Deadline called Oscar winning director James L. Brooks‘ return to character-driven movie comedy, Ella McKay, a “smart, funny and surprisingly timely film set in the world of American politics centered on an idealistic, issue-driven woman.”
Disney released the 20th Century Studios production wide in theaters last month and it failed to find an audience. Hopefully, that will not be the case when it hits Disney+ on February 5.
As the writer-director of Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News and As Good as It Gets and the creator of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Brooks knows how to tell women’s stories onscreen.
Billed as a “fresh and heartwarming comedy is about the people you love and how to survive them,” Ella McCay stars standout French-British actress Emma Mackey (Sex Education) as an idealistic young woman juggling her less-than-perfect family with her passion for her work. The stakes increase as her star rises, working as chief of staff to the Mayor and then as the super-smart lieutenant governor Governor Bill (Albert Brooks).
Watch on Deadline
Curtis steals scenes as Ella’s faithful Aunt Helen, who helps anchor the film. The other scene stealer is Broadcast News alum Brooks. He hits just the right notes as the practical, retail-politics-loving governor who wants Ella to succeed, but in far more realistic ways than she can deal with.
The film also stars Jack Lowden, Kumail Nanjiani, Ayo Edebiri, Spike Fearn, Rebecca Hall, Julie Kavner, Becky Ann Baker, Joey Brooks and Woody Harrelson.
It is produced by James L. Brooks, p.g.a.; Richard Sakai, p.g.a.; Julie Ansell, p.g.a. and Jennifer Brooks.
After a long stint producing movies such as The Edge of Seventeen and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret as well as long-standing series work on The Simpsons, Brooks felt the need to channel his energy into writing an original story again. It’s his first feature directing outing in 15 years.
“My goal for this movie was to pay tribute, as best I could, to the golden age of movie comedy, the 1940s and 50s…the challenge all along was to maintain the same zany spirit of that era, while still taking seriously the inevitable jolts, pains and pitfalls of being human,” Brooks explains.
You can watch a new trailer below.