Feed aggregator

The Eureka RapidWash 730 is powerful and easy to maneuver, despite its generous weight and bulk.

• Buy at Eureka

Eureka RapidWash 730: two-minute review

The Eureka RapidWash 730 is a well engineered wet-and-dry hard floor cleaner that bridges the gap between traditional mopping and modern cordless convenience. Despite its higher-than-average weight and portly posture, this machine sports an excellent steering mechanism for easy maneuverability around furnishings and tight corners. Plus, its split toweled roller quite literally runs from edge to edge for complete cleaning along baseboards – something most of today's best wet and dry vacuums can't manage.

This model also surprises with a level of hard floor cleaning performance that matches the best of the opposition, while its suction power is extremely adept at removing most spilled liquids and debris in a single pass. With tanks large enough for multiple rooms plus 40-minute battery life, this one's an obvious candidate for busy households with extensive hard flooring.

However, while the RapidWash 720's roller provides natural forward momentum when spinning, the excessive 11 lb / 5kg weight of the unit makes it feel heavy when pulling it back. Also, the jury's out on how easy it would be for some users to haul it up a flight of stairs. Noise is another consideration, particularly in Turbo mode or during self-cleaning, where the volume spikes noticeably.

Nevertheless, for those with hard floors who want a single tool for daily debris and spill management, the RapidWash 730 is an effective choice. It saves a lot of time, cleans thoroughly and simplifies maintenance.

(Image credit: Future)Eureka RapidWash 730 review: price & availability

• List price: $499.99
• Available: US, sometimes also Europe

The Eureka RapidWash 730 is predominantly available in the US, with a list price of $499.99. It's available purchase direct from Eureka, or via Amazon. At the latter, I've already spotted it on sale for $400, so you might be able to avoid paying full whack if you're tactical about when you buy.

Although Eureka does have some online presence in the UK, its eureka.com/uk website doesn't list this particular model. Likewise, there is only a smattering of Eureka products at Amazon UK. It has been available in various European countries in the past.

At its premium sticker price of around $500, is the RapidWash 730 good value for money? Not really, though it is unquestionably a very competent hard floor cleaner that performs well at general mopping and collecting large liquid spills. But for my money, there are better deals out there from the likes of Bissell, Ultenic and, of course, global market leader Tineco.

• Value for money score: 3 out of 5

Eureka RapidWash 730 specs

Eureka RapidWash 730

Type:

Cordless wet-and-dry vacuum

Cleaner size (H x L x W):

45.7 x 9.3 x 10.6in / 116 x 23.5 x 27cm

Weight (empty):

11.5 lbs / 5.2kg

Clean water tank volume:

23.67 oz

Dirty water tank volume:

20.28 oz

Max runtime:

40 mins

Recharge time:

4 hrs 16 mins

Wattage:

350W

Suction power:

21,600Pa

Brush roller speed:

500RPM

Self-cleaning water temp:

185F / 85C

Self-drying water temp:

140F / 60C or 176F / 80C

Eureka RapidWash 730 review: design

• Weighty and large wet-and-dry cleaner, with self-clean docking station
• Mop extends the full width of the floorhead
• Very decent maneuverability

Eureka is a brand you don't see much of in the UK or Europe but the US-founded, now Chinese-owned company has a long history in America as a leader floor cleaners. The brand's roster now includes an eclectic range of stick vacs, cylinder vacs, robot vacs, carpet cleaners and wet-and-dry hard floor cleaners like the model I'm looking at here.

This writer is used to testing products from European, Japanese and Chinese brands, whereas the Eureka RapidWash 730 has a distinctly American look and scale. For some reason, this particular model reminds me of a 1949 Studebaker, only with smoother lines.

(Image credit: Future)

The RapidWash 730 is the largest wet-and-dry vacuum I've reviewed, and that size also equates to more weight (11.46 lbs / 5.2 kg to be precise) which you will doubtless notice when lifting it out of its self-cleaning station or hauling it up a flight of stairs. The action of the roller brush helps pull the unit forward, making it really easy to push… although heavy to pull back. It's not the end of the world, mind, since that is the case with most hard floor cleaners bar the Tineco Floor ONE S7 Pro and Roborock F25 ACE, which both come with motorized wheels.

