Ella McCay

12/4/2025

To paraphrase one of the Caped Crusader’s most articulate but menacing foes, “When is a movie not a movie?” The answer: “When it should be a TV series instead.” And that, unfortunately, is the inherent problem with this latest offering from legendary film and television writer-director-producer James L. Brooks. Set during the 2008 financial crisis, this comedy-drama tells the multifaceted story of its likable but beleaguered title character (Emma Mackey), an idealistic and enthusiastic lieutenant governor who champions causes aimed at helping everyday citizens, even if she’s somewhat long-winded and overbearing in expressing herself. But, when her boss, affable, plainspoken “Governor Bill” (Albert Brooks), is named to a Presidential Cabinet post, Ella is unexpectedly elevated into the stat

12/14/2025

This film tries to make several points and misses them all. The trailer doesn't lead to the fact that it's a political comedy-drama and it disappoints on that, too. I interviewed seven individuals after the film and they all said the same thing: they were disappointed and had no idea what the film was about. My wife and I rip this film a new one on our YouTube channel: @Back2UsReviews. We were very disappointed with the film and now understand why James L. Brooks hasn't had a hit since '97. So sad that Hans Zimmer had anything to do with this turd of a film.

12/16/2025

When her boss and mentor “Governor Bill” (Albert Brooks) tells his lieutenant that he’s got himself a job in the cabinet, “Ella” (Emma Mackey) is excited that she can now get hold of the state’s infrastructure to institute her radical political agenda - for at least the next fourteen months. Her husband “Ryan” (Jack Lowden) is also thrilled, though perhaps not for quite the same reasons and her aunt/confidante “Helen” (Jamie Lee Curtis) is delighted for her news but sceptical about her husband being a bit of a ticking time bomb. “Ella” is more of a detail person and that has the ability to bore witless or just plain alienate her friends and foes alike, so when a journalist threatens to expose that she and her fella have been using state property for some extra-curricular activities, she fi

12/17/2025

The writing is nearly perfect. The characters are honest to a fault. They don't represent real life, but instead how I wish we communicated, honestly. Ella McCay is an honest and well communicated character. To read the lines creates the nessiary delivery. The movie has a great story arc and it is nice to see a movie where you know exactly who the characters are immediately, but you still care about the drama they're experiencing. Watching in the theatre is not required. Ella McCay will be a fantastic couch movie. The father (Woody) is a womanizer. Between him and the story, I'd choose a different movie for a date night. SPOILER-ish The weakest part of the movie is the Ella's husbands mother. They had a lot to accomplish with her very breif scene and and it fell short.