Ella McCay Movie Review

​I wanted to like this so much, but I have to be honest in my disappointment with what I was hoping would be a James L. Brooks (several Oscars under his belt) triumphant return to the screen.

I enjoy his movies so much; he wrote and directed “Terms of Endearment,” Broadcast News,” and “As Good As It Gets,” which are brilliant films, and he created many series during his years producing, such as The Simpsons, using Julie Kavner (Marge Simpson) very well, here. You just have to look at his achievements to know this film deserves your time and attention. That said, he has lost his touch.

It’s hard to pinpoint where the film lost me. I hesitate to suggest that it was from the very start, but that may very well be when I knew I was in for a long evening. The movie does get political, something I don’t mind, but the story itself was asking too much in requesting you believe that people like Ella McCay, played by Emma Mackey (the similarities in the names are a fun notice), who played Barbie in Barbie, actually exist and are this, for lack of a better word, uninformed about life. Almost every word Ella utters, and in virtually every way she says them, Ella makes a spectacle of herself. She’s an overachiever wanting attention from a 6-month-old, only she’s in front of adults acting like this. It’s frustrating to watch. What she accepts from others is just as challenging. She’s a lieutenant governor who was just promoted to governor when the governor moves on to the White House, but she can’t handle her aunt or her younger brother. How is she to govern?? When a video of her dancing leaks, people are lifted by her spirit. This doesn’t hurt her look with her constituents… but is it enough for you?

Okay. Ella’s clearly an intelligent young woman, but the storyline wants you to believe she’d stay in a relationship with Ryan (Jack Lowden), who treats her terribly and gets her into the worst trouble imaginable professionally. Well, maybe we can accept this as truth somewhat, since there are women who end up with a man who reminds them of their father. Ella’s father, played by Woody Harrelson, is an absolute mess, pushing everyone in his life far away from it. Ryan is a fool not to see what he has, and she’s a bigger fool not to let him go. He wants to co-govern with her. Absurd plot point. But! Aunt Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis) is a wonderful character. She’s became Ella’s surrogate mother and their relationship is what family is all about. This is well written and gives the movie something special.

The dialogue isn’t believable, the relationships are ridiculous, even the one with her protective security detail… the story itself doesn’t play well. There are some endearing moments, standout moments such as those centered around Ella and her mother, played by Rebecca Hall. What little she is in the film, she leaves an impression. Kumail Nanjiani as Ella’s friendly security detail was good. Including Julie Kavner as Ella’s secretary and the perfect narrator to guide us through this tale doesn’t hurt. Still, overall, I’d have to say this is a miss and a skip.