Like most high-end Tineco hard floor cleaners, this model features a large, angled circular LED on top of the main body that lets you know what mode you're in and how much battery is left. All controls are mounted on the handle and are easily accessed.

(Image credit: Future)

First you have a simple on/off button that defaults to Auto mode on start-up. This mode uses AI-powered smart detection to assess the amount of dirt being collected before adjusting the amount of suction power. In most instances you wouldn't need to select anything else. Next, there's Turbo mode which uses a little more water and a lot more suction for heavily soiled areas – this model's suction is rated at a suitably high 21,600 Pascals. Finally, select Dry mode if you need to clean up a nasty wet spill or something that spontaneously came out of the dog's mouth.

(Image credit: Future)

Like all wet-and-dry cleaners, the RapidWash 730 comes with two water tanks, a 23.67oz / 700ml clean-water reservoir and a 20.28oz / 600ml tank to collect all the dirty stuff. While you won't necessarily need to empty the dirty water tank and give it a rinse after a short cleaning session, you will still be bombarded with voice reminders on a regular basis. This will eventually become annoying enough that you'll give in, only to notice that the tank is just one eighth full. Many hard floor cleaners suffer from this over-zealous approach to maintenance, so the Eureka is not unusual in this respect.

(Image credit: Future)

The majority of hard floor cleaners like this one use a wet, towel-covered cleaning roller that spins at around 500rpm. However, because manufacturers need to fit a motor and spindle to one side of the brush head, most rollers end up with a gap of about 10mm on one side, which means you can only mop the very edges of a floor from one direction.

Eureka's tech team has managed to find a way around this by reducing the length of the brush roller on one side and adding a short magnetized roller sleeve that slips over the motor housing on the opposite end. This allows the roller to cover the entire width of the cleaning head. And by entire I mean right to the very edge – indeed the left side of the roller, when viewed from the front, actually protrudes beyond the housing.

This is a major bonus because it means that the RapidWash 730 can be used to clean along baseboards from the left or the right. Furthermore, there's a comb behind the roller that effectively collects almost all remnants of hair and other stuck-on muck before having it sucked into the dirty water tank.

(Image credit: Future)

Like all decent wet-and-dry mops, the RapidWash 730 comes with a large bathtub-shaped charging dock that also serves as a cleaning station. Admittedly, mounting the unit on the dock requires awkwardly lining it up so its connectors meet, but once it's docked it's ready to start its self-cleaning regime, and this is as easy as putting your foot on a cross bar to set it all off. I like that, a lot.

The cleaning process itself is comprised of two stages – spinning the mop roller while it's washed with fresh water at 185˚F (85˚C) and then gently drying it using hot air at around 140˚F (60˚C). You can also speed up the drying process by pressing the Dry button on the cleaning unit's handle and selecting Rapid Dry. This setting increases the drying heat to 176˚F (80˚C).

The cleaning process is noisy so you may want this model stored away in the utility room or elsewhere out of earshot, but the main part of the sequence – the part where the brush roller spins around – only takes about five minutes to complete.

(Image credit: Future)

Finally, this model thankfully features one of the best steering mechanisms since the Dyson Gen5detect cordless stick vac. It angles at around 50 degrees by twisting your wrist when cleaning around table legs and in hard-to-reach areas. Given the extra weight of this machine, I think having a widely articulating head like this makes it much easier to use than you might expect. This thoughtful design flourish also extends to the permitted angle of the main unit, which can be tilted 170 degrees to the floor, making cleaning under sofas and beds a relative breeze.

For the record, the Eureka RapidWash 730 ships with a spare split toweling roller, a 15oz (450ml) bottle of Eureka Refresh Clean hard floor detergent, a spare filter and a cleaning brush.

• Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Eureka RapidWash 730 review: performance

• Impressive at collecting both liquid and solid spills
• Heavy enough to make longer cleaning sessions a bit of a workout
• Leaves only a thin film of water behind, and doesn't drip when turned off

When it comes to cleaning performance, the RapidWash 730 has proved to be extremely adept and thorough in the way it picks up dust, pet hair, crumbs and liquid spills in just a few passes. Also, I think that its edge-to-edge cleaning ability is a major advantage in kitchens and bathrooms, where dirt and pet hair always tend to gather along baseboards. However, the machine's weight and size did make extended cleaning sessions feel like a bit of a workout, even though its smooth forward movement offset some of the strain of pulling it back.

(Image credit: Future)

Before I get to my test results, one small but significant aspect I've been impressed with is the way the RapidWash 730's suction motor stays on for a few seconds after turning it off. This means any last vestiges of dripping water are sucked up, leaving the floor drier around the roller than most other models I've tested. I love this – I normally have to turn other models on again to collect any small pools of water before angling them back and turning them off a second time before quickly rolling the unit back to its dock for a clean. That's not the case with this model.

Right, let's get down to my cleaning test results. I first performed a few general cleans of my kitchen's engineered wood flooring and was pleasantly surprised at how well the RapidWash 730 completed the tasks, leaving a nice shiny appearance and only a very thin film of moisture in its wake. This was important to me because I'm always concerned about having too much water dispensed on my engineered wooden floors. Given the amount of water that's sucked up during this model's cleaning routine, I wouldn't have any concerns about using it on laminated flooring, which is known to easily warp if too wet.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Future)

I then fashioned up a tortuous test using a range of ingredients one would never mix together in real life – a cup of muesli with raisins, some squirts of tomato ketchup and mustard, plus a cracked egg for good measure. I wanted to check for any snowploughing of ingredients and whether the loosely broken eggshell blocked any passageways in the system.

Unexpectedly, this monster gobbled up the vast majority of this humongous mess in one fell swoop and the rest of it in a second pass. I then ran the unit over the visually clean floor a few more times and then checked the area behind the easily-removed roller. As expected, some fragments of eggshell remained behind the roller, but I heard it all being sucked into the dirty water bin once I'd positioned it on the dock and tapped the cleaning mode with my foot.

Overall, it was an effortless experience in my opinion and proof positive that this is, indeed, an excellent floor cleaner that would do any kitchen or bathroom proud. I just wish it was smaller in stature and a few pounds lighter.

• Performance score: 4 out of 5

Eureka RapidWash 730 review: battery life

• Maximum of 40 minutes cleaning per charge in Auto mode
• Recharge is slow at over 4 hours

Around 40 to 60 minutes is the magic time frame for most cordless floor cleaners. Given that this machine won't be used as often or as extensively as a cordless vac, I think its 40 minute running time in Auto mode is acceptable, and ample enough for a full downstairs clean without having to pause for a recharge. Mind, it did take 4 hours and 16 minutes to fully charge from empty, which is too long in my book.

• Battery life score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Eureka RapidWash 730?

//section// Should you buy the Eureka RapidWash 730?

Section

Notes

Score

Value for money

Despite its efficiency at mopping and debris collection, I think $500 is too high a price when compared to much of the competition.

3/5

Design

I can't say I'm that enamoured of this model's bulky design or its overall weight.

3.5/5

Performance

Surprisingly excellent performance in all disciplines. Easy to use, too.

4/5

Battery performance

Average 40-minute battery performance though it takes ages to recharge.

3.5/5

Average rating 3.5/5

Buy it if…

You have more hard floor than carpet

This model isn't suitable for use on carpet or rugs

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

X/5

Design

X/5

Performance

X/5

App

X/5

• Buy at Eureka

Buy it if...

You have a large home that gets dirty quickly

The RapidWash 730 is a sterling mopper, and the larger size is justified in big homes with lots of mess to clear up.

You're a pet owner

This wet-dry vacuum is exceptional at picking up liquid mess.

Don't buy it if...

You're not especially strong

The RapidWash 730 is the heaviest of all the wet-and-dry vacuums I've tested, and a bit of a workout to carry. There are lighter options on the market if you'd prefer.

You have a small household

The RapidWash 730 is rather large, so as well as being overkill for smaller households, you'll need to find somewhere to store its bulk.

