After delivering such great films as Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, and As Good As It Gets, filmmaker James L. Brooks has yet to deliver another great motion picture. His latest entry, Ella McCay, has a tremendous cast, a talented cinematographer (Robert Elswit), and an incredible score composer (Hans Zimmer), but the direction and writing are what make this movie. Initially, I was charmed by the protagonist’s strong, can-do spirit, but as the story unfolds, I see an utter mess of ideas that ultimately fall apart and end in a most unsatisfying way.
Emma Mackey stars as the titular Ella McCay. The actor brings a lot of passion and fire to her performance, but the writing does her a great disservice. Ella has always strived for greatness and importance. After witnessing her father, Eddie (Woody Harrelson), misuse his position of power and seeing the impact it had on his family, Ella always strived to do better. At present, Ella works as the Lieutenant Governor of a state that is never identified, but when a juicy opportunity arises for her superior, Governor Bill (Albert Brooks), she is unexpectedly promoted to governor.
While this opportunity is something Ella has always dreamed of, she realizes that some poor decisions she made during her term as Lieutenant Governor might come to light and challenge everything she has worked so hard for.
Ella McCay is an utter mess of a movie. Even though it has a couple of lovable characters, and her backstory is rather interesting, the whole story goes in a wild array of strange directions, with most of the events not making any sense when it comes to creating a solid story about a woman trying to do well with her life and life goals.
Some of the challenges seem weak and contrived. Others ring true. However, there is a character in Ella’s life who makes an abrupt, villainous turn that never feels truly earned or realistic. That particular character’s arc never plays out genuinely. It is the equivalent of a heel turn in professional wrestling. This example of kayfabe might work in the world of wrestling, but it just doesn’t work within a serious movie.
Like I previously stated, the cast is very good and puts their heart into a movie that fails them. My favorite performance comes from Jamie Lee Curtis, who portrays Ella’s Aunt Helen McCay, a wise confidant to Ella who always comes through for her. I also think that Emma Mackey is very good as Ella. She definitely embodies the will and the strength her character deserves. However, the writing of this story most certainly fails her.
Ella McCay is definitely a film that looks and sounds pretty, and has a cast that is invested in a messy, weak story. I cannot recommend it either theatrically or even at home.