Ella McCay: a comedy full of hope and nostalgia (review)
Unceremoniously switched to Disney + in January because of its poor American results, the new James L. Brooks arrives for 48 hours in theaters. And we are happy about it!
A strange fate than that of Ella McCay. Expected in French theaters in January, the new film by the revered goldsmith of American comedy James L. Brooks finally found itself scrapped at the last minute on Disney +, given its catastrophic results at the US box office. But French critics sang its praises so much that Disney finally decided to release the film in theaters this May for… two days! A sort of mini happy ending, therefore, which suits the complexion of this Capra-style fable. Or the story of a young politician (marvelous Emma Mackey, almost namesake of her character), who finds herself bombarded overnight as governor of her state, while she also has a lot of problems to resolve with the men in her life.
The mischievous dialogues crackle, throughout scenes with a rubbery rhythm which run the risk of always lasting too long. It’s both goofy and adorable, goofy and bubbly. The film is valuable, above all, for its luminous optimism. The violent rejection he suffered in the United States is somewhat depressing. Do we no longer have the right to dream of better tomorrows in front of a humanist comedy, full of hope and screwball nostalgia? France has decided: we will be entitled to it for 48 hours. It’s better than nothing.
By James L. Brooks. With Emma Mackey, Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson… Duration: 1h55. Released May 15, 2026
