noticed a lot of actors really try to create a captivating on-screen persona, because honestly, sometimes their natural selves just don’t quite grab you. But Adam Sandler? He doesn’t need to do any of that. I find his relaxed, low-key energy totally watchable, whether he’s chatting on a late-night show, doing stand-up, or starring in one of his Netflix comedies. He’s just naturally engaging, which is pretty rare.

Adam Sandler is at his best when he plays relatable, everyday characters – it’s when he feels most natural. Honestly, I could happily skip watching movies like The Waterboy or Little Nicky again, because those characters are just incredibly irritating. I’d even avoid sitting near characters like Hubie Halloween or Sandy Wexler if I could, and there are a few other Sandler roles I feel the same way about.

I love Adam Sandler’s comedy albums – they’re hilarious because he creates such exaggerated characters. But those are quick and easy to enjoy. When I watch a full-length movie, I actually prefer it when Sandler plays a more realistic character, even if the story itself isn’t completely believable.

I’m referring to his roles as Barry Egan in Punch-Drunk Love, Sonny Koufax in Big Daddy, Don Truby in Men, Women & Children, George Simmons in Funny People, and Danny Friedman in You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah. Even his character Longfellow Deeds feels relatively normal, though I’m not a big fan of that film. And while Howard Ratner in Uncut Gems isn’t entirely realistic, the role doesn’t require the actor to play against his intelligence, which makes it work.

That Doesn’t Mean I Dislike All Of The Movies With Adam Sandler’s Wackier Roles

My appreciation for Adam Sandler’s career is more about his performances than the quality of the movies themselves. I find films like Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison hilarious, even though I don’t think Sandler is a particularly strong actor, and his characters can be pretty unlikeable. I feel similarly about Hubie Halloween – I enjoy the movie, but I often find the main character frustrating.

I’m not a huge fan of Adam Sandler’s characters in movies like The Wedding Singer and 50 First Dates, but I still enjoy watching them. Even his voice work in Hotel Transylvania and Leo can be a bit annoying, though it doesn’t ruin the films overall. There are plenty of other examples like this throughout his work.

While I didn’t think Jay Kelly was the best movie of 2025, I really enjoyed Adam Sandler’s performance – it’s one of his best, in my opinion. Am I using this as an excuse to try and become friends with him? I’m not admitting it, but I think I could be a better friend than whoever that guy is!

I’m excited to watch Jay Kelly – it’s streaming on Netflix right now! I’m also really hoping Adam Sandler wins a Golden Globe, and I’m planning to tune in to the show on CBS or Paramount+ when it airs on January 11, 2026, to find out.

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2025-12-09 22:39