#REVIEW: “ELLA MCCAY”

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Legendary Filmmaker James L. Brooks returns to cinemas with his latest, Ella McCay.

The Film follows Ella (Emma Mackey), who at 34 years old becomes the youngest female Governor in the state which she was born and raised. Many would find the position challenging for such a young woman. However, Ella is prepared for this moment. She’s incredibly professional in this leadership role. Additionally, her dedication and passion for getting bills passed come naturally to her. As if life is playing a cruel joke on Ella, the moment she advances in her career, familial challenges rise to the surface. Forcing her to face truths and expose old wounds as she navigates relationships with her husband and father.

With Ella McCay, Brooks crafts a character study that reveals how we carry childhood trauma with us into adulthood. In particular, the wounds our family left us with. When Ella was young, she learned of her father Eddie’s (Woody Harrelson) multiple infidelities. She watched as her mother went back to him after each one. She couldn’t understand why, and she still can’t as an adult. Now, after 15 years, Eddie has tracked Ella down, begging for her forgiveness. Seeing him brings up all the pain and resentment Ella has buried. Eddie’s arrival coincides with her promotion as Governor.

We watch as a well-composed Ella enters her office with controlled purpose every day. She’s relentless when she wants to achieve something. Her professional personality is slightly different from the one we see in her personal life. For example, any interaction with her father makes her want to scream. It’s these opposite personas of Ella that expose how childhood trauma sticks with us. We can control things in our professional life, but we carry our past into our personal life. We must face it to move forward. Mackey is luminous as Ella. She excels at portraying these two versions of Ella, allowing us to see how she’s a mix of the two.

By having his lead be female, Brooks has managed to integrate a feminist story within the main narrative of trauma. Ella is passionate about her job. However, she’s terrified that it all may get taken away. She’s being blackmailed because someone found out she rented a room on government property for conjugal reasons with her husband, Ryan (Jack Lowden). She was unaware that this was against the law. The narrative that unfolds in this storyline exposes how society judges women differently from men. Although the issues presented in Ella McCay feel a little small. However, this Film is set in 2008, and some of these issues were more prevalent before the #MeToo movement. Additionally, Brooks uses this plot line to show how the trauma Ella endured has impacted her relationship. She repeatedly makes herself small for her husband and has stayed in the relationship long past its expiration date.

Overall, Ella McCay is a family drama that explores the impacts of childhood trauma and has a feminist theme. However, it feels like it’s playing it safe. That being said, it is an easy watch that the whole family can enjoy. It boasts a stellar performance from Mackey and a strong supporting cast that includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Lowden, and Harrelson (even though we feel he’s being underutilized here).

20th Century Studios Canada release ELLA MCCAY in cinemas on  Friday, December 12, 2025