How I tested the Eureka RapidWash 730

Like all TechRadar journalists, I spent an inordinate amount of time assessing this product and the process started right from the off when I unboxed it, assembled the handle, plugged in the charging dock and popped the RapidWash 730 on its plinth. Once fully charged, I subjected it to a variety of general mopping runs over a four-day period before setting up its main debris-collection test involving both solids and liquids. I also examined the unit's styling, assessed its weight and size, and monitored its battery usage and how long it took to charge.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed October 2025

According to a new leak, the next-generation Xbox console will be more powerful than the PlayStation 6, but it might be more expensive.

Money no object? Then the Philips 9000 series of premium electric razors could be worth a look – here's my review of the base model following six months use.

Philips i9000 electric shaver: two-minute review

Before I splashed out on the Philips i9000 electric shaver, I was putting up with a generic $35 / £30 one I picked up at Amazon. Forking out 10x the price for a premium model was a painful idea, but not as painful as my shaving experiences with the cheap model, so I went for it. (By the way, that shaver at Amazon had a 4.5 star average rating over hundreds of user reviews, many of which are clearly bogus. That's a risk in trusting unknown user reviews.)

Six months later, my face is still thanking me that I spent extra on the Philips i9000, especially for the 50% off sale price that pushed the base model closer to $300 / £230. (There are also pricier 'Prestige' models in the series, which I haven't tested.) The i9000's agile triple-head electric shavers easily navigate tricky contours, including the jawline, maintaining a close shave along the way. It feels great in the hand, too.

This is the first electric razor I've used with pressure indicators, which are a genuinely useful feature: if the shaver lights up green then you're applying the right amount of pressure, if blue you're too soft, while orange is too hard. I've generally found that following the pressure indicators delivers an effective shave while minimizing irritation – this feature is no gimmick.

Battery life is decent, too. For an average shave, I'm seeing a 3% reduction in battery life on the digital display, and that's even six months down the line. I'd say the i9000 is good for 30 shaves before needing a recharge, for which Philips provides a wall mounted USB-A charging base (a minor complaint is that USB-C would be more convenient for travel).

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

The razor is waterproof so can handle wet and dry shaves, while the flip-out trimmer on the razor's underside is a reasonable solution for tidying beard edges and precise cuts, which is something I regularly do (and deal with stray nose / ear hairs – apologies for the overshare).

I reckon the i9000's heads have gradually lost some of their cutting effectiveness over the 6 months, but they still cut fine, just with a little extra effort than was required on day one. Replacement heads are available for a not-too-unreasonable cost, but I suspect I'll need to swap mine yearly rather than every two years, as Philips suggests.

Don't buy into any user reviews on the brand's site about the i9000 being closer than a proper wet shave with a safety razor – it's simply not true. If you want the closest shave possible, with fewer missed hairs, old school is the way. However, I've been super happy with the i9000. I can't recall switching to a wet shave ever since, which definitely wasn't the case when I was using that cheap alternative.

You really do get more for your money with the Philips 9000 series, and my shaving routine has been a happier experience since I made the switch – for my money, this is one of the best electric razors on the market.

Philips i9000 electric shaver: price & availability

• List price is $240 / £479.99 / AU$600
• Regularly on sale for less than half the list price in the UK
• Replacement heads available

I'm not sure anyone in their right mind would buy the Philips i9000 at full cost, but thankfully it's almost always available for less than half the list price, which is palatable. At the time of writing, I'm seeing the shaver for $240 / £225 on the Philips site. Even then, I'd hardly call it superb value, but then again you do get the better shaving experience versus a generic sub $45 / £35 model.

Replacement heads are available at the Philips site for $65 / £40 / AU$106 – prices will likely vary at independent stockists. The guidance is to replace the heads every two years, but on my experience I reckon every year is ideal, given 6 months use has seen a slight reduction in cutting efficiency. The product comes with a 5-year service warranty.

