James L Brooks, the mastermind behind iconic sitcoms like "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and classic films such as "Terms of Endearment", has delivered a sorry mess of a movie with "Ella McCay". This mid-budget adult film, set in 2008, feels like a relic from the good old days of cinema when movies were made for the big screen.
The story follows Ella McCay (played by Emma Mackey), a highly intelligent and moral woman who overcame the shame of a philandering father and trauma to become one of the youngest political fixtures of her home state. Sounds promising, but trust me, it's not. The film's narrative frays quickly into disconnected tangents that precede at a jarring rhythm.
The cast is well-intentioned, with standout performances from Jamie Lee Curtis as Ella's eccentric Aunt Helen and Kumail Nanjiani as the friendly state trooper. However, even their talents can't elevate the incoherent characters and plot that defy basic story logic. The film's protagonist, Ella, reads out the definition of trauma to her secretary, Estelle (Julie Kavner), in the first five minutes – a cringe-worthy moment that sets the tone for the rest of the movie.
As the story unfolds, we learn about McCay's rise to politics and her days-long stint as governor. But instead of delving deep into her character, the film stumbles about like a teenager rummaging through their room, pulling out random objects without any clear purpose. The result is a mess that's both disappointing and awkward to watch.
Mackey does shine in a few moments, particularly during a cannabis-infused rant where we glimpse a more nuanced side of Ella. However, her talents are wasted on a heroine whose defining traits are wonkish-ness and reactivity. The film's polish and sheen belie a deeper, more complex character, and it's frustrating to see that potential squandered.
Ultimately, "Ella McCay" feels like a relic from a bygone era of cinema when movies were made for the big screen, not for streaming platforms where convenience comes at the cost of quality. James L Brooks may be an iconic director, but even his best efforts can't save this sorry mess of a movie. If you're looking for lighthearted, realistic portrayals of women in politics, there are better options out there.
The story follows Ella McCay (played by Emma Mackey), a highly intelligent and moral woman who overcame the shame of a philandering father and trauma to become one of the youngest political fixtures of her home state. Sounds promising, but trust me, it's not. The film's narrative frays quickly into disconnected tangents that precede at a jarring rhythm.
The cast is well-intentioned, with standout performances from Jamie Lee Curtis as Ella's eccentric Aunt Helen and Kumail Nanjiani as the friendly state trooper. However, even their talents can't elevate the incoherent characters and plot that defy basic story logic. The film's protagonist, Ella, reads out the definition of trauma to her secretary, Estelle (Julie Kavner), in the first five minutes – a cringe-worthy moment that sets the tone for the rest of the movie.
As the story unfolds, we learn about McCay's rise to politics and her days-long stint as governor. But instead of delving deep into her character, the film stumbles about like a teenager rummaging through their room, pulling out random objects without any clear purpose. The result is a mess that's both disappointing and awkward to watch.
Mackey does shine in a few moments, particularly during a cannabis-infused rant where we glimpse a more nuanced side of Ella. However, her talents are wasted on a heroine whose defining traits are wonkish-ness and reactivity. The film's polish and sheen belie a deeper, more complex character, and it's frustrating to see that potential squandered.
Ultimately, "Ella McCay" feels like a relic from a bygone era of cinema when movies were made for the big screen, not for streaming platforms where convenience comes at the cost of quality. James L Brooks may be an iconic director, but even his best efforts can't save this sorry mess of a movie. If you're looking for lighthearted, realistic portrayals of women in politics, there are better options out there.
. The premise sounds great, but the execution is like a train wreck that you can't look away from 
. Emma Mackey's character is so interesting in little moments, but it feels like her whole story gets lost in the mess. Jamie Lee Curtis and Kumail Nanjiani are awesome as usual, but even they can't save this movie from itself 
. It's like James L Brooks tried to make a film for the big screen but ended up making something that's just okay for Netflix 
. The pacing is all over the place and it feels so rushed. I mean, who writes a character's entire backstory in the first 5 minutes? 
No wonder the rest of the movie feels disjointed. Overall, I'd say "Ella McCay" is a missed opportunity from a legendary director 
. The numbers don't lie - 25% Rotten Tomatoes score is pretty low. The box office wasn't exactly lighting up either, with a domestic gross of only $1.2 million on a $15 million budget 
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, but even they can't save this trainwreck. The script just doesn't deliver on its promising premise, with characters that feel more like caricatures than fully fleshed-out people 
. And that cringe-worthy moment when Emma Mackey explains trauma to her secretary? 
No thanks! Give me a good, nuanced portrayal of women in politics any day 
That's kinda what "Ella McCay" feels like - a puzzle with too many loose ends and no clear direction. It's like James L Brooks was trying to tell a story, but he forgot to put all the pieces together first 
it sounds like such a letdown. I was really excited to see Emma Mackey shine, but it's clear she deserved a better script 
. The more I think about it, the more I agree that this movie feels like it was made for the big screen, not for streaming platforms where we're used to fast-paced and convenient entertainment 
. It's a shame because James L Brooks is an iconic director who could've done so much better with a good story and character development 
the whole "Ella McCay" film is such a disappointment 
, it's like they couldn't even get the script right 
. If you're gonna make a movie about politics, at least try to be original, right? 
. It's all so... convenient 
. I'm convinced Brooks is trying to distract us from something else with this movie 
. Mark my words, there's more to "Ella McCay" than meets the eye 
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Emma Mackey's talents get wasted on this generic, one-dimensional heroine who's supposed to be some kind of hero but comes off as whiny and annoying 
. James L Brooks should know better than to mess up a project like this, especially given his track record with shows and movies that are actually good 
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. James L Brooks is a legend behind iconic sitcoms like "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", but this movie feels like a step back for him 
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! They bring some much-needed energy to their respective roles. Emma Mackey shows glimmers of promise in a few scenes, but her character feels so one-dimensional 
. The whole film has a weird, disjointed feel to it - like watching a bunch of separate scenes that don't quite fit together 
. Anyway, if you're looking for a lighthearted take on women in politics, there are probably better options out there 
But at the same time, I think the film could've benefited from a tighter script... or maybe that's just what James L Brooks is going for? 
They totally carry the film with their presence! But honestly, I'm still on the fence... maybe it's just too polarizing for me? 
Emma Mackey shines for a few moments but her character is just so...one-dimensional 
As someone who cares about representation in politics, I'm left feeling frustrated that a film with so much potential is squandered by poor storytelling and character development 
. Overall, if you ask me, "Ella McCay" feels like a missed opportunity to tell a compelling story about women in politics 
. And Emma Mackey is wasted in this role - she's clearly trying to do something nuanced but it just isn't working out. Overall, I'd say this film is a total bummer and should've been left on the cutting room floor 
. and don't even get me started on emma mackey's acting skills - she does shine in a few moments but not enough to make up for the rest of the movie 
. And don't even get me started on the protagonist's character development - she sounds like a mess, but I guess that's not what James L Brooks was going for