Even Mediocrity Can Be Interesting

 

...when it's in the hands of screenwriter/director James L. Brooks.   Even when his latest film "Ella McCay" is as disjointed as it is, you can still expect Brooks to deliver one or two compelling moments.  The sad thing is that this movie has only one or two compelling moments when it needs about a dozen more.

It's with sadness I write that Brooks' latest is not very good.  Indeed, it has way too many plot points and you just wish that he would have settled on just one or two plot lines.  This movie about a young girl thrust into a state governor role could have been interested if only we had to deal with about the girl's five or six other dysfunctional family members.  

Now I will tell you that James L. Brooks is one of my favorite writers and directors.   Starting with his days on the Mary Tyler Moore show, he's turned out TV and big screen gems.   Like "Starting Over" and "Terms of Endearment" and "Broadcast News" and "As Good as It Gets."   It's hard to believe that "Ella McCay" came from the same mind.

But I have to give Brooks a hall pass given he is still working at the age of 85.  It's unlikely that he will give us more excellence.  But I'm all for letting him try.  Because even his worst movies are better than 75% of the junk playing on your local screen.

LEN'S RATING:  Two stars.

Dinner last night:  Light dinner.  Salad.