• Value for money score: 3 out of 5

Philips i9000 electric shaver specs

Waterproof:

Yes

Battery life:

50 minutes

Charge time:

1 hour full, 5-min quick

Charger type:

Shaver/USB-A

Accessories:

Quick clean pod, charging stand, travel pouch, plus GroomTribe app

Suitable for:

Face or body

Philips i9000 electric shaver review: design

• Ergonomic handle and handy pressure LED indicators
• Pop-up trimmer for edges, or dedicated beard trimmer head
• Charge dock and hard case for travel, but the latter only fits the razor

From the ergonomic handle to the agile heads and digital display plus LEDs, the i9000 is a premium shaving experience. Rightly so, given how pricey it is.

I've no real complaints in any area: the three heads pack what Philips dubs a triple action lift and cut system up to precisely 0.00mm skin-level, without the risk of cutting skin that comes with wet shaves – you'll certainly get a close shave, even if I found a few months down the line that the shaver regularly missed individual hairs.

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

The shaver integrates an LED light ring around the base of the shaver head. With the shaver active, those LEDs emit a blue light if the pressure your applying is too soft, orange for too hard, and green for the right amount of pressure.

Below that, an small non-touch color screen displays battery life and cycles through features such as the Philips app. I'll be honest, I didn't see the need to pair the shaver with my phone and explore the app, which Philips says will give you 'an even-better routine and technique' by offering 'real-time guidance and personalized shaving insights to help you look and feel your best every day'.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

There's a pop-up trimmer on the shaver's underside, which is pretty basic but works well enough for quickly tidying up beard edges. If that's the main task though, the main head can be removed and swapped with a proper beard trimmer, which is much more powerful and effective.

Practically, I'd like to see a USB-C port which would make on the go charging much more convenient than lugging the charging base, which uses the proprietary shaver connector, on a trip. Although Philips supplies a hard travel case for the shaver, this will only fit the razor itself, and not any of the shaver or trimmer heads.

• Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Philips i9000 electric shaver: performance

• Around 30 shaves from a full charge
• Triple flexing shaver head and trimmer head options
• Modest pop-up trimmer

One cutback made versus the pricier Philips S9000 Prestige is in the charging department – the i9000 features the proprietary shaver connector (USB-A) only, while the Prestige model offers convenient wireless charging.

Still, a full charge should deliver around 30 shaves, so it's no real inconvenience to place the shaver in the dock at home once you're back from being away. And it'll charge quickly too – just 5 minutes returns the lion's share of the power, or it's an hour to fully juice it up.

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

There are two heads supplied with the razor: the triple flexing head with what Philips says is 360-degree precision, plus a trimmer head to neaten edges. A basic pop-up trimmer in the shaver's underside supplements that trimmer head.

Overall, I've been really impressed with the performance of the i9000 electric razor. The flexing heads glide smoothly over every contour and have delivered close shaves, even if I'm getting stray hairs 6 months down the line, especially on my neck.

And the trimmer head is properly powerful, for doing the first stage of tidying edges, while the tiny pop-up trimmer take care of the finishing touches for a neat beard.

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Philips says the flexing heads are good for two years use before being replaced (you can buy replacement heads on the Philips website). I'm not so sure – more than six months down the line and after regular use, I'm already thinking of replacing them. Of course the numbers depend on how regularly you shave, but I reckon the average person would want to replace the heads after one year for the best possible performance.

Overall, the Philips i9000 has given me the best electric razor experience I've ever had and the proof is in the pudding – I feel good after a shave and my wet razor has been left unused the entire time.

• Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Philips i9000 electric shaver?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Ergonomic handle, waterproof, pop-up trimmer.

4.5 / 5

Performance

Agile heads, powerful trimmer head, handy pressure indicators.

4.5 / 5

Value

Make sure you get it on sale – it's regularly available for less than half the list price.

3 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a premium electric shave experience
Triple action lift-and-cut heads combine with LED pressure indicators for a close shave with minimal irritation.

You're looking for a versatile razor
The triple heads are smaller than average and can cover relatively precise areas, while the powerful trimmer head can neaten edges.

Don't buy it if...

You want a cheap razor
The i9000 is a pricey razor. If you're less fussed about its premium features, there are cheaper alternatives.

