Ella McCay

“To get anything done, you have to make dumb people feel less dumb”. This may have been the only dialogue which was funny in this entire film, which is part politics, part funny, and mostly downright dull.

James L. Brooks’ films are almost feeling like hits or misses. His start with some great films, ‘Terms of Endearment’ and ‘Broadcast News’, revolutionised the 80s, and ‘As Good As It Gets’ was just flat out hilarious. But after that, he has made some real stinkers and disasters.

Great casting can apparently also be the downfall of your film, as evident in this one. Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays Ella’s aunt, is just terrible. Woody Harrelson, who plays her father, is just there. Kumail Nanjiani plays her security is wondering why he’s there. Emma Mackey, who plays Ella, is really misused in the film. And then you have your regular James L. Brooks cast, Albert Brooks and Julie Kavner, who are there for the comedic element but don’t hit the mark.

It’s a film that would’ve worked in the 80s and 90s, but in today’s day and age, it is really outdated.