As the saying goes, “There are too many critics with no credentials.” Celebrities are often criticized for everything, from their appearances to their skills and the roles they accept. No one is perfect, and, of course, everyone is allowed to state their opinions about whether an actor is good or not, but castmates and friends of those celebrities are allowed to defend them, too.George Clooneyis the latest actor to show his appreciation for fellow starAdam Sandler’s acting skills,as the two are starring inan upcoming comedy-drama,Jay Kelly, which is set to hit select theaters on November 14 before heading toNetflixon December 5.
Sandler is known for beingone of the best comedians of his generation. His roles usually consist of silly, funny comedy, but he doesn’t allow what he’s “most known for” to be used as an excuse to put him into a box. InJay Kelly, Sandler plays Ron, the manager of Jay Kelly (Clooney), a famous actor in his sixties. The two buds are traveling through Europe (Kelly is receiving a tribute award at the Italian film festival), reflecting on their life choices, relationships, and legacies. According toVariety, Clooney said that this film serves as a reminder that Sandler isn’t just a good comedian.
“This film, more than any film Adam has done, shows what a beautiful, heartfelt, soulful actor he is. I kept telling the cast, ‘Don’t call him Sand Man. Don’t talk to him like he’s just some goofy comedian. He’s actually a really beautiful, wonderful actor.’ Because of what his paycheck is, which is doing big goofy comedies, when he does these other, beautiful, ‘Uncut Gems’ kinds of movies, it reminds people of that. He’s not just a good comedian.”
Adam Sandler’s Most Recently Returned for ‘Happy Gilmore 2’
Jay Kellyis directed, written, and produced byfour-time Academy Award-nominee Noah Baumbach, with Emily Mortimer as co-writer. Baumbach’s directing style was something Clooney could not get used to. “I literally said to him, ‘Noah, look, I love the script. I love you as a director, but I’m 63 years old, dude — I can’t do 50 takes. I don’t have it in me. I’ve got the acting range from A to B.'” The veteran actor, in his interview with Vanity Fair, also talked about how finding roles like his latest isn’t common for actors in the business his age. However, he’s embracing his age and how he might look in productions. “I’m now the guy that, when I go running after a bad guy, it’s funny — it’s not suspenseful. That’s okay. I embrace all of that.”
Sandler’s most recent project isHappy Gilmore 2, which was released on Netflix on July 26, 2025. The movie is a sequel to the 1996Happy Gilmore, and while it sounds likeJay Kellywill bring back the more dramatic Sandler, something that’s now gotten high praise from George Clooney, Sandler’s performance in the sports comedy follow-up was more the usual fare. Which has resulted ina Rotten Tomatoes scoreof 62%, with many critics calling it too late, lazy, and having too many famous faces.