You want something for travel

The i9000 relies on a proprietary shaver connector, whereas many alternatives can charge conveniently through USB-C or even wirelessly. The travel case only fits the razor itself.

Philips i9000: also consider

Philips Shaver S9000 Prestige
If you can spend a little extra, the 'Prestige' version in Philips 9000 tops the bill for features, including wireless charging and adaptive power tech.

Read our Philips Shaver S9000 Prestige review

Braun Series 9 Pro
Even pricier, the Braun Series 9 Pro is also beautifully designed and boasts an excellent shaving performance. It's charge and run times are similar, and you'll get a close shave whether wet or dry. Another stellar premium choice.

Read our full Braun Series 9 Pro review.

How I tested the Philips i9000

• My primary razor for six months
• I've used it most days, whether for shaves or trimming
• Tested in both wet and dry environments

I used the Philips i9000 as my only shaver a few times a week over the course of six months. I generally tidy my neck and cheeks with the triple shaver head and trim beard edges daily with the trimmer head or pop-up trimmer, while full shaves are less frequent.

I have been able to use the razor in wet and dry shaving conditions, assessing how it performs in both scenarios and how effective its water resistance is. In general, I store the shaver in a wash bag and run the battery down to zero before docking it in the charging base to recharge. I have also used the supplied cleaning pod to give the device a deep clean.

• Read more about how we test
• First reviewed October 2025

Mills was reportedly recruited by Democratic Senate leaders after her high-profile confrontation with President Donald Trump in February, in which she told the president she'd "see you in court."

(Image credit: Robert F. Bukaty)

Global smartphone shipments saw a notable increase in the third quarter of 2025. Plus, preorders for Apple's new iPhone 17 beat out the iPhone 16.

The 2025 Nobel Prize in economics was awarded to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt.

(Image credit: Jonathan Nackstrand)

Here are the Battlefield 6 latest patch notes. Check out the most recent changes to the new multiplayer first person shooter.

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia says shutdown can end if Trump engages more earnestly in negotiations.

(Image credit: Kevin Dietsch)

As of 14 October, Microsoft will cease technical support for Windows 10, as well as feature updates, and – most critically – security updates.

The best meal kits I tried taste amazing, are affordable and cater to my dietary needs. It's a win-win-win.

Noah Baumbach thinly disguises an ode to George Clooney's life in Jay Kelly, and it's one of the most moving films I've seen all year.

Let's not beat around the bush with what director Noah Baumbach is trying to achieve with Jay Kelly, it's a blatant love letter to George Clooney. The new Netflix movie is self-indulgent to the point of rubbing in it in our faces, and I'm as surprised as anyone else that I have no problem with that.

In fact, I think it's this indulgence that means the film can exist and emote in the way that it needs to. Clooney and the character he plays Kelly are basically one synonymous figure, gently poking fun at a sadness that runs through the veins of Hollywood. As they say, you need to be your own cheerleader, and look where that can get you.

Where I was expecting to be emotionally eviscerated by other movies at the London Film Festival (namely Hamnet, as every critic and their dog suggested), Jay Kelly delivered meditative heartbreak where its programmed rivals have failed to. There's nothing too overt or gauche happening to achieve this, merely a lot of sitting in the moment, thinking and processing.

I'd go as far as to say that Jay Kelly is the movie many of us need to see this year. I don't know what kind of permanent Mercury retrograde 2025 feels like it's in, but people are collectively going through it now more than ever. To be grounded is to bring us back to ourselves, and for Jay/George, the answers aren't quite what he'd hoped for.

Jay Kelly isn't just an ode to George Clooney, but regrettable choices

Let's set the scene: After filming his latest big picture, Jay Kelly thinks he wants out of the business. When a longtime mentor suddenly dies, he's brought face-to-face with things in his past that he'd rather forget. With his daughters making their own way in the world, Kelly impulsively decides to follow his youngest to Europe, throwing the lives of everyone around him into jeopardy.

Like him or loathe him, Clooney is the epitome of old-school Hollywood. He's got the voice, charm and physicality of peers gone by, and still never fails to make a group of people swoon at his feet at the age of 64. Is he the best actor around? No. Have all of his films been successful? Absolutely not. Yet he remains golden.

