Ella McCay

To paraphrase one of the Caped Crusaders 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 shes 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, E...

To paraphrase one of the Caped Crusaders 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 shes 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, E...

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.

When her boss and mentor Governor Bill (Albert Brooks) tells his lieutenant that hes got himself a job in the cabinet, Ella (Emma Mackey) is excited that she can now get hold of the states 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 so...

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 accomplis...