Ella McCay – Review and Summary
Ella McCay has a wonderful number of stories, but the quality of said stories is a whole separate thing.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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What Is Ella McCay About?
- Director(s): James L. Brooks
- Writer(s): James L. Brooks
- Distributor: 20th Century Studios
- Runtime: 1 Hour(s) and 55 Minutes
- Public Release Date (In Theaters): December 12, 2025
- Genre(s): Comedy, Drama, Young Adult
- Content Rating: Rated PG-13
- Primary Language: English
- More Information (External Link)
It’s 2008, and Ella is the lieutenant governor of an unnamed state, and she is known far more for her work on policy than for making alliances to pass said policy. Which is why suddenly becoming governor is jarring and a great opportunity. But her personal life, including a dysfunctional family, could unravel all the good she was hoping to do.
Cast and Characters
Ella (Emma Mackey)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Ella is the lieutenant governor of an unnamed state, highly educated but socially inept, at least in terms of being a politician. Because of this, while she has good ideas, she has long been reliant on the governor to filter them into something he could get passed. But now, thrust into the governorship, she finds herself having to learn the ropes or stall out – even amongst her own party.
Aunt Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: The owner of a local restaurant, named after her, Aunt Helen is loving but tough, and dotes on Ella like she were her own.
Ryan (Jack Lowden)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Ryan is Ella’s high school sweetheart turned husband, who is her opposite in a multitude of ways. Often for the better, since he gets her out of her shell. However, sometimes for the worst.
Casey (Spike Fearn)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: While as brilliant as his sister, but more so in tech than with the law, he too isn’t the most socially apt person. However, like his sister, despite his social skills, he finds himself able and willing to date, even if it sometimes is an uphill battle.
What To Expect In “Ella McCay” (Rated PG-13) – Content Overview
- Dialog:
- Cursing: Occasional
Review and Commentary
Highlight(s)
Aunt Helen [82/100]
Jamie Lee Curtis acts as comic relief as Ella herself, and Ella McCay, as a movie, drowns in what can feel like real, but also a tidal wave of drama. As Ella’s biggest advocate, how she talks about and to people, from Ella’s husband, Ryan, to her former boss, may not be the cathartic release you may sometimes want, but the best you’ll get. And in many ways, because Ella is likable, but often timid, Aunt Helen makes for a nice crutch to get her, and the movie, to the finish line.
On The Fence
Feels Like It Is Drowning Itself [78/100]
Ella MaCay has way too much going on, and, unfortunately, it is the type of film where, as exciting as all the storylines are, at first, eventually, you come to realize none of them will be done justice. For example, Ella becoming the governor. It would have been interesting to watch her go from being 100% focused on policy to her learning how to become a politician, or make allies, or see her hire a lieutenant who understood the game and could field that for her. But that doesn’t happen.
Ella’s marriage, which is originally portrayed as opposites attract, Ella the introvert and Ryan the extrovert, implodes in the absolute worst way possible. Then, add in Ella’s dad looking for forgiveness, and then her brother, Casey? Someone with agoraphobia and a whole storyline about trying to get the girl back, whom he ghosted over a year ago?
It all pushes the idea that Ella MacCay should have been pitched as a mini-series to give these storylines breathing room, for this, everything and the kitchen sink method of storytelling doesn’t benefit anyone in the cast. It just shows James L. Brooks has a lot of ideas, good ideas, but likely needs someone to help him rein them all in.
Overall
Our Rating (80/100): Positive (Worth Seeing)
Ella McCay, in its pursuit of showing a young woman with a complicated, messy, but potentially fruitful life, does too much and overwhelms itself with a multitude of storylines that seem more suited to unravel in a series than a film. For with the majority certainly sparking your interest, but almost every storyline ending in a way that leaves you with a tinge of dissatisfaction, you may recognize the talent of the actors and ideas of James L. Brooks, but as a whole? Ella McCay feels like a film in need of someone advocating for Brooks to do less, so the actors would be able to give more.
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