Kelly is exactly the same. By his own admission, he isn't the best actor and hasn't made the best decisions professionally or personally. This leaves him wondering if his 35-year career actually meant anything. Kelly's family life isn't much better, as he's now estranged from his eldest daughter, Jessica (Riley Keough), while his youngest, Daisy (Grace Edwards), is determined to find her own feet. As he soberly tells us, "my memories are all in movies. That's all they are, memories".

This is where Clooney and Kelly differ. While we've got no idea what goes on in Clooney's personal life (and nor should we), Kelly's is violently ripped apart. We follow his life through flashbacks of his youth, adulthood and recent past, all while present-day Kelly watches on in the moment. It's clear that introspection is never something he's considered, running through life like a bull in a China shop.

Truthfully, he's ruined just about everything without realizing. Alongside his daughters, friend and manager Ron (Adam Sandler) believes their relationship is purposeful while Kelly sees it as transactional, and publicist Liz (Laura Dern) is one crisis away from jumping ship. Kelly decides he doesn't really know who he is, and everyone feels the consequences.

But while that's a massive nuisance for literally everybody who has ever met Jay Kelly, it's helpful for us as a viewers. By examining his career, personal choices and parenting in painstaking detail, we have no choice but to be confronted with our own lives in the process. Can you truly have a work-life balance? Will our kids resent us for how much our careers pull us in other directions? Are we making the right decisions for ourselves and our loved ones?

As life likes to remind us, there are no conclusive answers for this. But watching Kelly struggle to comprehend his own accountability packs the ideal emotional punch. As Jay Kelly continues, we become one with him, laughing, crying and resolving his issues as if they are our own. When it comes down to it, they are, and Baumbach knows just how to connect us to that feeling.

Jay Kelly isn't just about Jay Kelly

Laura Dern, George Clooney and Adam Sandler in Jay Kelly. (Image credit: Netflix)

As you might expect, Clooney is a duck to water when it comes to his performance, but he's not the only person behind the fractured man. Sandler returns to a comedy-drama balance as the long-suffering Ron, laying his heart on the line for it to get openly beaten by Kelly's self-delusion. It's the perfect blend of stern and soft, and we're rooting for him to stick up for the quality of life we know he deserves.

Liz doesn't suffer fools, which is the counter-balance needed to an industry intent on telling Kelly what he wants to hear. While I absolutely hated watching Jim Broadbent die for the 137465th time in a movie (playing Kelly's mentor Peter), Riley Keough is my standout supporting performance.

As a woman in a lot of pain, where she is in life and how she's choosing to live it has the most significance for understanding who Kelly is. She is desperate for her dad to listen to how she feels, yet direct about not wanting to be in his life on a permanent basis. It's a case of too little to late for Kelly, and an emotionally excruciating phone call scene hammers that point home.

Sure, Baumbach isn't doing anything exciting or fresh with his vision and direction, and there's a part of me that's annoyed with myself for loving a film about the most-documented genre of all time (men in Hollywood). But I loved how Jay Kelly left me examining my own life, reassessing what's going on around me and reminding me it takes a village to be a decent person – it's surprising how easy it is to forget self-reflection.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

You might also like

• The Night Agent season 3: everything we know so far about the popular Netflix show's return
• Netflix is bringing these 5 fun party games to your TV soon – and this Among Us-style clone could be the highlight
• Wake Up Dead Man is the best Knives Out mystery yet, and that’s not just because of Benoit Blanc

I loved the first version, and now the second one is here to steal my heart.

How tech companies and government officials handle local impacts will shape the industry's future in the U.S.

(Image credit: ULYSSE BELLIER/AFP via Getty Images)

Today's the day when Windows 10 enters its End of Life phase, where Microsoft will no longer issue updates or security patches. Here's everything you need to know.

A newly found image in a build of the One UI 8.5 operating system suggests a big redesign is coming to the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4

Two new reports have emerged with industry insiders claiming that both the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox console are targeting a 2027 launch.

The wait is finally over! One-Punch Man season 3 is streaming now, but how did fans react to the first episode?