Ella McCay
The brief
Brooks tries to recapture his *Terms of Endearment* magic with a political dramedy that feels about 20 years too late, complete with clunky dialogue about "doing what's right" delivered by Emma Mackey like she's reading cue cards. Jamie Lee Curtis chews scenery as the veteran politician mentor, but even her committed performance can't save scenes that drag on forever without saying much of anything meaningful. The whole thing has the pacing of a PBS special and the political insight of a high school civics textbook. For people who thought *The West Wing* could use less wit and more family therapy sessions.
The verdict
If you have endless patience for earnest political speechifying and don't mind watching talented actors struggle with leaden dialogue, this offers Jamie Lee Curtis in full scenery-chewing mode. If you expect sharp writing, decent pacing, or political insight more sophisticated than a campaign commercial, you'll find this nearly two-hour slog as outdated as its Bush-era sensibilities.
Watch with
- 👤 Political junkies who enjoy slow character studies
- ⚠️ Skip for those expecting sharp political satire
Heads up
- Political conflict and workplace stress (moderate)
- Family relationship tensions (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- James L. Brooks
- Cast
- Emma Mackey, Jamie Lee Curtis, Albert Brooks, Spike Fearn, Woody Harrelson, Rebecca Hall, Ayo Edebiri
Official synopsis
An idealistic young politician juggles familial issues and a challenging work life while preparing to take
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with A Private Life (2025)
Both explore women navigating personal ambitions against family expectations.
Total runtime: 1h 55m + 1h 48m = 3h 43m
