Ella McCay, the upcoming political comedy-drama from Disney and 20th Century Studios, had first reactions release this week, and the new movie is not being received kindly.
What are people saying about Ella McCay?
Critics began sharing their early reactions to Ella McCay this week, with many pointing to a litany of problems the film supposedly has. ComingSoon’s Jonathan Sim called the movie a “lesson in everything not to do in a movie,” and said it had “pointless narration” and “overwritten dialogue.”
#EllaMcCay is a lesson in everything NOT to do in a movie.
Pointless narration and overwritten dialogue. An alien’s approximation of human behavior. Characters can’t be angry without shouting, «I’m really angry!» Not one interesting thing to say. Incompetent filmmaking. pic.twitter.com/tCkC0V4VG0— Jonathan Sim (@TheJonathanSim) December 3, 2025
Other users also panned the film’s dialogue, with Salon’s Coleman Spilde saying the movie is “one of the worst, most incomprehensible, baffling films” he’s ever seen. Others also expressed shock that the movie came from writer-director James L. Brooks, who made such high-profile films as Terms of Endearment and As Good as It Gets.
sorry to say ella mccay is one of the worst, most incomprehensible, baffling films i’ve ever had the displeasure of enduring. not a comedy, drama, or dramedy but a half-written script dug from james l. brooks’ “IDEAS” folder. feels like talking with a concussion. so, a must-see! https://t.co/BrYHboMTWa pic.twitter.com/LHMynBFp3U
— coleman spilde (@colemanjspilde) December 3, 2025
Ella McCay is baffling. Not a single character resembles or talks like an actual human being – it’s like it was written by someone who’s never had a real conversation. Incomprehensible filmmaking on every level: unfunny, overwritten, botched drama. One of the year’s worst films. pic.twitter.com/qtS7BiQyc7
— adam! (@adumbsandler) December 3, 2025
Ella McKay is brutal. Hard to believe it comes from the same man who made Terms of Endearment and Broadcast News. It just feels like Brooks doesn’t have a handle on making a contemporary movie, even setting it in 2008 can’t help it from feeling like an antique.
— Chris Bumbray (@cbumbray) December 3, 2025
Ella McCay is written and directed by James L. Brooks (Terms of Endearment). This marks Brooks’ feature directorial comeback, after a decade since 2010’s romantic comedy How Do You Know. It is produced by Brooks, Julie Ansell, Jennifer Brooks, and Richard Sakai, with Seth Meier serving as an executive producer.
Ella McCay stars Emma Mackey, Jamie Lee Crutis, Jack Lowden, Kumail Nanjiani, Ayo Edebiri, Julie Kavner, Spike Fearn, Rebecca Hall, Albert Brooks, and Woody Harrelson. The film follows the story of “an idealistic 34-year-old lieutenant governor juggles familial issues and a challenging work life while preparing to take over the job of her mentor, the state’s longtime incumbent governor, who suddenly accepts a cabinet position in the incoming Obama administration.”
