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 slow-paced political dramedies and genuinely enjoy Jamie Lee Curtis in full scenery-chewing mode, this is a decent lazy Sunday watch. If you expect sharp political insight or snappy dialogue from your comedies, you'll be checking your phone after the first act of this overlong civics lesson.
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
