Overview
- Ella McCay opened in U.S. theaters on December 12 as James L. Brooks’s first feature since 2010, released by 20th Century Studios.
- Critics’ aggregates skew negative, with Tom’s Guide reporting an 18% Rotten Tomatoes score as of December 13.
- Reviewers describe the movie as a vintage Brooks-style dramedy set in 2008, with the period choice intended to sidestep today’s polarized politics.
- Emma Mackey and Jamie Lee Curtis earn consistent acclaim for their performances, with supporting turns from Albert Brooks, Woody Harrelson, Julie Kavner, Kumail Nanjiani and others.
- Brooks cites a renewed drive to write after an “identity crisis,” as coverage notes the rarity of a mid-budget, adult-focused dramedy receiving a wide theatrical release today.