Emma Mackey leads a messy political comedy that never quite finds its footing
I have to be honest, I'm not quite sure how to begin this review because, like the film itself, my thoughts on it are somewhat of a jumbled mess. I have so many concepts and ideas rolling around in my brain that I feel like the main character in many ways. Welcome to the world of Ella McCay. Written and directed by James L. Brooks (As Good As It Gets), the film finds an intelligent, successful woman at a crossroads in her life, and if she actually slowed down enough to stop and take stock of her life, she might just fall apart.
Ella (Emma Mackey; Barbie) is the lieutenant governor whose boss, yes, the governor (Albert Brooks; Drive) of an undisclosed state, has just informed her that he is resigning to take a Cabinet position in D.C. and that she will be his replacement for the last fourteen months of his tenure. Meanwhile, a reporter is blackmailing her because she and her husband used an empty apartment under the government building to have sex during lunch, which is apparently a misuse of government property, and her estranged father (Woody Harrelson; Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) has just shown up to reconnect with his children at the request of his new girlfriend. If her life sounds messy, that's because it is.
While Brooks started with an interesting idea that had some merit, somewhere along the way, it went off track. Ella's world turns upside down in a matter of days, leading to perhaps the shortest governorship in the history of the country. Of course, while Brooks' intentions were good, he probably set women's lib back decades by making the argument that women can't handle too many issues at the same time. He also has so many wheels turning at the same time that none of them really get fleshed out and/or resolved, leaving the audience unfulfilled as the end credits roll.
The cast is the most appealing thing about Ella McCay, with Mackey filling the title role nicely. Jamie Lee Curtis is underutilized as Ella's Aunt Helen, and Harrelson is perfect as the seemingly repentant father who wants to apologize for his selfishness, but he is really doing it for selfish reasons. Brooks has a smaller role, but he makes his time on screen memorable.
The 1080p resolution and 1.85:1 aspect ratio makes the visuals pretty much what one would expect from a Blu-ray presentation. Clean lines, sharp details, and true and deep colors permeate this video presentation. There is little to no artifacting or grain readily seen.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 has a strong presence on this release, with the dialogue-driven plot sounding well-rounded and robust. There is a soundtrack which is generally rather quiet and which sits mainly in the surround speakers.
The combo pack offers the Blu-ray Disc and the digital download, plus a few extras. The extras include A James L. Brooks Film, In Good Company: The Cast of Ella McCay, Bloopers, and Deleted Scenes. The extras are merely ok without anything unusual or unique to set them apart from bonus features on other Blu-ray discs.
Ella McCay is a rather cute, if misguided movie that doesn't really bring anything new or exciting to the mix. Nor does it do a hell of a lot for the women's rights movement, as the plot points out that, despite our best efforts, sometimes women can't have it all. The Blu-ray is on sale now at local retailers, but this is one movie I wouldn't necessarily recommend for purchase, as it doesn't utilize the cast to the fullest of their abilities.
Grade: C-
