Ella McKay (2025)
Directed by: James L. Brooks
Premise: Set in 2008, an idealistic politician (Emma Mackey) becomes Governor of Rhode Island but her attention is divided by an avalanche of family issues.
What Works: The family of Ella McKay is well characterized. Emma Mackey plays Ella and Mackey gets the contradiction at the center of the character. Ella has ascended to the highest position in state government but she gets pushed around by her family members especially her husband played by Jack Lowden. The husband is an awful and manipulative person and Ella’s people pleaser personality makes the relationship credible. Woody Harrelson plays the estranged father with a history of infidelity and Jamie Lee Curtis is cast at the protective aunt. Harrelson’s goofball quality belies the way the father has hurt his family and Curtis spits nails while acting maternal. Spike Fearn plays Ella’s neurotic and shut-in brother and Fearn makes his character more than just a collection of mannerisms. The film does a good job of portraying Ella as a composite of all these people. As a political story, Ella McKay dramatizes why highly competent and well-meaning people often fail in politics. Ella is a policy wonk but cannot sell her ideas. It’s a more realistic view of politics than we usually get from Hollywood. The film’s politics are honest without being cynical and there is a good heartedness to Ella McKay typical of James L. Brooks’ movies.
What Doesn’t: Ella McKay presents a lot of interesting characters and some relevant political views but the filmmakers fail to put those characters into believable stories. Ella’s marriage collapses far too fast. Fearn’s character works up the courage to leave his home and reconnect with an ex-girlfriend he hasn’t seen in a year. They pick up the relationship as though nothing has happened. This is a badly structured story. Politicians who should be established early on only show up at the very end. Ella is swamped by political and personal problems but these subplots don’t dovetail together. Ella doesn’t really learn anything and the audience isn’t led toward a revelation about her or the nature of family or politics. The filmmakers intend this to be heartwarming and inspiring with Ella breaking free of other people’s expectations and demands. The filmmakers never achieve those emotional payoffs. The filmmakers are obvious about what they’re doing. It’s all forced and none of the dramatic moments feel earned.
Bottom Line: Ella McKay is a disappointment. It squanders a good cast on a story that is messy and unbelievable. It’s a nice movie but it also feels artificial and does not achieve the heartwarming emotions that the filmmakers are so desperate to inspire.
Episode: #1079 (December 21, 2025)