Should we watch Ella McCay, the dramedy starring Emma Mackey?

By Jordan Bako, 

and Nathan Merchadier.

Published on 4 February 2026. Updated on 11 May 2026.

Perhaps it is a coincidence, or a wink from fate… There’s a clear resemblance between Emma Mackey’s name and the title of the film. The Franco-British actress, revealed by the Netflix series Sex Education, stars in Ella McCay, a dramedy directed by James L. Brooks. After a lukewarm critical reception in the United States, the film was not initially expected to be shown in French cinemas. However, after several changes, it will finally come out in theaters on May 15th, 2026, after being available exclusively on Disney+.

However, the similarities between the 30-year-old actress and James L. Brooks‘s new project end there. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the director of Terms of Endearment (1984) and co-creator of The Simpsons, explained that he drew his inspiration from his own life instead. “I came from a family that wasn’t roses and warm bread, and so I wanted it to be about one errant parent and getting over the loss of a parent,” he shared.

Ella McCay, a family story

What’s the premise of this comedy set in 2008? “An idealistic young woman who aspires to a career in politics struggles to juggle her personal and professional lives.” More specifically, Ella McCay explores the fragile bonds between its protagonist, her absent father, and an aunt who appears to be the only stable figure in her life.

With a topic like that, one might have expected a drama. But James L. Brooks opts for a different tone, that of a gentle, bittersweet adult dramedy. The filmmaker hadn’t directed a feature since How Do You Know (2010), which was widely criticized upon its release. Yet, Ella McCay avoids disaster largely thanks to Emma Mackey‘s irresistible charm.

Emma Mackey and Jamie Lee Curtis, an unexpected duo

The director has indeed gathered a stellar cast, including Woody Harrelson and Rebecca Hall among others. Emma Mackey‘s schedule shows no sign of slowing down, between the thriller Hot Milk, Julia Ducournau’s Alpha, and Greta Gerwig’s Narnia. In Ella McCay, the actress plays the governor of a small American state. She is propelled into this position when her mentor (Albert Brooks) accepts a role as Secretary of State in Washington.

The film then focuses on how Ella tries to stay afloat despite a chaotic childhood, marked by her father’s repeated infidelities and the sudden loss of her mother. Added to this pressure is that of her romantic relationship. Her husband, played by the excellent Jack Lowden, starts to interfere in her career and eventually pushes it too far.

Opposite her, Jamie Lee Curtis confirms that she is currently experiencing one of the most exciting periods of her career, following Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), The Bear (2022-), and The Last Showgirl (2024). Here, she is convincing as a protective aunt in a film that may be too quickly judged badly.

Ayo Edebiri’s noteworthy appearance

Another standout presence is Ayo Edebiri‘s, also revealed in the series The Bear. She appears in a handful of scenes as the girlfriend of Ella’s brother. Our only regret is that the actress isn’t given more screen time, as she brings a spark of energy whenever she enters the frame. Finally, Pakistani actor and comedian Kumail Nanjiani rounds out this portrait gallery as an unfazed driver.

Despite its slow pace and dialogues that occasionally lack sharpness, Ella McCay doesn’t really deserve the frosty reception it received in the United States. While it may not be a great masterpiece, the tenderness it exudes makes it endearing. One can hope that its release on Disney+ will give it a second chance, especially since James L. Brooks, 85, may well be delivering one of his final films here. More than forty years after the success of Terms of Endearment (1984), which won five Oscars…

Ella McCay by James L. Brooks, coming out in theatres on May 15th, 2026.