Dueling Critics: Ella McCay (2025)
Fritz: James L. Brooks returns to the director's chair for the first time since 2010's How Do You Know with the dramedy Ella McCay. The two films have one thing in common besides the writer-director: they're both movies where I found myself in opposition to the majority critics by enjoying them. I'm not someone who unfailingly likes Brooks' films (I'd go thumbs down on I'll Do Anything and Spanglish) but I enjoyed Ella McCay, which is the story of a 34-year-old policy wonk lieutenant governor (Emma Mackey) who finds herself unexpectedly thrust into the role of governor after the existing governor (Albert Brooks) is appointed to Obama's cabinet (the film is set in 2008). I'll get into what I liked about it in a bit, but why did you go thumbs down on this one?
David: Because it feels half-baked and scattered. For instance, there is a scandal that could ruin Ella's career, but most of it happens off screen. It's discussed, but we don't actually see it evolve, so there is no tension. Then there are the repetitive scenes of Ella's estranged father (Woody Harrelson in a sleepy performance) trying to reconnect with her. Also the cutesy, agoraphobic brother character (Spike Fearn) is absolutely annoying. There is a long sequence where Ella visits her brother at his apartment. This feels like a deleted scene because it goes nowhere. As for Ella's husband (Jack Lowden), he should have been introduced twirling his moustache because the first moment he's on screen, we just know he's going to be revealed as an evil turd.
Fritz: It did feel a little overstuffed to me. I think the scene where Ella's brother visits his crush (Ayo Edibiri) either should've been removed or expanded upon a little more. It just sort of sticks out on its own. But here's what I really liked about the movie: I think Mackey is terrific as Ella. I had only seen her in Death on the Nile, where I felt she did a good job in a pivotal role, and Barbie, where she played one of the Barbies. I didn't mind that the movie tries to cover a lot of different things in Ella's life because I liked her character and I liked Mackey's performance. I was willing to follow her and I enjoyed following her. She's likable, but she's not perfect. Her people skills don't always match her passion but she means well and she's making a sincere effort in the world, which is all any of us can do.
I thoroughly enjoyed Ella's relationships with her aunt (Jamie Lee Curtis), the departing governor (Brooks), and her chief guard (Kumail Nanjiani). Curtis, Brooks, and Nanjiani are all very good in those roles.
The husband thing didn't bother me as much. I've seen friends marry people who weren't right for them and it sadly took them too long to see the person's true colors, even though it seemed blatantly obvious to everyone else in their life that the spouse was a jerk. Sometimes bright, decent people make terrible marriage choices. The scenes with Harrelson didn't bother me, either. I won't go into spoiler territory, but I appreciated the way the movie wrapped up that relationship.
David: I do like Mackey, too, and I do think she could have done a lot more if the role wasn't so thinly written. As for the brother visiting his ex, yes, you are right, it should have been removed. It didn't belong in this movie.
Yes, in real life, people can see that their family member or friend are with the wrong person. But as audience members watching this movie, we can be a little leery of Ella's husband but grow to think that maybe he is not such a bad guy, just to be shocked that he is a major creep. In his very first scene, however, alarms go off and we know he is an absolute scumbag. Again, that's just bad writing.
The final scene between Ella and her father should have emotional punch to it but it's so low energy. And the thing with the dad's new age-y girlfriend always offscreen is just a weird choice.
The few, and I mean very few, funny moments are provided by Curtis as the aunt. This is billed as a comedy/drama, which James L. Brooks usually excels in, but the drama isn't compelling and it's just not that funny.
Fritz: I cared about Ella, the film held my attention throughout, and I left the theater with a smile on my face. And for whatever it's worth, the 15 or so people in the theater with me all seemed to enjoy it as well and laughed at the moments the movie wanted them to laugh at.
David: You and the 15 or so audience members
should have all traded contact information so you guys can get together for
yearly viewings of one of 2025's worst films.
