ELLA MCCAY
(director/writer: James L. Brooks; cinematographer: Robert Eiswit; editor: Tracey Wadmore-Smith; music: Hans Zimmer; cast: Emma Mackey (Ella McCay), Albert Brooks (Governor Bill Moura), Jamie Lee Curtis (Helen), Woody Harrelson (Eddie McCay), Spike Fearn (Casey), Jack Lowden (Ryan), Kumail Nanjiani (Trooper Nash), Ayo Edebiri (Susan), Julie Kavner (Estelle), Rebecca Hall (Claire McCay), Becky Ann Baker (Ryan’s scheming mom), Joey Brooks (Trooper Alexander); Runtime: 115; MPAA Rating: PG-13; producers: James L. Brooks, Richard Sakai, Julie Ansell, Jennifer Brooks; 20th Century Pictures; 2025)
“More cringe-moments than laughs.”
“Sexy modern-day adaptation of Emily Bronte’s classic.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
The 85-year-old James L. Brooks (“Spanglish”/”Terms of Endearment”), in his first feature film in 15 years, directs and writes this clunky, incoherent, and outdated adult comedy that’s still watchable. He once made decent films with an acerbic edge.
“Ella McCay” is set in 2008, during a recession.
The principled and clever Ella McCay (Emma Mackey) is the 34-year-old lieutenant governor of an unnamed state. She’s recognized in political circles as someone to watch, as she’s filled with ideas, ambition and though difficult to deal with is one of the youngest and brightest upcoming political figures in her state.
Ella’s secretary Estelle (Julie Kavner) acts as narrator. We learn through flashbacks Ella rose to her esteemed position by overcoming a philandering father (Woody Harrelson), who now tries to make amends with her, and by overcoming the traumatizing sudden death of her mother (Rebecca Hall).
We are introduced to a bunch of surrounding characters that include her loudmouth beloved Aunt Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis), who is her biggest supporter; her needy restaurant owner husband Ryan (Jack Lowden), who supports her and then doesn’t when not getting enough attention; Her younger brother Casey (Spike Fearn), whose divorce from Susan (Ayo Edebiri) leaves him shaken; and her political mentor, Governor Bill Moura (Albert Brooks), who gets a cabinet post in Washington and leaves her with this pearl of wisdom: “It’s not enough to be smart. Around here, to get anything done, you have to make dumb people feel less dumb.”
The earnest film is done in by a bad script that makes the acting look bad, subplots that go nowhere, and that for a comedy there are more cringe-moments than laughs.
REVIEWED ON 2/20/2026 GRADE: C
dennisschwartzreviews.com