Emma Mackey leads the cast of Ella McCay, a political comedy from Oscar winner James L Brooks that’s been hailed as “refreshingly hopeful” in first reactions.
The Sex Education star plays the titular character, an idealistic 34-year-old lieutenant governor of an unnamed US state who takes the job once her mentor, the state’s incumbent governor, takes a position in the Obama administration.
Written, directed and producer by Brooks — who co-created The Simpsons and directed 1983 crowdpleaser Terms of Endearment, among others — the film sees Ella juggle career and her family life when her estranged dad Eddie (Woody Harrelson) gets back into the picture.
Mackey and Harrelson are joined by a stacked ensemble, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Jack Lowden starring as aunt Helen and Ella’s husband Ryan.
Cast is rounded out by Spike Fearn as Ella’s younger brother Casey and Ayo Edebiri as his ex-girlfriend Susan, while Kumail Nanjiani plays Trooper Nash and Rebecca Hall portrays Ella’s late mum. Julie Kavner plays Ella’s secretary Estelle and serves as the film’s narrator.
20th Century Studios
Set to hit cinemas on 12 December, the film has earned mixed reactions from critics who’ve got to watch it in advance screenings.
“Ella McCay feels like a film straight out of the late 80s to mid 90s. It’s simple and charming with a delightful lead performance from Emma Mackey,” was one such reaction on Twitter/X.
“It’s the kind of heartfelt, character-driven story that most studios don’t make anymore,” the critic continued. “At 85, James L. Brooks proves he still knows how to tell relatable stories with likable characters that will be appealing to audiences young and old.”
Someone else pointed out the cast was “exceptional” despite the “unfocused, subpar” script.
“James L. Brooks’ #EllaMcCay has an exceptional cast finessing unfocused, subpar material. Feels like the script kept changing as they shot, where many scenes negate themselves,” they wrote.
“Undercooked conflicts, contrived scenarios w/ tissue paper thin connections & poorly drawn characters.”
20th Century Studios
A third critic noted that the film “succeeds” in harnessing the nostalgic, “local hero melodrama” tone of directors like Frank Capra.
“#EllaMcCay wants to harken back to the political, local hero melodramas of yore (a la Capra, Reiner, Benton) and it succeeds in its own quirky way,” they argued. “The ensemble cast (especially a fantastic Emma Mackey) gets the specific tone Brooks is going for: something refreshingly hopeful.”
Last week, Curtis shared a tribute to her co-star Mackey, praising her comedic skills and likening her to the queen of screwball comedies, Katherine Hepburn.
“When I first was sent the script ELLA MCCAY […] my first question was who’s playing the title character? It takes an actress of great range and depth and the ability to toggle between comedy and drama and truth,” Curtis began in her Instagram post.
“[W]hen I heard it was #emmamackey and then met her and began to work with her, I saw why [James L Brooks] chose her.
“She reminds me of Katherine Hepburn and the great screwball comedians of the 40s and at the same time has the depth and gravitas of the great actresses working today.”
Ella McCay is released in cinemas on 12 December.
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Reporter, Digital Spy
Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.Â
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).Â